Sharmin Joya

As the Eid-ul-Azha box office fills with star-driven spectacles and commercial entertainers, one of the season’s most intriguing releases is arriving from an entirely different space. After winning over audiences at two festivals — DIFF and Amar Bhashar Cholochitro — and earning multiple awards, “The University of Chankharpul”, directed by young filmmaker Akash Haque, has now joined the Eid release race.

With six films currently eyeing release this Eid-ul-Azha, director Masud Hasan Ujjal is stepping into the festive release race with quiet confidence and a deeply personal cinematic philosophy. His upcoming film, “Bonolota Sen”, arrives years after his acclaimed feature “Unoponchash Batash”.

Shamol is currently working on “Suraiya”, a psychological drama directed by one of his favourite filmmakers, Robiul Alam Robi. Previously, they have collaborated in “Sincerely Yours, Dhaka”, and “Café Desire”. “Honestly speaking, Giasuddin Selim, Sumon Anwar and Robi are my most favourite directors I have worked with in my career. Each director has a different approach, and that’s what keeps things interesting. This story of ‘Suraiya’ is quite layered, but for now, I can’t reveal much about it just yet.”

The artistes joined the event and saw the exhibition, and most of them were traumatised and were at a loss for words.

Drawing from these disturbing events and weaving them with his own imagination, Vicky candidly opens up about his latest release, “Chokro 2”, which emerged as one of the standout highlights on OTT platforms this Eid-ul-Fitr.

That same energy carried onto the stage. “As soon as I walked up, people started cheering and asked me to sing,” he said. “Even though we weren’t supposed to give speeches, both Bappa Mazumder and I were requested to speak—and I couldn’t leave without performing.

Looking ahead, she is hopeful about the industry’s potential. “Bangladesh has a lot of talent. With the right opportunities, people can create meaningful work. Projects like this show that high-quality production is possible here. I believe we can continue to grow our cultural space and reach global platforms.”

Known for her fluent and lively anchoring, Mousumi Mou steps into one of her most striking roles yet as Jenny in “Chokro 2”, directed by Vicky Zahed. Portraying a character that balances innocence with an unsettling brutality, her performance has earned widespread praise from acclaimed personalities, firmly establishing her as a promising talent ready to take on bold, challenging roles.

“At its core, it’s a film about an artiste’s journey,” he explains, expressing quiet confidence in the project. “Despite the limited budget, we’ve tried to create something meaningful. Now it’s about finding the right space where it can reach its audience.”

A voice that stood like a warrior against oppression, Nazrul Sangeet exponent Dalia Nausheen was more than a powerful presence at Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra—she was a custodian of Bengali culture, holding firm till her last breath to the belief that Bangladesh would remain liberal and progressive in its ideals, philosophy and ideology.

“I’m open to any medium, as long as the character excites me and gives me space to explore,” he shared. “Because for me, it’s never just about acting—it’s about becoming the character and living it.”

He signs off with a simple message, “Eid Mubarak to everyone.”

Sarika also looks back fondly on her Eids in Rangpur, where the celebrations had a charm of their own. “We loved chand raat—the night before Eid,” she says. “We would feast together, have so much fun on the rooftops, and all the cousins would stay over.”

“Last year’s Eid was really special for me professionally because my song ‘Chand Mama’ became a party anthem, and it still lingers with people,” she says. The success added a new dimension to her celebrations, making the occasion even more meaningful.

For Tawsif Mahbub, Eid is no longer just a festival—it is a reflection of life’s changes, the joy of extended family, and the shared happiness of both personal and professional milestones.

This year, Basar will spend Eid away from his family, heading to Australia for a shoot. “Before making the decision, I spoke to my family. They told me that if I wanted to go, I should. That gave me the confidence to take this step,” he shares.

For her audience, she has a number of projects set to air this festive season, including “Lilith”, “Chhitkiti”, and “Ojoggyo”, among others.

By noon, they handed him the money, helping repair his rickshaw. With the remaining amount, the cousins treated themselves to a meal at a local restaurant, enjoying aloor dom and other treats.

For Sadia, the festival is about connection, love, and shared joy. She extends warm greetings to her fans, saying, “Eid Mubarak to all of you at The Daily Star and to all my viewers. Advance Eid Mubarak to everyone.”

“This Eid, I’ll be away, but the work keeps me close to the audience,” shared Khairul Basar in conversation with The Daily Star. With a bunch of projects to be aired on the festival, the actor is set to go to Australia for shooting, where he will celebrate Eid.