Only audiences can decide a film’s fate: Arifin Shuvoo

As Eid-ul-Azha festivities continue to energise cinema halls across the country, actors are joining audiences in theatres to celebrate the season’s latest releases. During one such visit alongside co-star Bidya Sinha Mim, actor Arifin Shuvoo reflected on the unpredictable nature of filmmaking and what he believes makes cinema unique.

“Success in cinema is inherently uncertain, and that is its true beauty,” Shuvoo said.

Explaining his perspective, the actor cited the example of the landmark Bangladeshi film “Beder Meye Josna”, which went on to become one of the biggest successes in the country’s cinematic history.

Recalling an interview by actor Ilias Kanchan, Shuvoo said, “Kanchan sahib once shared that during the shooting of ‘Beder Meye Josna’, people would call him and ask whether he had gone mad, spending his time in Gazipur performing with snakes. Yet after its release, the film created history.”

Drawing from his own experience, Shuvoo said it is impossible to accurately predict a film’s fate before its release.

“I’ve worked on films with great expectations that did not resonate as strongly with audiences as I had hoped,” he said. “At the same time, there have been projects I worried about that ended up being widely appreciated. No matter how much marketing or promotion is done, cinema remains unpredictable. Ultimately, only audiences can decide whether they connect with a film.”

According to the actor, commercial calculations were never the primary focus for the team behind “Malik”. Instead, their goal was to provide audiences with a complete entertainment experience during the festive season.

“During Eid, people want a little action, a little romance, some emotion, some tension, memorable dialogues, and songs before leaving the theatre with a smile,” he said. “Our aim was to add a little more joy to the Eid film line-up.”

Shuvoo added that after months of hard work and dedication, the film has finally reached audiences. Now, beyond all projections and expectations, his only hope is that the film resonates with viewers.