Real-life inspiration behind ‘Domm’ shares survival story

Md Noor Islam, whose life inspired the Eid release “Domm”, spoke to journalists on April 4, recounting his harrowing experience of abduction and survival. Directed by Redoan Rony and starring Afran Nisho, the film is based on the true story of Noor Islam, who was abducted by the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2008 and later returned home against all odds.

After watching the film, Noor Islam and his wife, Anowara Parvin, addressed the media. He described the film as being of international standard and praised Nisho’s performance as “outstanding”. He also shared details of the circumstances surrounding his abduction.

Noor Islam expressed gratitude to director Redoan Rony and producer Shahriar Shakil for bringing his story to the public after 18 years. He said he had been abducted on the basis of unfounded geopolitical, social and religious allegations, and at one point, his captors had decided to kill him.

Recalling the incident, he said he was placed on a donkey and taken to be executed. Unable to even drink water properly, he began reciting Dua Yunus as advised by his wife. “They were preparing to slaughter me. I kept reciting the prayer loudly. Suddenly, I felt warmth throughout my body and experienced a divine presence. After trying to kill me for four hours and failing, they finally embraced me and said, ‘Allah’s mercy is upon you. You will not be killed,’” he said.

He also expressed gratitude to the public, journalists from television and print media, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their support at the time. He believes that prayers from people of all faiths, along with divine mercy, played a role in his survival.

The press conference was held at Star Cineplex in the capital, where Afran Nisho, who portrays Noor Islam (named Shahjahan Islam Noor in the film), and co-star Puja Chery were also present.

Visibly emotional, Nisho said, “You may see Noor bhai and his wife smiling today, but those memories remain vivid. When we spent time with them, we felt their pain and grief. Even after 18 years, those moments are still alive for them. It is not possible to fully portray that intensity on screen, as it could become overwhelming for the audience. So we approached it from a more universal perspective.”

Puja Chery also became emotional during the conversation. Regaining composure, she said, “They are the real-life heroes. I drew inspiration for my character from them.”

“Domm” is produced by SVF Alpha-i Entertainment Limited and Chorki. The screenplay has been written by Syed Ahmed Shawki, Al-Amin Hasan Nirjhar, Md Saifullah Riyad, and Rabiul Alam Robi, alongside director Redoan Rony.