Those who enjoy mass commercial films will not be disappointed: Saif Chandan

With Eid-ul-Azha drawing near, filmmaker Saif Chandan is still caught in the whirlwind of last-minute work for his upcoming film “Malik”. Speaking candidly from India, where he is currently occupied with post-production responsibilities, the director reflected on the chaos surrounding the release, the challenges of promotion, and why audiences should give the film a chance this Eid.

“The last-minute preparation is extremely, extremely terrifying,” Saif Chandan admitted with a laugh. “I’m still in India and haven’t been able to return yet. We’ve just completed the sound balance work, and there’s still work going on connected to Bangladesh.”

Although the team is trying to maintain promotional momentum ahead of the festival release, Chandan explained that the process has been far from smooth. According to him, different members associated with the film are promoting it in their own ways, but the production side has faced limitations due to inexperience.

“Everyone connected to the film is trying to promote it from their own place,” he said. “But my producer is new. Usually, many of the things that I personally handle are not possible for me to do this time because I’m away.”

He added that distributors are also making independent efforts to support the film’s visibility ahead of Eid.

Discussing the ongoing battle for screens during Eid releases, Chandan acknowledged the dominance of superstar Shakib Khan in the country’s exhibition circuit.

“In Bangladesh, most cinema halls are dependent on Shakib Khan,” he said frankly. “Whenever his films are released, almost all halls go under his banner.”

However, he pointed out that the distribution system has recently seen some changes compared to previous years. “Earlier, many halls used to operate on minimum guarantee systems with advance payments. Now, many are shifting towards percentage or commission-based systems,” he explained.

Even so, Chandan remains hopeful about “Malik” finding its audience. “From what I know, there will still be certain halls reserved for Shakib Khan’s film, naturally. But we’re always present in the multiplexes. All the films releasing this Eid will have multiplex screenings.”

When asked to give audiences three reasons to watch “Malik”, the director was quick to answer.

“The first reason is Arifin Shuvoo,” he said. “A lot of people genuinely want to see him on screen, and I believe audiences who watch him in this film will be satisfied.”

His second reason centred around actress Bidya Sinha Mim. “We haven’t really seen Mim presented in this way in cinema before,” he said. “She is already one of our most presentable and admired actresses, and people who love watching her will definitely enjoy her character in this film.”

The final reason, according to him, lies in the film’s overall treatment and presentation. “The storytelling and backdrop have been designed in a way that audiences can enjoy,” he noted. “Those who like mass commercial films will not be disappointed. I think the trailer already gave people an idea of that. Even the songs will give viewers visual comfort and entertainment.”

Saif Chandan also reflected on the changing trend of film music releases in Bangladesh. In earlier years, hit songs often helped create anticipation long before a film arrived in cinemas. Now, however, songs are frequently released after the film itself.

“The problem is that we often don’t even know which films are definitely releasing until the very last moment,” he explained. “In other countries, audiences know six months or even a year in advance when a major film is coming. But in our industry, apart from Eid, there really isn’t a fixed release culture anymore.”