At Rotterdam Film Festival, Mamo celebrates a global moment for ‘Master’

Zakia Bari Mamo has long been one of the most recognisable and beloved faces in Bangladeshi showbiz. From winning the National Film Award for her performance in “Daruchini Dwip” to earning praise for her work in several acclaimed films, countless television dramas and OTT productions, Mamo has built a career marked by range and consistency.

Currently, the actress finds herself far from home, in the Netherlands, where her latest film, “Master”, is set to have its world premiere. The film has also been selected for the Big Screen Competition section at the prestigious International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), adding another significant milestone to her journey.

Mamo arrived in the Netherlands last Friday and spoke to The Daily Star earlier today, clearly brimming with excitement.
“It feels wonderful to be at the International Film Festival Rotterdam,” she said. “I’m here because of ‘Master’, a film I’ve acted in, and that itself makes the experience very special. This is my first time at this festival, and the feeling is overwhelming in the best possible way.”

She shared that the entire core team is present for the festival. “Badhan apu, Nasir Uddin Khan bhai and the director, we’ve all come together. To see our film competing at such an international festival is a matter of great joy. It’s genuinely happy news for all of us.”

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The anticipation is particularly high as “Master” is set to have its world premiere tomorrow. “People from many different countries will watch the film,” Mamo asserted. “We’ll be watching it with them as well. I’m really looking forward to hearing people’s reactions and understanding how they connect with it.”
For Mamo, the pride goes beyond her own film. “Whenever Bangladeshi cinema is showcased at a festival like Rotterdam, it brings an added sense of happiness,” she noted. “It’s a beautiful feeling. I truly hope our films continue to travel across the world like this.”

Talking about the film, she described it as a political thriller with layered storytelling. “A lot is happening in the film,” she said. “I believe audiences will enjoy it, both at home and internationally. I hope it resonates with viewers here at the festival as well.”
In “Master”, Mamo plays a character named Jhorna — a role she says she thoroughly enjoyed inhabiting. “I really liked playing this character. There was scope to perform, to explore,” she shared. “Everyone involved in the film has done a wonderful job. Each actor gave their best from their own place.”

She also spoke warmly about the director and the overall experience of making the film. “The director worked with a lot of care and sensitivity,” she said. Meanwhile, Mamo has already moved on to her next cinematic journey. She has recently acted in a new film titled “Bonolota Express”, directed by Tanim Noor. The film is based on Humayun Ahmed’s short novel “Kichhukkhon”, and she plays an important role in the adaptation.