It’s Going to Break...

After two and half months of success in box office, Monpura is now on its way of breaking all the records of Bangla movie industry. Now there are more than 50 prints running all over the country. There are some theaters in capital Dhaka, which are running this movie for more than 10 weeks consecutively.

According to Gias Uddin Selim, there were some 1200 theaters in Bangladesh which has reduced to 800 at present. So the movie will run across the country for quite a long time. In the capital, Monpura will run for more than 3/4 months. It may run for more than a year across the country.

The movie which is been made on the rural scenario, has found its biggest crowed in the capital, Dhaka. This sharply growing megacity actually sucked the rural people during its growing period. Perhaps, that is a part of the reason why this busy city dwellers have come in numbers to watch the eternal love story of rural Bangladesh.

In Third Week, 8 More Theaters

After two weeks of consecutive success, Monpura has been released in 8 more theaters across the country. Because of wonderful response from spectators of all class and age, the distributors have decided to release more prints and distribute the movie across the country. The number of theaters could easily have been increased up to 18 or 28 instead of 8. This was not possible due to the severe threat of piracy. In spite of an anti piracy drive by RAB in last week, the owner and distributors of movies are still not feeling secured about their movies.

Monpura- Very Close to a Huge Commercial Success.

In its way of grabbing the theaters, Monpura has created some wonders in Bangla Movie. A main stream commercial film, 'Mia Barir Chakor', was released simultaneously with Monpura and achieved a huge commercial success. This movie was replaced by Monpura in a theater of Bashaboo( Aagomon) just after two weeks. The picture might be the same across the country in the next week as well.

After a long time we have got a commercially successful bangle movie that represents 'Real Bangladesh'. Now, How far will it take our commercial movie industry- that is the next thing to watch.

One Week Away From a 'Blockbuster'

After a wonderful week in Box Office, Monpura is only one week away from securing a 'Blockbuster Hit'. Normally Movies having such an opening week in Box Office, are called 'Blockbuster' Immediately. But taking the number of theaters in count, we have to say that it will take another week to call Monpura a Blockbuster.

Monpura- One Week Away From a Blockbuster Hit

Initially, Monpura was released in only 4 theaters of Dhaka and Rajshahi. In contrary, another successful commercial movie of that week 'Mia Barir Chakor'- was released in 40 Theaters across the nation. But in the next week, Monpura was released in Chittagong, Mymensingh, Bogra, Rongpur and Sirajgong. So Monpura needs a consecutive success in second week to call it a nationwide Blockbuster. And Monpura has all the potential to do so. A movie Pictured on Rural Panorama got a huge audience from the urban people in first week. So as it will reach the small towns or villages, it is expected to get an even greater response.


There have been some commercially successful movies in recent time which had its audiences in theaters like 'Star Cineplex' or 'Bolaka'. These movies were only acceptable to a certain class (Urban people) or certain age group (Specially Youngsters). But we hardly had any movies in the last decade from our film industry, which was accepted by people irrespective of Class and age. Will Monpura fill that blank space?

Just one week away from the answer.

"Worried of Video Piracy"

Just before the release of Monpura, Director Gias Uddin Selim has expressed his worries about video piracy. The movie has already faced the audio piracy through internet. Now, on the eve of its release on theaters it’s facing an even greater threat of video piracy.

Gias uddin selim- Director of Monpura

"I’m worried about video piracy. It was not that big problem during the caretaker government. But as soon as the political government has taken charge, they have become active. Even they have already asked me for bribe"- Said the worried director about his debut film.

The songs of Monpura have made a huge hype about the movie. Almost all of the songs have achieved popularity. So Monpura has to meet the hype to satisfy the audience. ”I think, the movie will satisfy the audience. Watching the movie they will not be bored. They will love this movie and come in numbers in theaters"- Said Gias Uddin Selim with confidence.

"I have made this movie for mass. There are directors who will work for awards from home and abroad. They make movie for a definite class. I don’t want to be one of them. When I made this movie, awards were not my concern. And Monpura is a totally commercial movie. Those who have watched this movie also told me the same."- He added.

There is a plan to release the movie with even bigger arrangement in future. But this was not possible due to piracy threat this time. He dreams of making another movie after this. "In 2010 I will make another movie. In the interval I will work on a TV serial."

Monpura- Revolution or Rest in Peace?

Within a few hours Monpura will be released and it has to face a real tough competition. Well, competition is an integral part of success. But is it a fair competition in this case?

Chanchal Chaowdhury & Farhana Mili in Monpura

There is audience for Bangla traditional movie and this stream has its own 'Film Stars'. The regular audience goes to theaters at the end of week to see the films of their stars. But in case of Monpura, it has no 'Regular Audience'. Neither it has the Star cast that can drive the audience to theaters. Yes, Gias Uddin Selim, Chanchal Chowdhury, Fazlur Rahman Babu or Mamunur Rashid has got their audience in small screen. But the audience of small screen are not likely to come in numbers in theaters at present. So instead of driving the audience into theater it has to create the audience first.

If Monpura can secure a success, it might become a turning point for Bangla movie. Besides promoting Bangla commercial movie it will create a class of audience for good Bangla movie. In turn, it may bring those days of 60's and 70's back in Bangla film industry.

Will it bring revolution or simply be released and forgotten thereafter- we will get the answer in few hours.

At Last, Its 13th February

6 Months after the release of music and trailer, At last, Monpura is going to be released on 13th February, Friday. And 13th February is also 'Pahela Falgun'- a very special occasion for all Bangali. Though the release is been too late, still releasing on 'Pahela Falgun', Just before the valentines day- seems to be the right choice for a movie based on a complete love story.

Release- At Last

The decision was made on 22nd January and Gias Uddin Selim, the director of the movie, also informed media immediately. "I have made this movie to display in theaters and hopefully it will be displayed in theaters across the country"-said Gias Uddin Selim. It has already been confirmed to be displayed in 'Star Cineplex' and 'Bolaka'-two of the most popular theaters in Dhaka. The movie will also be displayed in theaters of Narayangonj, Savar, Jessor, Khulna, Rajshahi.

This is going to be one of the biggest releases of a Bangladeshi movie in recent time. Very few movies in last decade got this amount of attention even before the release. It also shows that the expectation of people to Monpura is Sky-high. Perhaps, it is the biggest challenge for Monpura to meet the hype which has been created by its fabulous songs.

Uncut censor certificate for Monpura

At last, Monpura has got the uncut censor certificate. The movie was displayed on 18th January on censor board. "All the board members praised the movie and also inspired me"- said gias uddin selim, the director of Monpura. "It’s a wonderful movie. Though it lacks in casting popular film stars still it will grab the attention of people, I believe"-Said one of the members of the board. After 'Rupkather Galpo' it is the second movie of theater activist turned model Chanchal Chowdhury. "It’s an exceptional love story. The uncut censor certificate also proves that."-Said Chanchal chowdhury who is the main protagonist of Monpura.

Farhana Mili in Monpura

After getting censor certificate, the next question is obviously about its release. There are two possible dates of release in the air.

1. 14th February, Valentine’s Day- (According to Gias uddin selim and a facebook group about Monpura)

2.13th February, Pahela Falgun-(According to Monpura official website www.monpura.com)

But according to the context of the film, the second option seems to be more likely to be the releasing date. A complete love story, pictured on the backdrop of rural Bangladesh, deserves to be released on pahela falgun (13th February) rather than Valentines Day.

It seems that the wait for the release of a movie of our soil has come to an end. Don’t know when we waited for the release a Bengali commercial film last time. Is it anything short of a 'Success' for Monpura?

Comments

Movie preview- Monpura

Monpura- A heart breaking movie
Afjal Hossain ( Actor, director, painter)

A movie 'Monpura' is been made. It’s made by gias uddin selim and pictured by Kamrul hasan khoshru. The making and picturization created wonder in every moment during the show. People usually get speechless when he found himself in front of a great beauty. And now I’m in a similar condition. But how long he can keep speechless? Very soon words come in an even greater flow. And there are so many modern tools like phone, SMS, email to express the emotion. But still I feel that, nothing can be better than letter to express the emotion.


Dear Giasuddin Selim,

Say, I don’t know you. Also don’t know much about you. Say, I have seen Monpura on a sudden. What my reaction would be?


From a long since, you have made your own brand of direction and script writing in small screen. Now-a-days, anybody can be TV play director if he wishes. But you belong to the elite minority who has got the will as well as ability. You are very few in number, but still exist and that’s why still we can talk about the standard of TV play. I only know you that much.

Farhana Mili in Monpura

But there are so many viewers in this country who know you better than I do. And all these thinking are coming after watching Monpura. You have shown your magic in small screen. But how much you will be able to do in big screen, that was in question. There might not have been any question if I had known you better.


Millions of applause for you. There was jaw dropping arrangement in Monpura. Wondered and speechless-I was both. Those who have seen Monpura or even heard the songs of Monpura- had the same experience. People, who have left Bangla cinema and cinema hall both, might get an opportunity to get their way back to cinema hall due to Monpura. Congratulations selim, for not thinking of 'kith and kin' during selecting performer. Congratulations for making the movie for mass not for your own aspirations.


Monpura has made me so optimistic. Though there are hundreds of obstacles, still people like you, are trying to make movies the way it should be- irrespective of what the trend is going on the market.


Selim, its not only ‘feeling good’ after watching a movie. So many things have come in my mind after watching the movie. Here, how many people think of film? So when a filmmaker dreams, there are so many obstacles to face to bring the dream to reality. He has to bear all the worries. He has to collect the money even taking the risk of getting bankrupt. But even after that, do we respect the person behind all these hard work? After doing all these, the film maker has to urge in this fashion 'Please, come to watch my movie. I’m begging of you.'


Selim, you must have dreamt of Monpura for a long time. After dreaming it comes to the realization. The combination of your dream and picturization of Kamrul hasan khoshru is just not all about 'feeling good' but feeling envious of you. And when 'feeling good' touches that limit, is there any way of not being envious? Monpura has achieved that respect that instead of addressing 'Tumi'(‘you'- to address someone intimate in Bengali), in this letter I addressed you 'Apni'(also 'you'- to address someone honored in Bengali). People normally come to 'tumi' from 'Apni'. Then this is an exception, breaking the trend.

Monpura is a heart breaking movie that truly touches the heart. May Allah give you the courage, strength and ability to make 10 more movies.


Yours Truly,
Afjal Hossain
24th August 2008, Dhanmondi, Dhaka.


Translated from Bengali.
Courtesy : The daily Prothom-alo, 'Anando', 4th september, 2008.