Seven years in making, ‘Nandini’ opens nationwide today

Bangladeshi audiences are finally getting to see "Nandini", a film that has been in the making for nearly seven years. The movie opened today in 26 cinemas across the country, offering a rare non-Eid release in a season when new films are often scarce.

Directed by Shoibur Rahman Russell and produced by Md Imam Hasan under the Nayontara Limited banner, "Nandini" is adapted from Paritosh Barai's novel "Norok Nandini". The story follows the struggle of a woman who refuses to give in to fate. 

The screenplay was written by Tamjid Rahman. The film is produced by Nayontara Limited and features an ensemble cast including Fazlur Rahman Babu, Irfan Sajjad, Munira Yusuf Memi, Jayosree Kar Jaya, and Elora Gohor.

Nazira Ahmed Mou takes on the central role, portraying a resilient heroine who embodies defiance in the face of hardship. West Bengal actor Indraneil Sengupta appears opposite her as a journalist.

The journey to release has been fraught with delays. Shooting began in late 2019 but halted during the Covid-19 pandemic. Further setbacks followed when the producer fell ill, pushing back completion for years. Although the film received censor board clearance in 2023, it remained unreleased until today.

With its release, "Nandini" adds to a September lineup already showing more variety than usual. Earlier this month two films debuted, and the arrival of Russell's drama suggests that theatres may no longer have to depend solely on old titles between festival periods.

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