‘Bonolota Express’ will carry forward the spirit of cinema celebrations: Badhan
Eid release “Bonolota Express”, starring Azmeri Haque Badhan, has met with an outpouring of audience appreciation since its debut. The film has been warmly received, with Badhan making multiple visits to cinema halls to engage with viewers. In the film, she portrays the role of a minister’s wife.
The National Film Award-winning actress recently shared her thoughts with The Daily Star.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Reflecting on the film completing a successful first week and entering its second, Badhan said, “It feels wonderful. As a performer in this film, it brings me immense joy. Audiences have watched and appreciated my previous works like ‘Esha Murder’ and ‘Rehana Maryam Noor’, but they didn’t receive this level of response. ‘Bonolota Express’ has generated far greater enthusiasm and love from viewers.”
She added that seeing her film run to packed houses, with audiences struggling to secure tickets and attending in groups, has been deeply gratifying.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—‘Bonolota Express' will carry forward the spirit of cinema celebrations,” she remarked.
When asked how many times she has watched the film in theatres, Badhan shared, “I watched it once in full with my daughter, and even then, getting tickets was difficult. Apart from that, I’ve caught parts of it during 7–8 hall visits—mostly the ending portions.”
Speaking about audience reactions, she said, “I’ve truly enjoyed the responses. Humayun Ahmed has a huge fan base, and director Tanim Noor has done justice to the story. Not everyone can pull that off. Animesh Aich successfully brought Misir Ali to life, and Tanim Noor has also done a commendable job here.”
She noted that audiences laughed, cried, and connected deeply with the film. “It’s a result of Tanim Noor’s effective direction and the strength of the entire team,” she added.
On portraying a minister’s wife for the first time, Badhan said, “While audiences have praised the film as a whole, they’ve also appreciated individual performances. I’ve received a lot of love for my role, especially alongside Chanchal Chowdhury. Viewers have embraced our on-screen chemistry and given full marks to my portrayal.”
Responding to what audiences in Bangladesh truly seek, she said, “They want good stories. If the story is compelling, they will go to theatres. They’ve watched ‘Utsab’, and now they’re watching ‘Bonolota Express’.”
When asked about other Eid releases she has seen, Badhan replied, “I’ve watched ‘Pressure Cooker’—Nazifa Tushi was outstanding, and Raihan Rafi did a brilliant job directing it. I also liked ‘Domm’—Afran Nisho delivered an exceptional performance. I’ve watched three Eid films so far and plan to see the rest soon.”
She further added, “We are now seeing a variety of stories being told in our cinema, and audiences are choosing the best among them.”
In conclusion, Badhan said, “I am not a supporter of violent films. I believe in strong storytelling—and ‘Bonolota Express’ offers exactly that.”
Comments