Bangladesh’s Oscar entry Hawa, which features Chanchal Chowdhury, streams on OTT

After its successful theatrical and festival run, the film is now streaming on SonyLiv.

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Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s first feature film, Hawa, has caused quite a storm with its release in Bangladesh in July last year, garnering positive box office results. After its successful theatrical and festival run, the film is now streaming on SonyLiv.

Starring Chanchal Chowdhury, Nazifa Tushi, Sariful Razz, Sohel Mondol, and others, the film takes place primarily in the middle of the sea, delving into the lives of fishermen aboard a trawler. Hawa was selected as Bangladesh’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 95th Academy Awards.

In an interview with OTTplay, Mejbaur Rahman Sumon said that when he made the film, he made it for the big screen. “Hawa is not made for OTT,” he said when the film was running in theatres in Bangladesh. Later, the film was also released in India after a few successful screenings at the fourth Bangladesh Film Festival in Kolkata.

Talking about Hawa, Suman said, “I don’t believe in storytelling. If someone wants a good story, they can turn to literature. The purpose of going to the theaters to watch a film is not simply to hear a story. A film should be an experience. Whether Hawa could tell a story was never a significant concern for me. It could be a tale, an experience, or even a glimpse into life.”

Elaborating further, Suman said, “I have a deep fear of snakes. Many years ago, in Gulshan, I encountered a Bedini, a gypsy woman who traditionally frightens people with snakes and asks for money. She scared me as well. That’s when I realized that traditional professions are gradually fading away as modernism takes over, affecting the livelihood of communities like the Bedini and Kobi Gaan artists. While writing the script, I also discovered influences from Manasamangal in Hawa. Manasa sinks Chand Sadagar’s ship in the tale, and in Hawa, Gulti carries the impression of Manasa. With Iba’s death, she loses everything. Taking inspiration from Behula Lokhinder, the story becomes about Gulti’s loss.”

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