Bangladeshi director Mostofa Sarwar Farooki has explained the reasons behind the non-release of his movie “Shonibar Bikel” (Saturday Afternoon) in local cinemas. Farooki addressed inquiries regarding the film’s absence from theaters, emphasizing that the decision was driven by commercial considerations rather than apprehension or reluctance.
In a recent social media post, Farooki mentioned receiving numerous queries over the past eighteen months about the theatrical release status of the film. He highlighted that such queries often carried an underlying assumption that he was hesitant to broach the topic of extremism. Shedding light on the matter, Farooki disclosed that following the film’s availability on the SonyLIV streaming platform, a multitude of online links had been shared, making the film readily accessible. He stated that those interested in watching the film had likely already done so, while those who had not could easily find it online.
Farooki contended that releasing a film in cinemas after it had been widely disseminated online did not align with sound business practices in the Bangladeshi market. He mentioned that even a highly successful film yielded limited returns once distribution expenses were accounted for. Drawing a comparison, he noted that there were no queries about the absence of his acclaimed 2004 film “Bachelor” in theaters currently, illustrating that the economic viability was no longer feasible.
