Raihan Rafi, film director, spoke recently at a programme in Bangladesh about why his films repeatedly resonate with audiences.
Rafi, whose work includes the commercially successful "Poran", said the core reason his films become hits is that viewers find their own lives reflected in his stories.
He said, “The reason my films become hits is that people find their lives in my stories. They search for themselves within the characters.”
Addressing a perception that he focuses on crime, Rafi rejected the idea and said his films draw on everyday life and relationships. He added that characters such as Ananya, portrayed by Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, and Roman, played by Sariful Razz, allow viewers to relate to familiar people from their own pasts.
He said, “The boy may not study seriously, but he wants to fall in love. These stories exist around us. There are many girls who reflect Ananya -- a college girl may be in a relationship with one person but want to marry another. I always want to hear life stories and portray life through cinema; that is why audiences accept my films.”
Rafi is currently working on "Pressure Cooker", slated for release at Eid, in which Nazifa Tushi appears in a key role.
He made his film debut with "Poramon 2" and later directed "Dahan", "Taan", "Damal", "Surongo", "Toofan" and "Taandob", among others.