The Moscow International Film Festival, known as one of the oldest film festivals in the world, has been held for over 90 years. In its 47th edition, Bangladeshi film ‘Mastul’ has received widespread praise and the Special Mention (Jury) award.
On Tuesday, ‘Mastul’ had its world premiere in Moscow, where both international film critics and general audiences were present. The film’s premiere was attended by the director Mohammad Nuruzzaman, cinematographer Mohammad Arifuzzaman, and the two lead actors, Fazlur Rahman Babu and Deepak Suman.
After the screening, the Mastul team was showered with congratulations and best wishes from the audience. Later, film critics and discerning viewers asked insightful questions about various aspects of the film.
For several years now, Bangladeshi films, including Adim and Nirvana, have regularly featured in the main competition section of the Moscow Film Festival. However, the team behind Mastul expressed that the overwhelming response they received from the Moscow audience on Tuesday night was the greatest reward. The lead actors, Fazlur Rahman Babu and Deepak Suman, were deeply moved by the love shown by the audience and critics alike.
Babu expressed his feeling of being ‘fortunate’ to attend the festival, saying, “Attending such a grand festival in Moscow is a privilege for anyone, and I feel lucky to be here with the film I acted in. I also consider myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of this film.”
The veteran actor further commented, “Getting a spot in Moscow's main competition section is a matter of great pride not just for the Mastul team but also for Bangladesh and independent filmmakers.”
Actor Deepak Suman, too, expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s a great honor for me to be here in Moscow thanks to Mastul. The reaction from the audience at the premiere was beyond my expectations.”
He added, “The audience observed everything so perfectly that one foreign viewer even asked me if I really work on a ship! The way the audience and critics responded to the film is definitely a major achievement for me.”
Cinematographer Arifuzzaman was equally astonished by the keen observation of the audience. He said, “In Moscow, I noticed that everyone watches the film with great attention. I realized this during the ‘Meet the Press’ event, where journalists and critics asked so many detailed questions about Mastul. The fact that they paid such attention to every little detail is something I consider a significant achievement.”
Since arriving in Moscow on April 21, director Mohammad Nuruzzaman has been engaging with the festival organizers, giving interviews, and answering questions from journalists and the audience after the film’s premiere. Previously, he had attended the festival with the film Adim as a co-producer, but this time he’s there with his own directed film, which has made the experience even more special.
Nuruzzaman expressed his satisfaction with the festival’s projection system: “The screens were so impressive, and the sound delivery during the Mastul premiere was exactly as I had hoped. Having worked on the sound in South India for this film, seeing it presented so perfectly in Moscow was incredibly satisfying.”
At the premiere in Moscow, not only foreign viewers but also many expatriate Bangladeshis attended. After watching the film, they remarked that Mastul, with its cultural diversity, human emotions, and reflection of reality, was able to win the hearts of Moscow’s audience.
Moscow critics praised Mastul for its story, direction, and performances. Many viewers noted that the film is not just the story of one country but a universal human language that can touch people from any culture.
Critics also praised the cinematography, music, and dialogues, which won over the hearts of Moscow’s film buffs. This achievement is not just for Mastul but also for the entire Bangladeshi film industry, marking a significant moment for the country’s cinema.
The enthusiastic response from Moscow proves that with a good story and skilled filmmaking, language or geographic boundaries are not obstacles. Mastul has crossed those boundaries and is now representing Bangladesh’s culture on the world stage.
The awards were announced on April 24. The Mastul team is expected to return to Dhaka on April 26, provided everything goes as planned.
The film Mastul, which is based on the story of sailors floating on the water, also features performances by Aminur Rahman Mukul, Arif Hasan, Sifat Bonya, and others. The digital distribution and promotion of the film are handled by Tonghor Taklies.
