Bangladeshi film Jaya Aar Sharmin has been selected for the feature film competition at the 5th World Film Festival Kolkata, scheduled to take place at Nandan in Kolkata from September 8 to 13.
Directed by Piplu R Khan, the 86-minute Bengali-language film is among 19 features competing for the Bimal Roy Golden Award for Best Feature Film and the Bimal Roy Silver Award for the runner-up.
Set during the Covid-19 lockdown, Jaya Aar Sharmin follows 2 women from contrasting social and economic backgrounds whose lives become intertwined while confined to the same home. Jaya is an actress, while Sharmin works in her household. As isolation and uncertainty reshape their daily lives, mounting emotional pressure and an imbalance in their relationship begin to alter their bond.
Jaya Ahsan plays Jaya, while theatre actor Mohsina Akhter portrays Sharmin. Tanjim Saiyara Totini appears in a guest role. Piplu R Khan co-wrote the story, screenplay and dialogue with Nusrat Islam Mati.
Filmed in 2020 at a quiet location in Dhaka’s Banani with a small crew, the production used live, on-location sound instead of dubbing, adding immediacy to the intimate drama.
After 5 years in production, the film was released in Bangladeshi cinemas on May 16, 2025, before arriving on Chorki on September 25 that year.
The film has since received recognition for its direction and performances. Piplu R Khan won the Critics’ Choice award for Best Director in the feature film category at the Meril-Prothom Alo Awards 2025, while Mohsina Akhter won Best Breakthrough Performance (Film) at the Global Star Award 2025, Season 3, for her portrayal of Sharmin.
Producer Abu Shahed Emon, founder of Golpo Rajjo Films, welcomed the festival selection.
“Having ‘Jaya Aar Sharmin’ screened at Nandan alongside films from around the world is a matter of great joy for all of us. This selection creates an important opportunity for the film to reach new audiences,” Emon said.
The film was produced by Abu Shahed Emon, Jaya Ahsan and Piplu R Khan under the banners of Golpo Rajjo Films, C Te Cinema and Applebox Films, respectively.
Bangladesh will have 2 other entries at the festival. Nurul Alam Atique’s People of the Garden - Manusher Bagan has been selected for the feature competition, while Makbul Chowdhury’s Bangladesh-UK production Mamun - In Praise of Shadows will compete in the documentary section.
The festival will also present the Harisadhan Dasgupta Golden and Silver Awards for documentaries and the Chidananda Dasgupta Golden and Silver Awards for short fiction films.
This year’s program will feature a retrospective of German filmmaker Alexander Kluge.
Screenings will be held daily from noon to 8pm at Nandan throughout the 6-day festival.
