Gazi Rakayet’s ‘The Grave’ streaming on US OTT platforms

Director Gazi Rakayet’s acclaimed film ‘The Grave’, which was released in Hollywood, is now available for streaming on international streaming platforms.

Gazi Rakayet, who also acted in the film, confirmed the news to The Business Post on Wednesday.

“I am feeling very happy right now. I wanted to reach the international audience with this film and that’s why we made the English version. Though I always say, good films don’t need any particular language but sometimes it can communicate with more people if the film is in an international language.”

“As an artiste and director, it is a matter of great pleasure that my film has been selected for Amazon Prime Video. I think it is an achievement for Bangladeshi films too. It will pave the way for other Bangladeshi films to go on international platforms,” he added.

Viewers from America and worldwide can now watch the movie for free on OTT platforms Plex TV and Typhoon TV. The film is also going to release in Amazon Prime Video soon.

Gazi Rakayet said, “Anyone can easily watch the film for free by downloading the Plex TV app without the subscription via AVOD (Advertised Video on Demand). ‘The Grave’ has been running in the OTT channel since August 15. The film can also be watched from Amazon Prime video in 2 or 3 days.”

Story, screenplay, and dialogues for ‘The Grave’ are also written by Gazi Rakayet. He also had a significant role in the film.

He plays the main character Shirja Mia in the film. The film depicts the story of a gravedigger who travels from village to village gathering information about deaths. He intends to dig one hundred graves, believing that this is the only way for him to be saved and reunited with his deceased family members in heaven.

Gazi Rakayet’s ‘The Grave,’ Bangladesh’s first English-language film, was released commercially in Hollywood on May 14, according to the director. The film is a government-funded project with the Bangla title ‘Gor.’ It was initially released in both English and Bangla in December 2020.

“The film was screened at the Laemmle Theatre in Los Angeles following which the film was cleared by experts who judged it technically correct and eligible for participation in the Oscars next year. We will submit ‘The Grave’ to the General Category instead of submitting to foreign language film as the film is in English language. No film in Bangladesh has ever gone to the main competition till now. We are very hopeful that the Oscar committee will select our film,” he said.

While asked about whether the film will be released on local OTT platforms, Rakayet said, “We are still thinking about the release of the Bangla version of the film. But we are not sure about this.”

‘The Grave’ also stars Dilara Zaman, Dipanwita, Moushumi Hamid, Sushoma Sarkar, and Shamima Tusty. SM Mohsin and Mamunur Rashid also had guest appearances in ‘The Grave’.