Manna’s last film ‘Jibon Jontrona’ cleared for release

The last film of Dhallywood megastar Manna, titled ‘Jibon Jontrona’, is gearing up for a theatrical release in 2022, after it was cleared by the Bangladesh Censor Board recently.

The Liberation War-based film was initially named ‘Leela Manthan’. It was later renamed as ‘Jibon Jontrona’ and received the censor clearance in October, more than a decade after the actor passed away in 2008, its producer Khorshed Alam Khosru confirmed The Business Post on Sunday.

Khosru said, “There was a complication centring the title of the film. The film censor board some seven to eight years ago declined to accept the title. Later, we changed it to ‘Jibon Jontrona’ and again applied for the clearance.”

“The film was cleared by the Bangladesh Film Censor Board two weeks ago. As it’s a Liberation War- based film, we have a plan to release it on the occasion of a national day in next year. As it’s the last film of Manna, we will run a wide publicity campaign before the release,” added the ‘Jibon Jontrona’ producer.

Khosru shared with The Business Post that they had converted the 35mm film to digital format to make it ready for screening. “We are grateful to Manna. The film was supposed to be release after his demise. He had completed the film before he passed away. It was shot on 35mm film. After Manna’s death, we faced difficulties in collecting the sound negative of the film for a long time. It took for around two years to complete it. After that, the film was submitted to the authorities for the clearance.”

“We will try to release the film in an appropriate manner paying tribute to Manna,” he added.

Directed by Jahid Hossain, filming of ‘Jibon Jontrona’ started in 2005, depicting the lives of a group of sex workers and their contribution to the 1971 Liberation War in the storyline. Along with Manna, it stars Mousumi, Popy, Shahnoor, Mukti, Prarthana Fardin Dighi, Aliraz, Misha Sawdagar, Shahidul Alam Sachchu and Anwara, among others.

The fans of the late actor have long been waiting for the film.

“I am very grateful to Manna’s fans that they have always expressed their interest for the film and waited eagerly for its release. We expect that they will come to theatres to watch the film,” Khosru said further.

Background score and all the songs in ‘Jibon Jontrona’ were composed by legendary musician Ahmed Imtiaz Bulbul, who passed away in 2019, as shared by the producer.

Actor Aslam Talukder Manna, better known as Manna, died at the age of 43 on February 17, 2008.