Crowd-funded film ‘Saatao’ releasing today

The crowd-funded film ‘Saatao (Memories of Gloomy Monsoons)’ is releasing today. The film will have a theatrical release in six cinemas. Directed by Khandaker Sumon, the film has Aynun Putul and Fazlul Haque in pivotal roles.

Earlier, the film had its national premiere at the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF) on January 20. The film also won the Best Film Award from FIPRESCI Jury under the Bangladesh Panorama section at DIFF.

“I’ve played the role of Putul in this film. When I first read the script, I liked it so much that I couldn’t say no to this work. Moreover, as the role I’m playing has the same name as mine, I somehow liked it more. I enjoyed shooting for the film too,” said the lead actress Putul.

“The film ‘Saatao’ is crowd-funded. So those who have worked on this project gave it their best. Everyone was really cooperative. The film is close to us. I want to work in this type of challenging role in the future,” she added.

The film will have screens at Basundhara Star Cineplex and Jamuna Block Baster in Dhaka, Shapla Cinema Hall in Rangpur, while in Chittagong, the film will release in Sugandha Cinema Hall and Silver Screen cinemas.

The makers submitted the film to the Bangladesh Film Censor Board on August 28. The film received an uncut censor certificate on September 15.

The shooting of ‘Saatao’ started on February 2 in 2019.

The story of ‘Saatao’ revolves around the life struggles of farmers and the universal struggles of women from marginalized backgrounds.

The story of the film goes as Fazlu, a farmer, worries that his wife Putul will get lonely, staying at home alone. So he gifts her a cow. Thus, Putul gets a new companion and starts forgetting the pain of leaving her father’s house.

Meanwhile, farmers like Fazlu are struggling as a result of the poor environmental situation.

The movie also casts Sabera Yasmin, Tashmita Shimu, and Mitu Sarkar, among others.