Mehazabien Chowdhury’s latest film, ‘Priyo Maloti’, has been officially selected for the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa. Known as ‘Whispers of a Thirsty River’ in English, the film will compete in the prestigious Cinema of the World category. IFFI, one of Asia’s oldest and largest film festivals, will be held from November 20 to 28.
Directed by Shankha Dasgupta, ‘Priyo Maloti’ will be screened at Panjim Auditorium-4 on November 27. The film stars Mehazabien in the titular role, supported by Nader Chowdhury, Azad Abul Kalam, Shahjahan Samrat, and Rizvi Riju. The screenplay is co-written by Dasgupta and Abu Sayeed Rana, with Dasgupta marking his debut as a feature film director. Dasgupta expressed his excitement over the selection, stating, "IFFI is a key platform for cultural exchange between neighboring countries. This recognition will help promote ‘Priyo Maloti’ internationally and potentially open doors for its distribution."
Mehazabien also shared her joy, saying, "The inclusion of ‘Priyo Maloti’ at IFFI is a major honor. While it’s exciting to showcase the film internationally, my biggest joy will be when audiences in Bangladesh can watch it."
Jointly produced by Frame Per Second and Chorki, the film’s release date in Bangladesh has yet to be announced.
Before IFFI, ‘Priyo Maloti’ was selected for the World Cinema category at the Cairo International Film Festival, taking place from November 13 to 22.
This dual selection highlights the film's growing recognition on the global stage, raising anticipation for its eventual local release.
