“Doob” poised for big opening weekend

October is set to be one of the biggest months in recent years for Bangladeshi cinema, bookended by films of two very different genres. After cop thriller “Dhaka Attack” pulled in audiences to theatres in droves on the first weekend of the month, it seems like Mostofa Sarwar Farooki's separation drama “Doob” (“No Bed of Roses”) is positioned for a big opening weekend.

The Bangladesh-India joint production starring marquee Indian actor Irrfan Khan is selling advance tickets like hot cake, at least in the capital Dhaka. An ecstatic Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, senior manager of marketing department of the country's premier multiplex Star Cineplex informed that 80% tickets for Friday's shows were sold out by 3pm on Thursday, even after the multiplex allotted a whooping 13 screenings of the film on the opening day. “The weekend will most definitely go full,” he said, adding that “we will see how it does once the working week begins on Sunday, and allocate halls accordingly.” 

The management at the Shyamoli Cineplex also said advance ticket sales were very promising on Thursday, positively assuming houseful shows the entire weekend.

Earlier on Wednesday night, the makers also released the full hall list of the film for Bangladesh, India and Australia, listing 39 cinemas across the country, 34 cinemas across India (Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore) and nine venues in Australia (Canberra, Sydney, Perth, Birsbane, Darwin, Adelaide). The film is also set to release soon in USA, France, Singapore, Malaysia and other countries. On October 21, Australian event management company DeshiEvents.com.au had announced on their Facebook page that they had already sold 900+ tickets for the film in advance for the shows in Sydney.

The Mostofa Sarwar Farooki-helmed film also stars Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Parno Mitra, Rokeya Prachy and others. Produced by Jaaz Multimedia (Bangladesh) and Eskay Movies (India) aloing with Irrfan Khan himself serving as co-producer, it was originally set for release this April but got in hot waters with the government's film authorities over censorship issues. The film has already completed a big tour of international festivals including the Shanghai International Film Festival, Moscow International Film Festival, El Gouna Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and the South Asian Film Festival in Paris.

The controversy and discussion surrounding whether it is based on the late Humayun Ahmed's life has been at the core of this film ever since an Indian newspaper reported so, and that has helped Farooki's cause in generating hype. It remains to be seen whether the film resonates as well with the local audience as it did with international film festival jury and reputed film magazines, who have sung high praise for it.