Putting the message through Mr Bangladesh

The fourth official poster of the much awaited film Mr. Bangladesh was unveiled recently. The much awaited film was produced and starred by noted actor and producer Khijir Hayat Khan, who has a very emotional connection to the film. The Daily Star talks to the young lead about Mr Bangladesh, his expectations from the film and more.

Thank you for your time. Tell us about the significance of the colorisation of Mr Bangladesh's latest poster.

KHK: This is actually the fourth poster that we have revealed of the film, and as you can see it has a red hue to it. For me, red signifies love and passion; and if you see the opposite end of the spectrum, hate and obsession. I think it fits the film perfectly.

From the trailer, we can see that the film tackles the very sensitive issue of terrorism and violence. Would you tell us why you chose to tell this kind of story?

KHK: To be honest, this is a tremendous concern for us as a nation. I have lost a close friend, IshratAkhond to the Holey Artisan attack in 2016, and it had affected me severely. We just wanted to send a message that people from all religions can live in harmony in this country, and that the majority of Bangladeshi people are peace loving individuals who will never support any kind of violence.

You have directed and produced films before. How drawn do you think the Bangladeshi audience will be to Mr Bangladesh once it releases?

KHK: This is my third production venture after Ostitte Amar Desh and Jaago, and I am very confident about the film because we have poured our hearts into this venture. At the moment, we are targeting its release around July 20, this year. You can hopefully catch this film in 50 halls in the country.

What projects could we see you doing in the future?

KHK: I plan to do a sequel -- Mr Bangladesh 2. I want the focal point of the film to be drugs and their effect in destroying the lives of young people in Bangladesh.