Cameos like these have long been a staple of Hollywood—the Marvel Cinematic Universe redefined the model, and Bollywood followed with its own versions like the YRF Spy Universe and Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe.
It was during the school-free weekends when my maternal cousins and I would huddle in front of our grandparents' grey old box TV after a hearty, yet customary lunch arrangement at their place. We would take up the gap on the floor between their king-sized bed and the unforgettable TV set to watch the black and white Satyajit Ray films, and even the vibrant late 20th-century Bangladeshi cinema, previously defined by over-the-top performances. The adults would lounge about on the bed, imbuing us with not only the significance of family viewing content but also a perception of what we understood as “our cinematic language.”
Bangladeshi cinema has been gradually making way into the Pakistani market, with two previous film releases premiering with English subtitles. This time, the cross-border cultural exchange will deepen as “Jongli” becomes the first Bangladeshi film to be dubbed in Urdu for its release in Pakistan.
After a two-year hiatus, Bangladesh’s showbiz stars are once again gearing up to take the field—this time with a new name and a fresh format. Ditching the previous title “Celebrity Cricket League” (CCL), the upcoming tournament has been rebranded as the “Celebrity Champions Trophy” (CCT), set to commence on May 5.
In a Facebook post, Sajib compared the film’s opening to that of another Swapna Scarecrow release, “Priyotoma”. He wrote, "Remember ‘Priyotoma’s’ opening? In its first three days, it grossed $44,000 from 42 theatres across North America. In comparison, ‘Jongli’ brought in $35,000 from 33 theatres.”
"Jongli", a breakout film this year, isn’t just riding high tides at the box office—it’s leaving audiences visibly shaken. Actress Prarthana Fardin Dighi, who plays the emotionally complex character Nupur, shared how the film moved viewers to tears and sparked heartfelt conversations long after the credits rolled.
The Eid release “Jongli”, starring Siam Ahmed, has emerged as a box office success, earning Tk 2.06 crore in gross ticket sales within 16 days of its release. Yesterday, director M Raahim shared the update via a Facebook post himself.
With packed halls and sustained audience turnout weeks after Eid, this year’s releases “Borbaad”, “Daagi” and “Jongli” have marked a strong box office run—prompting their scheduled release abroad.
As of today, the number of screenings at Star Cineplex has jumped to 14 per day—an unusual development for a Bangladeshi film post-Eid. The reason is not flashy promotions or star power, but the deeply personal way audiences have embraced it, said Siam Ahmed, ‘Jongli’s lead star in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star.
The film industry continues to face significant challenges as most cinemas remain closed, and the few that have reopened are struggling due to a lack of new releases. Filmmakers are hesitant to debut their projects in this climate, forcing theatre owners to rely on screening older films.
“Everyone is free to use their words as they wish, but it’s disheartening to see behaviour that doesn’t sit right with me,” shared Siam Ahmed. The actor is equally as shocked as his other colleagues in the fraternity after the exposé of the WhatsApp group ‘Alo Ashbei’, which became the talk of the town as some of its members are veteran actors of the industry.
Heavy rains and landslides from upstream India have inundated the southeastern districts of the country. Regions such as Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Cumilla, Habiganj, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, and Khagrachari are struggling with severe flooding.
In the wake of the significant win in the students’ movement against discrimination, some individuals vandalised cinema halls in the name of celebrating the victory. Actor Siam Ahmed notably expressed feeling hurt by these attacks. At Prothom Alo's “Meril Cafe Live” event on Monday evening, he urged, “I kindly request everyone not to damage the space where actors and audiences come together.”
Popular actor Siam Ahmed has been a consistent voice of support for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, alongside many of his colleagues in the entertainment industry. Their outspoken stance has been widely praised so those who chose silence or responded late have doubtlessly faced significant backlash from the general public.
Over the past few years, films starring Shakib Khan have consistently dominated the box office post-release. All things considered, local audiences have undoubtedly and eagerly been embracing this leading star's films.
The film “Jongli,” starring Siam Ahmed, has already created waves on social media with the unveiling of the first look at the characters played by Siam and Bubly in its posters.
On March 29, the filmmakers announced via a poster that "Jongli" would release this Eid. However, their sudden decision to withdraw has left fans shocked.
Known for his successful career armed with several hit films, Siam is now preparing to appear in a completely new look for this action-packed movie with another prominent actress Shobnom Yesmin Bubly. In an interview with The Daily Star, Siam Ahmed delves into his transformative journey, his evolution as an actor, and deep insights into his character alongside the M Raahim directorial film “Jongli”.
Prince Mahmud has voiced many songs for movies already. However, this marks the first film for which he has composed all the songs singlehandedly.
