Monpura (Bengali: মনপুরা), is a 2009 Bangladeshi Bengali film, directed by Giasuddin Selim.[3] It is considered as one of the greatest Bangladeshi films ever made.
| Monpura | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Giasuddin Selim |
| Written by | Giasuddin Selim |
| Produced by | Anjan Chowdhury |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Kamrul Hasan Khosru |
| Edited by | Iqbal E. Kabir |
| Music by | Arnob |
| Distributed by | Maasranga Production |
Release date |
|
Running time | 138 minutes |
| Country | Bangladesh |
| Language | Bengali |
| Box office | ৳8 crore (equivalent to ৳19 crore or US$1.7 million in 2022)[2] |
Monpura is a romantic tragedy film set in rural Bangladesh. It stars Chanchal Chowdhury and Farhana Mili as the leading roles. The other supporting actors were Mamunur Rashid and Fazlur Rahman Babu.[4] The soundtrack of the film was composed by Shayan Chowdhury Arnob.
As Selim's large-screen debut and contemporary-folk soundtrack were released ahead of screening which was an instant hit, it received a huge media hype even before its release. It saw a record amount of box collections in the first week of release. It's soundtrack album became one of the most popular in the country. Monpura is the highest-grossing Bangladeshi film of 2009 and the 18th highest-grossing film of all time.[5] The film received positive reactions from the fans, especially for its direction and visuals, which captured the rural life of Bangladeshi people. Monpura won the leading five awards in the 34th Bangladesh National Film Awards: Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actor in a Negative Role, Best Female Playback Singer, and Best Screenplay, became the only film from the 21st century to do so. It is cited as one of the best films of the new era of Bangladeshi films, which saw critical acclaim overseas[6] The shooting took place in various locations, including remote areas of Bogra, Kushtia and Dhaka.[7]
The film was remade into Indian Bengali in 2010 as Achin Pakhi, which was directed by Anjan Das.
Plot edit
Shonai is a man-servant in the house of Gazi, a rich man. The son of Gazi, Halim, is mentally unstable, and he murders a woman who worked in that house. But Gazi insists Shonai take the responsibility of the murder and leaves him alone in an island named "Monpura", where he falls in love with Pori, the daughter of a fisherman. Gazi, seeing Pori one day, intends to marry his son, Halim, with her, although he pledged to Shonai that he would propose Pori's father for his marriage. At first, her father did not accept the proposal, for he did not want to let her daughter marry a maniac. But when Gazi wanted to give his property to Pori, he accepted the proposal. When Shonai discovers Gazi's plot, he went to Pori and the two decided to flee on the next night. But as the time came for Shonai to leave, the police arrested him for the murder case. Pori was married to Halim. Pori was waiting for Shonai, and he wanted to be free to meet her. So wife of Gazi said that Shonai will be executed on Friday at 12:01 am so that she might forget Shonai. Shonai was proven innocent and was released on Saturday, although Pori, who thought that he will be executed on Friday, killed herself at midnight that day. After Shonai arrives the next morning, he finds out and feels devastated by Pori's death.[citation needed]
Cast edit
- Chanchal Chowdhury as Shonai,[8] a fisherman who lives on Monpura Island. He has a little house there, talks with animals, and falls in love with Pori. He is also a fast swimmer.[9][10][11]
- Farhana Mili as Pori, daughter of another fisherman. She falls in love with Shonai Mia but is forced to marry Shonai's foe.[12][13][14]
- Fazlur Rahman Babu as Pori's Father, another fisherman[15][16][17]
- Mamunur Rashid as Gazi[18][19][20][21]
Production edit
Development edit
Monpura made a huge media hype before its release. "A heart breaking story," as called by popular actor and director Afzal Hossain, its unusual songs and rural setting set the background of an artistic romance film. Monpura, unlike many other popular Bangla films, uses the rural settings of Bangladesh, something Selim says audiences have a strong attachment to.[22]
But the picturisation, the setting of the island named Monpura is what has made the movie unique. Moreover, it is not only a love story; there is a hidden satire in it.[23]
— Jackie Kabir, Star Weekend Magazine
Shooting edit
The shooting started in June 2007. The shooting unit faced problems due to Bangladesh's rainy season and demands to shoot through such weather; several outdoor sequences were shot in the rain.[24]
Reception edit
Monpura initially released in four theaters in Dhaka and Rajshahi, but it quickly opened in theaters in Chittagong, Mymensingh, Bogra, Rangpur, and Sirajganj.[25]
Within three weeks of its release, Monpura broke the 45-year record of ticket sales in the Dhaka box office with over 50,000 tickets sold, surpassing the first Bangla language film made in Bangladesh, Mukh O Mukhosh (1956).[26]
On 22 May 2009, Monpura completed its 100 days of glory in the box office. Star Cineplex and Bolaka (Bolaka-1 & Bolaka-2), the busiest theaters in the capital, ran this film for 100 days consecutively. After 100 days, the movie kept running in about 50 theaters across the country.
The film ran at Star Cineplex for nine months, Bolaka for six months, and Monihar for eight weeks. Theaters in Pabna, Khulna, and other districts in Bangladesh ran the film for six to seven weeks. Outside Bangladesh, the film was first released in Sydney on 8 August 2009,[27] and then in other cities, including New York City, Toronto, Montreal, and Brussels.[28]
Remake edit
West Bengal filmmaker Anjan Das made the Indian Bengali film, Achin Pakhi (2010), based on Monpura.[29]
Awards edit
National Film Awards edit
Monpura won in five categories at the National Film Awards, including Best Film.[30]
- Winner Best Film: Anjan Chowdhury Pintu
- Winner Best Actor: Chanchal Chowdhury (Shared with Ferdous for Gongajatra)
- Winner Best Villain Character: Mamunur Rashid
- Winner Best Screenplay: Giasuddin Selim
- Winner Best Singer: Chondona Mazumder and Kazi Krishnokoli Islam
Meril-Prothom Alo Awards edit
- Winner Best Film Actor: Mamunur Rashid[31]
Music edit
| Monpura | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Soundtrack album by | |
| Released | August 2008 |
| Recorded | Bengal Studio |
| Genre | Original SoundTrack of the film Monpura |
| Label | Laser Vision |
Bangla films rarely come under the spotlight by their music. It was thought that the music from Monpura was collected from Bangladeshi folk music, but almost all are original songs. The album has been noted for its depth, creative thought, and trend-breaking effort.[32]
"Shonai Hai Haire," written by director Giasuddin Selim, tells the story of a daughter's death, whose funeral is attended by her father and father-in-law. "Aage Jodi Jantam," lyrics and music by Krishnokoli Islam, also tells the story of a broken heart - leaving the house of a girl and her life of regret. "Shonar Moyna Pakhi," lyrics and music by Osman Khan and sung by Arnob, expresses the desire to see a loved one at any cost, even if it comes before one's death. The album was released in August 2008 by Laser Vision.
Track edit
| No. | Title | Bengali title | Lyrics | Artists | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Nithua Pathare-1 | নিথুয়া পাথারে-১ | Collected | Fazlur Rahman Babu | 3:56 |
| 02 | Jao Pakhi Bolo Tare-1 | যাও পাখি বল তারে-১ | Krishnokoli Islam | Chandana Mazumdar, Krishnokoli Islam | 3:12 |
| 03 | Sonar Moyna Pakhi | সোনার ময়না পাখি | Mohammad Osman Khan | Arnob | 4:34 |
| 04 | Nithua Pathare-2 | নিথুয়া পাথারে-২ | Collected | Krishnokoli Islam, Chanchal Chowdhury | 3:02 |
| 05 | Sonai Hay Hay Re | সোনাই হায় হায়রে | Giasuddin Selim | Fazlur Rahman Babu | 2:54 |
| 06 | Jao Pakhi Bolo Tare-2 | যাও পাখি বল তারে-২ | Krishnokoli Islam | Krishnokoli Islam | 3:28 |
| 07 | Nithua Pathare-3 | নিথুয়া পাথারে-৩ | Collected | Fazlur Rahman Babu | 3:08 |
| 08 | Aage Jodi Jantam | আগে যদি জানতাম | Krishnokoli Islam | Momtaz | 3:17 |
| 09 | Soundtrack (Elected) | সাউন্ড ট্র্যাক (নির্বাচিত) | Collected | Instrumental | 4:44 |
সহকারি সঙ্গীত পরিচালক: অদিত। (Assistant Music Director: Odit.) বাঁশী: জালাল। ঢোল: নজরুল। সন্তুর: স্বপন।(Flute: Jalal. Dhol: Nazrul. Sontur: Swopon) দোতারা: শরীফ, গৌরব। (Dotara: Shorif, Gourob)
Recorded: at Bengal Studio.
AudioCD Cover Photography: Tanvir
Music arranged & composed for songs by Arnob
Script, Dialogue and Direction : Gias Uddin Selim
Cinematography: Kamrul Hasan Khosru
Edit & Music Direction : Iqbal A. Kabir Joel
References edit
- ^ The Daily Star, 4 February 2009 'Monpura' to be released Feb 13 accessed: 12 May 2011
- ^ "ঢালিউডের ইতিহাসে সবার ওপর 'বেদের মেয়ে জোৎসনা'". Jugantor (in Bengali). 4 January 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "'Kajol Rekha': Giasuddin Selim delves into folklore with his new film". The Daily Star. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ Monpura (2009) - IMDb, retrieved 2023-08-11
- ^ "ঢালিউডের ইতিহাসে সবার ওপর 'বেদের মেয়ে জোৎসনা'". www.jugantor.com. Retrieved 2022-12-03.
- ^ "Greatest Bangladeshi Movies Of All Time". IMDb. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ ""Monpura": An uncomplicated love story in an idyllic setting". The Daily Star. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ "Magnet Bangla Film Monpura". Retrieved 2020-04-06.
- ^ "Chanchal Chy in Nepal for Eid projects". The Independent. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "PM warns of action against 'negative' films". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "'Monpura' actors Chanchal & Mili now pair up in a TV commercial". Daily Sun. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "'Monpura': An uncomplicated love story in an idyllic setting". The Daily Star. 2008-02-08. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "Monpura stars reunite for TV play". Dhaka Tribune. 2017-08-27. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "Farhana Mili in TVC after a break". The New Nation. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "Fazlur Rahman Babu working on "Indubala 3"". The Daily Star. 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "DIVERGING PASSIONS BROUGHT TOGETHER". The Daily Star. 2017-06-09. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "Fazlur Babu sings for Mosharraf Karim - Madhuri Dixit film". Dhaka Tribune. 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "Mamunur Rashid and Mili in "Baksho-Bondi"". The Daily Star. 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "Mili works with Mamunur Rashid after seven years". The New Nation. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "Three notable films to be screened today". The Independent. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ "Mamunur Rashid on film career, TV industry". New Age. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
- ^ Blogs.com.bd, 24 September 2011 Giasuddin Selim How to bring about a revolution in Bangladeshi filmdom Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ "Film Review a Heartwarming Film, written by Jackie Kabir". Star Weekend Magazine. The Daily Star. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
- ^ The Daily Star, 8 February 2008 "Monpura": An uncomplicated love story in an idyllic setting, written by Jamil Mahmud Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ Monpura Movie of Bangladesh, 20 February 2009 One Week Away From a 'Blockbuster' Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ BanglaMovies.com, 12 March 2009 Monpura Bangla Movie breaks 45 year old records Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ Monpura Movie of Bangladesh, 1 August 2009 Piracy, Worldwide Release & 6 Months in Box Office Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ The Daily Star, 20 July 2010 "Kajol Rekha": Giasuddin Selim delves into folklore with his new film Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ The News International, 25 May 2010 A film that does not focus on glamour but on acting Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ www.BangladeshGiftShop.com, 20 August 2011 National film award of Bangladesh winners of 2009 Archived 2012-01-21 at the Wayback Machine Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ BDTalks, 2009 Winners of Meril-Prothom Alo Award 2009, Bangladesh Archived 2012-07-07 at archive.today Accessed: 31 October 2011
- ^ ""Monpura": Rustic soul wrapped in urban sensitivity". The Daily Star. 15 August 2008. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
External links edit
- Monpura at IMDb
- Monpura at the Rotten Tomatoes
