The 26th Meril-Prothom Alo Awards took place at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka today, celebrating achievements in Bangladeshi film and entertainment. "Priyo Maloti" was the biggest winner of the night, earning three major awards: Best Full-Length Feature Film, Best Director, and Best Actress.
Directed by Shankha Dasgupta and produced by Adnan Al Rajeev, "Priyo Maloti" asserted its dominance over a competitive field, edging out critical favourites such as Akram Khan's "Nakshikanthar Jamin" and Giasuddin Selim's "Kajol Rekha".
Regarding his film's honour, director Shankha Dasgupta said, "'Priyo Maloti' has found its voice and you heard it. At the Meril Prothom Alo Awards 2024 (critics), we're humbled and honoured to receive Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actress."
"This story was never meant to be loud. It was meant to be true. Thank you to everyone who believed in Maloti, her pain, her strength, and her silence. And thank you to the incredible team who made this journey possible. This one is for the quiet fighters. For the unseen. For the unheard," he added.
Although Adnan Al Rajeev was overseas and couldn't attend, director Shankha Dasgupta, Chorki CEO Redoan Rony, and the film's lead, Mehazabien Chowdhury, took to the stage to accept the award on his behalf. The trophy was presented by actors Shahiduzzaman Selim and Azmeri Haque Badhan.
For Mehazabien Chowdhury, the victory marked a personal milestone. Her performance in "Priyo Maloti" earned her the Best Actress award in the full-length feature category — her first major win in this segment. She had been up against strong performances from Tasnia Farin in "Kacher Manush Dure Thuiya" and Sarika Sabrin in "Maya".
Shankha Dasgupta, too, found individual acclaim, taking home Best Director for his work on the film. In a category that featured formidable filmmakers like Nurul Alam Atique ("Peyarar Shubash") and Robiul Alam Robi ("Forget Me Not"), Dasgupta's direction was lauded for its emotional depth and narrative precision.
With its triple victory, "Priyo Maloti" didn't just win awards — it defined the evening.
