Mohammad Nuruzzaman’s “Mastul” drew a packed house at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) on Monday (August 10), as part of the three-day film festival “Ekal Sekal”, with some audience members sitting on the stairs and floor after the auditorium reached capacity. 

The film was screened at 8:00pm at the National Art Gallery Auditorium, where a large crowd had gathered well before the screening began. Long queues formed outside the venue, and once the doors opened, all seats were filled within a short time.

With audiences continuing to arrive, many found places on the stairs, while others sat on the floor in front of the first row and along the aisles. Some who could not find space inside were also seen waiting outside the auditorium.

Director Mohammad Nuruzzaman said he was overwhelmed by the turnout. Sharing his experience on social media, he recalled seeing the long queue before the screening and realising that the number of people waiting appeared to exceed the auditorium’s seating capacity. Once the doors opened, he said, every seat was quickly occupied.

According to the director, the auditorium came alive during the screening with applause, laughter and reactions from the audience. He said the experience of watching a film collectively on the big screen could not be replicated at home.

A large section of the audience also remained inside after the film ended and participated in a question-and-answer session, something Nuruzzaman said made the experience even more rewarding.

Describing the response as a special experience for the “Mastul” team, Nuruzzaman said they had never before had such an enjoyable session with audiences in Bangladesh. He added that actor Fazlur Rahman Babu compared the experience of the screening to the satisfaction of performing live on stage.

Organised by BSA,  the film festival is screening six films free of charge over three days. Alongside “Mastul”, the second day of the festival featured Khan Ataur Rahman’s classic “Abar Tora Manush Ho”.

“Mastul” centres on life along the river and port, focusing on people living on the margins. Its story follows Makbul, a cook aboard an ageing oil tanker, and Noora, a street child living around the port, exploring their lives, relationship and the emotions that connect them.

Reflecting on the packed screening at Shilpakala, Nuruzzaman described the audience’s response as a special achievement for the “Mastul” team. He also said another screening of the film may be held at Shilpakala Academy soon.