The whistle has blown once again for a very special train named "Bonolota Express", and this time it landed straight to the Russian Cultural Center in Dhanmondi for a detour.
At the helm is filmmaker Tanim Noor, ready to welcome audiences aboard for yet another cinematic ride. The journey officially kicked off with the popular track "Chaite Paro" by Aurthohin, setting the tone for what promises to be an emotional and nostalgic experience. The film is slated to hit theatres during Eid 2026, backed by a stellar ensemble cast.
Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed
Adapted from a beloved novel by Humayun Ahmed's novel "Kichukkhon", the film "Bonolota Express" is all set to go on the floors from December 15. The film brings together an impressive lineup of performers, including Mosharraf Karim, Chanchal Chowdhury, Azmeri Haque Badhan, Sariful Razz, Sabila Nur, Shamol Mawla, Zakia Bari Mamo, and Intekhab Dinar.
Keeping the mystery around the movie, the cast chose not to reveal much about their characters. For now, audiences only know the names of the passengers boarding this train journey are Aziz, Afia, Ashab, Chitra, Abul Khayer, Surma, Rashid Uddin, and Boro Chacha.
Speaking about "Bonolota Express", Tanim Noor shared his excitement and gratitude. "It's a huge achievement for me to make a film based on Humayun Ahmed's novel 'Kichukkhon'. I am also thrilled to work with such a brilliant cast. For a long time, I had a desire to work with both Chanchal Chowdhury and Mosharraf Karim."
When asked whether he enjoys working with stars, the director was clear about his philosophy. "For me, these actors are more than just stars. They are exceptionally brilliant performers. When I cast, I look for talent, not stardom."
Mosharraf Karim echoed that sentiment, expressing his admiration for the director. "I fell in love with the character, and I truly love Tanim Noor's work. There's something special about him. He can tell a sad story and still make you smile. Another big reason I agreed to this film was 'Utshob'. I have rarely seen such a presentation in Bangladeshi cinema. I would also like to give a special shout-out to Shadhin and Samuel, the scriptwriters of the movie. I genuinely loved the script."
Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed
Chanchal Chowdhury, who reunites with Tanim Noor after "Utshob", shared his joy at being part of the project. "It feels great to work with Tanim again. After the success of 'Utshob', he told me he wanted to collaborate once more. What pulled me to this film was Humayun Ahmed's story and my co-artistes. It feels like a reunion. Going on this beautiful journey aboard a train—I truly hope we can take the audience along with us."
Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed
"Bonolota Express" will also introduce a fresh on-screen pairing of Sariful Razz and Sabila Nur.
"I honestly don't know what to say. It's an honour to work with such a wonderful cast," said Sariful Razz.
Sabila Nur admitted she initially felt nervous about the project. "When Tanim Bhai first told me about the character, and then I realized I would be working alongside living legends like Mosharraf Karim and Chanchal Chowdhury, I was overwhelmed. On top of that, the script by Shadhin bhaiya and Samuel was fantastic, with such beautiful dialogues. I instantly felt this would be an exciting journey, and I'm truly looking forward to it."
After previously acting in a film based on Humayun Ahmed's novel "Daruchini Dwip", Zakia Bari Mamo is once again returning to the author's literary world. "For me, the ultimate destination is reaching the audience's heart. I feel fortunate to be working with such wonderful co-artistes in this film."
An interesting moment from the press conference was Azmeri Haque Badhan recalling how she had once missed working on "Daruchini Dwip" due to her exams.
"Because of my exams, I couldn't work with Mosharraf Karim back then," she said. "When the offer for 'Bonolota Express' came, my daughter insisted that I do this film. She told me I often play serious or frustrating characters and that I should do something like 'Utshob'. She really likes Tanim, and everyone knows how big a fan I am. It was because of him that I participated in Lux Channel i Superstar. I'm extremely excited to work with Tanim Noor and such fabulous co-actors."
Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed
Shamol Mawla, who is working in a film based on Humayun Ahmed's work for the first time, shared his excitement. "People of my generation were crazy about Humayun Ahmed, and I was one of them. This feels like a dream. I have worked with Tanim Bhai before in 'Money Honey' and 'Contract'. He is one of my favourite directors."
Photo: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed
For Intekhab Dinar, "Bonolota Express" marks yet another collaboration with Tanim Noor. "I have known Tanim for a long time. We worked together on his first film 'Phirey Esho Behula', then on 'Utshob'. This is our third project together—my hat-trick with Tanim Bhai. I even requested him to keep me in this film so I could complete it. I can't reveal much about my character, except that I'll be playing Boro Chacha."
With a multi-starrer cast aboard and Tanim Noor steering the journey, it's safe to say audiences are in for a beautiful ride filled with love, emotion, nostalgia, and togetherness as "Bonolota Express" prepares to get on board in theaters on Eid.
