Bangladeshi film “Jaya Aar Sharmin” has been selected for the feature film competition at the fifth World Film Festival Kolkata, set to take place at Nandan in Kolkata from September 8 to 13.
Directed by Piplu R Khan, the 86-minute Bengali-language film is among 19 features competing at this year’s festival. Organised by the Eastern Region of the Federation of Film Societies of India, the festival will present the Bimal Roy Golden Award for Best Feature Film and the Bimal Roy Silver Award to the runner-up.
Set during the Covid-19 lockdown, “Jaya Aar Sharmin” follows two women from contrasting social and economic backgrounds whose lives become closely intertwined while confined to the same home. Jaya is an actress, while Sharmin works in her household. As isolation, uncertainty and everyday routines draw them closer, mounting emotional pressure and the imbalance within their relationship gradually begin to reshape their bond.
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Jaya Ahsan portrays Jaya, with theatre actor Mohsina Akhter playing Sharmin. Tanjim Saiyara Totini appears in a guest role. Piplu R Khan co-wrote the story, screenplay and dialogue with Nusrat Islam Mati.
Filmed in 2020 at a quiet location in Dhaka’s Banani with a small crew, the production relied on live, on-location sound rather than dubbing, adding a sense of immediacy to the intimate drama. After five years in the making, “Jaya Aar Sharmin” was released in Bangladeshi cinemas on May 16, 2025, before arriving on Chorki on September 25 that year.
The film has since earned recognition for both its direction and performances. Piplu R Khan received the Critics’ Choice award for Best Director in the feature film category at the Meril-Prothom Alo Awards 2025, while Mohsina Akhter won Best Breakthrough Performance (Film) at the Global Star Award 2025, Season 3, for her portrayal of Sharmin.
Producer Abu Shahed Emon, founder of Golpo Rajjo Films, described the festival selection as a moment of joy for the team.
“Having ‘Jaya Aar Sharmin’ screened at Nandan alongside films from around the world is a matter of great joy for all of us. This selection creates an important opportunity for the film to reach new audiences,” Emon said.
The film was produced by Abu Shahed Emon, Jaya Ahsan and Piplu R Khan under the banners of Golpo Rajjo Films, C Te Cinema and Applebox Films, respectively.
Bangladesh will have another contender in the feature competition, with Nurul Alam Atique’s “People of the Garden - Manusher Bagan” also making the lineup. Meanwhile, Makbul Chowdhury’s Bangladesh-UK production “Mamun - In Praise of Shadows” has been selected for the documentary section.
Alongside the Bimal Roy awards for feature films, the festival will present the Harisadhan Dasgupta Golden and Silver Awards for documentaries and the Chidananda Dasgupta Golden and Silver Awards for short fiction films.
This year’s programme will also feature a retrospective of German filmmaker Alexander Kluge.
Screenings will take place daily from noon to 8pm at Nandan throughout the six-day festival.
