Haldaa gets a release date

Tauquir Ahmed's much awaited film “Haldaa” finally has a release date, a year after filming ended by the banks of river Halda in Chittagong. The film is set to flow into theatres on December 1, the director informed The Daily Star.

“Haldaa” marks Tauquir Ahmed's fifth directorial venture, who revealed that the date was deliberately chosen: “December is the month of Independence, as well as a winter month at the end of the year. Everyone is in good spirits during this time, and I've chosen to set aside December as the film's release month beforehand.”

The director further added that the film, starring Zahid Hasan, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Mosharraf Karim, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Dilara Zaman, Runa Khan and Shahed Ali Sujon, is the story of the Halda River, and the women who live around it. “This is a story of love and womanhood,” he said. Tauquir Ahmed, whose previous films centre on important social issues, also states that the movie conveys the urgent need to conserve the river.

Aside from the promises of a compelling narrative, the film has six songs, sung by Pintu Ghosh, Nandita, Shukonnya and Mithun Chakraborty. Pintu Ghosh has directed music for the film. Tauquir Ahmed has himself co-written a song for it.

The film's release date was announced on Monday night, along with a song performed by Nandita and Pintu Ghosh at a Facebook Live on Tiger Media, the content distributors of the film. The event was attended by Tauquir Ahmed and cast members Zahid Hasan, Tisha and Runa Khan. Earlier on Sunday night, a new poster was also revealed, featuring the central cast.

Zahid Hasan, who plays one of the starring roles stated, “I am a fan of Tauquir Ahmed's works, and I admire his personality. I am very excited for the film's release, and I know viewers will be moved in the theatres.”

Tisha, who has most recently starred in the Mostofa Farooki-helmed “Doob”, said, “My characters in 'Doob' and 'Haldaa' are very different from each other. 'Haldaa' is a humane, rural story which will surely stir the hearts of anyone who watches it. Tauquir Ahmed is a very talented director, and I am glad to be part of the film.”