New-look Shakib stirs up a storm
First “Shikari” teaser has everyone talking
Shakib Khan has been the undisputed top Dhallywood hero for many years now, but his appeal had largely been limited to audiences of a certain class. With the recent boost in Dhaka's film scene and other director-producers bringing out big-budget films with a more glamourous cinematography and picturesque locations – targeting a higher-end urban audience, Shakib had to step up his game at some point, and looks like “Shikari” is the starting point for that.
There has been some buss ever since Shakib's ragged look in the teaser posters for the Bangladesh-India joint production (by Jaaz Multimedia and Eskay Movies) were revealed, and now the teaser trailer and a song has everyone talking. First, the song “Harabo Toke” released on June 16 raced towards a million views in under four days, while the teaser trailer, released on June 18, has also moved past a lakh inside the first day.
The teaser promises an action-packed affair, with Shakib's character Sultan kicking butt and taking names. Indian actor Rahul Dev looks to be in a leading villainous role, while Kolkata's Srabanti plays his love interest. Shakib's overall body language is intense and menacing, and the film's overall look is fast-paced and adrenaline pumping. The response from fans on social media has been overwhelmingly positive, many commenting that Shakib is finally living up to his potential.
“Shikari”, directed jointly by Joydeep Mukherjee and Jakir Hossain Shimanto, Sabyasachi Chakrabarti (possibly a cameo), is set to release in theatres this Eid, and judging by the hype, looks well set to earn Dhallywood's 'Number One' a few new fans.