A few years ago, making a feature film was an ambition shared by a group of university students who had little more than a script, a camera, and the willingness to learn. Today, that ambitious project, 'Onnopata', is running in 11 cinemas across Bangladesh.
Shot over more than two years without backing from a major production house or investor, the film was funded largely through the students' earnings from tutoring, freelancing, and personal savings. Released on 23 October, the nearly 100-minute film marks the culmination of an effort that began with six people and eventually brought together more than 40 students from four universities.
Produced under the banner of SJA Productions, 'Onnopata' was written and directed by Md Shahjahan Anny, an architecture student at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET). His filmmaking journey began with short films during the Covid-19 pandemic. After studying the craft and preparing for a larger project, he took the leap into feature filmmaking.
The team brought together students from CUET, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), the University of Dhaka, and the University of Chittagong. They took on responsibilities ranging from acting and cinematography to editing, art direction, and music, often learning as they went.
"From a team of six, we gradually grew into a team of 40. Sometimes, we say that we did not make 'Onnopata'; rather, 'Onnopata' made us," Anny told TBS.
For the team, filmmaking had to fit around university life. Classes, semester finals, and viva examinations competed with shooting schedules and editing sessions, while tutoring and freelancing helped members contribute financially to the project. Each person took on responsibilities according to their skills, turning a shared ambition into a collective production.
The film's story, meanwhile, draws on an experience familiar to many young Bangladeshis: the pursuit of university admission against financial odds.
At its centre is a young man who dreams of attending university but cannot afford coaching classes. His struggle unfolds against the expectations of his family, the realities of middle-class life, financial uncertainty, and the complications of love and growing up.
Anny said portraying ordinary lives in an engaging way was one of the team's biggest creative challenges. Unlike thrillers, which can sustain attention through a series of fast-paced events, emotionally driven dramas depend heavily on character development and the authenticity of their feelings.
Actor and producer Ankon De Animesh noted that the team wanted to explore a formative period in young people's lives that rarely receives this kind of cinematic treatment. The dreams, pressures, and emotional weight surrounding university entrance exams became the foundation of the story.
The production was a learning curve for the cast as well, particularly for the two leads who were appearing on screen for the first time: Shahriya Shakil, a student of the Department of Theatre at the University of Chittagong, and Prottasha Ghosh, a student of its Department of Chemistry.
Shakil recalled shooting days when he had barely any money in his pocket, sometimes travelling on local transport with just Tk10–20. Although he initially felt hesitant about working on a feature film, the experience helped build his confidence and develop his screen craft.
For Prottasha, the opportunity arrived unexpectedly. Anny and Animesh felt that her natural appearance and expressions suited the character of Tiha. After hearing the script, she agreed to take on the role despite having no previous acting background. The crew helped her grow comfortable in front of the camera, and during filming, she actively pitched ideas for several scenes and music sequences.
The film features six original songs composed by Fahriayaz Tasjim Monon, with a background score by Ainan. Ibrahim Bin Ansari handled cinematography, while Indra Neel was responsible for art direction.
Yet, the transition from production to theatrical release proved to be another trial for the young crew. They had to obtain a trade licence, rent an office space, secure membership in the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), and clear the censor board.
Financial pressures also mounted towards the finish line. The team invested around Tk10–15 lakh from personal savings, while a bank loan of approximately Tk5 lakh helped cover final expenses related to censorship, visual effects, and release arrangements. Several cast and crew members worked entirely without payment to get the project over the line. Along the way, the filmmakers were also deceived by intermediaries while handling release formalities in Dhaka and Chattogram, resulting in an additional loss of nearly Tk1 lakh.
Now showing in 11 cinemas, 'Onnopata' is screening at the Sony Square branch of Star Cineplex, Shyamoli Cinema, Blockbuster Cinemas at Jamuna Future Park, and Lion Cinemas in Keraniganj in Dhaka. In Chattogram, it is running at Star Cineplex's Bali Arcade branch and Sugandha Cineplex.
The filmmakers say the trailer generated strong interest among youth on social media, and they are considering expanding its theatrical run if audience response remains positive.
Beyond ticket sales, the team holds a larger ambition: helping build an independent film ecosystem in Chattogram and challenging the concentration of filmmaking activity in Dhaka.
With several shows in Chattogram already selling out, the students behind 'Onnopata' see the film as both a milestone and a launchpad. What began as an ambition pursued between lectures and private tuitions has proved that young filmmakers outside the studio system can successfully carve out a space on the big screen.