“Mastul” Sets Course for Madrid
Mastul, a powerful Bangladeshi film by Mohammad Nuruzzaman, earns a nomination for Best Humanitarian Film at the Imagine India International Film Festival 2025 in Madrid.
In a heartening turn of events that has warmed the cockles of many, Mastul, the poignant tale of lives lived on water, has earned a prestigious nomination for Best Humanitarian Film at the Imagine India International Film Festival, set to unfurl in Madrid this September. It’s not every day that a film from Bangladesh sets sail for such distant shores — but Mastul is no ordinary voyage.
Directed by Mohammad Nuruzzaman, the film is set to compete in the Life Award category at the 24th edition of the festival, which runs from 1 to 16 September. And it’s not just hot air and hype — the announcement was confirmed by none other than the official website of the Imagine India festival, giving the news an extra coat of authenticity.
Following a well-received premiere at the Moscow International Film Festival, where it picked up a Special Mention, Mastul has been quietly gathering momentum — like a tide pulling out before a wave. Now, with the Spanish capital on the horizon, the film is once again in the spotlight, and deservedly so.
The story itself is as unvarnished as it is tender — an intimate portrayal of sailors, men tethered to the river yet always adrift in the eyes of society. With great sensitivity and visual realism, Mastul steers clear of melodrama, instead choosing to observe and honour the quiet dignity of lives so often overlooked. In an industry often chasing box-office bluster, Mastul stands out — not shouting, but singing softly from the stern.
The ensemble cast includes stalwarts such as Fazlur Rahman Babu, alongside Deepak Suman, Aminur Rahman Mukul, Arif Hasan, Sikdar Mukit, and Sifat Bannya, each bringing soul and sincerity to their roles. Their performances lend the film the sort of authenticity that doesn’t come from costume or dialogue, but from deeply lived experience.
Behind the scenes, TongGhor Talkies is handling digital distribution and promotion — keeping the film afloat and steering it into the right harbours. As for home audiences, Nuruzzaman has expressed a heartfelt desire to screen the film in Bangladesh before heading off to Spain. “The plan is in the works,” he noted. “Let’s see how the winds blow.”
The director has received an official invitation to attend the festival in person — a moment of pride, no doubt, but also a quiet victory for meaningful cinema in our part of the world. “It’s an honour I never quite imagined,” he said. “If all goes to plan, I hope to be there in Madrid, representing our stories, our people.”
Let’s be honest — in a world chock-full of glittery distractions, a film like Mastul is a breath of fresh air. It’s the kind of film that doesn’t just entertain — it reminds us of what it means to be human. Come September, all eyes will be on Madrid. And if there’s any justice in the world, Mastul will come away with more than just a nomination — it’ll come home with hearts touched and flags flying.
Fancy that.
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