TBT DESK

Many films have been made in Dhaka’s film industry, while others have faded away with the passage of time. Yet some movies remain etched in the memories of audiences and become reflections of their era. Released on October 4, 1991, Chadni was one such film. It received an overwhelming response from audiences and was declared a superhit.

Chadni marked the silver-screen debut of Naim and Shabnaz. Thirty-five years have passed since then. Much has changed in the film industry over the decades, but the memories of Chadni remain vivid for Naim.

Naim and Shabnaz entered the film industry under the direction of acclaimed filmmaker Ehtesham. Chadni was their first film and their first pairing on screen. Following its success, they quickly became one of the audience’s favourite on-screen couples. They later appeared together in several films, including Phool Ar Kanta, Jid, Love, Dil and Takar Ahankar.

The journey of Chadni, however, began unexpectedly. Director Ehtesham already knew Naim’s family. One day, after seeing Naim, he recognised his potential as a hero and offered him a role in a film. He later visited Shabnaz’s home and selected her as the heroine. That was how one of the most popular pairs in Dhallywood, Naim and Shabnaz, came together.

The songs of Chadni were recorded before filming began. A grand mahurat ceremony was then held. Naim’s first-ever day of shooting as a film actor was also for this movie. The memory of that day remains vivid in his mind.

“I will never forget the memories of the mahurat. They still appear before my eyes. My first shooting took place in Baridhara. It was a memorable day for me,” Naim recalled.

After filming in Dhaka, the entire team travelled to Jaflong in Sylhet. They spent several days shooting there. Jaflong was very different from what it is today. There was no electricity connection at the time, so the crew relied on hurricane lamps for night shoots.

Naim also remembers another amusing incident from that period. There was a pond at the house where the film crew stayed. Almost everyone from the team would bathe in the pond, but Naim stayed away because he was afraid of leeches. Such small incidents amid the hectic shooting schedule have now become priceless memories for him.

The night before the release of their first film was also filled with excitement. Everyone was anxious about how the movie would be received by audiences. To check the final preparations, Naim and several members of the team visited different cinemas in Dhaka at night. They personally checked whether the banners and posters were properly displayed. After remaining busy throughout the night, they returned home around dawn.

Before the film’s release, another group from the team travelled to Sylhet to visit the shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal. While everyone was excited about their first film, there was also a sense of prayer and hope surrounding its release.

Ultimately, Chadni became a success thanks to the love of audiences. Along with the film’s success, Naim and Shabnaz established themselves as a popular on-screen pair. Their pairing continued to win audiences over in one film after another.

More than three decades later, audience interest in Chadni has not faded. Whenever discussions turn to classic films and iconic screen couples of the past, the name of Chadni inevitably returns.

For Naim, therefore, Chadni is more than just his debut film. It remains one of the most important memories of his cinematic career.

“Even today, audiences talk about the film and remember it. That is the greatest achievement for me,” Naim said.