The world premiere of Mostofa Sarwar Farooki’s much-anticipated political satire 840, also known as Democracy Pvt. Ltd., took place at Star Cineplex in the SKS Tower, located in Dhaka’s Mohakhali area.
The event, held on December 11, featured a two-and-a-half-hour screening, attended by the director and the creative team behind 840. The premiere attracted a select audience of invited guests, media professionals, and other attendees, all gathered to witness Farooki’s latest work.
Among the distinguished guests at the premiere were Mr. Adilur Rahman Khan, Advisor to the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Housing and Public Works; Mr. Md. Nahid Islam, Advisor to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Mr. Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Advisor to the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives; Professor Dr. Mohammad Azam, Director General of Bangla Academy; Sue Vize, Country Head of UNESCO; Kizzy Tahnin, Head of Culture at UNESCO; Shazeeb M Khairul Islam, Private Secretary-2 to the Chief Advisor; Farah Shammi, NDC, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Managing Director of BFDC; Latiful Islam Shibli, Executive Director of the Nazrul Institute; and H.E. Syed Ahmed Maroof, High Commissioner of Pakistan, alongside representatives from the Japanese Embassy and others.
As the lights dimmed and 840 flickered to life on the big screen, the audience was captivated and completely immersed in Farooki’s portrayal of Bangladesh’s political landscape. Enthusiastic applause and visible expressions of admiration marked various scenes throughout the film. Many attendees remarked that Farooki’s new project offered a sharp, satirical reflection of the country’s political realities. The screening concluded with an invitation to the audience to come and experience 840 in cinema halls nationwide.
840, set for nationwide release on December 13. It features standout performances from experienced actors such as Nasir Uddin Khan, Marzuk Russell, Fazlur Rahman Babu, Bijori Barkatullah, Zakia Bari Mamo, and several other well-known faces. Most of the scenes in this political satire were shot in Rajshahi and Naogaon.
Previously, Farooki sparked widespread conversation in 2007 with his political and social series 420, which made waves for its bold commentary on the country’s realities. From the trailer and poster, it is evident that 840, or Democracy Pvt. Ltd., will bring the same sharp satire to the big screen, reflecting the nation’s political fabric. The film is produced by Nusrat Imrose Tisha in association with Impress Telefilm Ltd., with cinematography by Sheikh Rajibul Islam, music direction by Pavel Areen, sound design by Ripon Nath, editing by Tahsin Mahim, and art direction by Ibrahim H. Babu. Costume design was handled by Pujanjoly Chowdhury, and makeup was done by Md. Khairul Islam.
