‘Don’t wait, you may miss your chance’: Afzal Hossain urges audiences to watch ‘Delupi’

A quiet release has turned into an unexpected discovery. Premiering on November 14 in only six theatres across the country, Mohammad Touqir Islam's rural drama "Delupi" did not arrive with box-office hype — but those who have seen it have returned deeply moved. The film is now gaining fresh attention after celebrated actor, director and painter Afzal Hossain watched it and published a long, admiring post on Facebook.

Hossain described "Delupi" as "an astonishingly fine picture," adding that he was delighted to see word-of-mouth gradually drawing more viewers. He urged audiences not to wait. With so few screens, he warned, anyone who delays may miss their chance altogether.

What captured Hossain most was the film's unforced sincerity. He praised Touqir Islam for resisting flashy techniques or formula-driven storytelling, instead giving space to characters and their lived realities. That restraint, he wrote, lends the film an intimacy reminiscent of Rima Das's acclaimed "Village Rockstars" and "Bulbul Can Sing." "No scene felt cinematic for its own sake — it felt like watching living people," he said.

Set against a political backdrop but refusing contempt or judgment, "Delupi" portrays rural life with clarity and compassion. Hossain observed that while the film shows villagers' vulnerabilities amid political pressures, it does so without humiliation or moralising. It's humanism, he argued, that is its defining strength.

Part of the film's power lies in its cast: all are local residents from unions around Khulna, not established names from the industry. Hossain noted that the absence of familiar faces works entirely in the film's favour. "The characters didn't feel performed. They simply existed. These unknown actors carried the story with astonishing truth," he wrote.

A single line from the film — "Eki drishyo, eki scene" (The same sight, the same scene)— stood out to him as a sharp metaphor for the country's present. He also commended Touqir Islam's courage, noting the determination required to make such a film and the generosity with which he shares credit with his team. "He has both the bravery and the discipline this film demanded," Hossain said.

He ended with a clear warning for film-lovers: watch "Delupi" now or risk missing it. With limited prints and brief screening runs, the film could disappear before many even hear about it.