OTT and hall releases keep Indo-Bangla cultural ties alive
Times of India | 10 January 2026
Kolkata: Posters across the city promoting the OTT release of ‘Joto Kando Kolkatatei', starring Bangladeshi actor Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, and Bangladeshi actor Jaya Ahsan's Jan 1 social media reveal of the poster for Soukarya Ghosal's ‘OCD' highlight the continued visibility of cross-border cultural collaboration, even as India-Bangladesh relations remain strained.
Ahmed could not travel to India but said she was delighted it had premiered on an OTT platform. "The news of the OTT release has drawn a positive response in Dhaka, with Bangladeshi film professionals expressing pride in my work on a film that pays tribute to Satyajit Ray. Anik-da's ancestral home is in Comilla, and it would have been wonderful if the film released here. The Bangladeshi media is covering the news too, and there's no negativity around it," she said.
Meanwhile, Suman Mukhopadhyay's ‘Putulnacher Itikatha', starring Jaya Ahsan, premiered on an OTT platform in Nov 2025 after a theatrical release in Aug 2025. Ahsan said the response in Bangladesh had been encouraging. "The media in Bangladesh has responded positively to ‘Putulnacher Itikatha'. People are especially interested to know how I portrayed Kusum's character and made it so believable and real, since Manik Bandyopadhyay's original novel is popular and Kusum is a beloved character," Ahsan told TOI from Bangladesh.
Ghosal's psychological drama ‘OCD' is set to release in Bengal cinemas on Feb 6, with Ahsan playing a doctor grappling with childhood trauma. Ghosal argued that if books by Jasimuddin continue to be sold on College Street, films featuring Bangladeshi actors should not be blocked in India. "My film was shot in 2000, when bilateral relations were better. But earlier release attempts were stalled because Jaya could not confirm her availability for the premiere. With her consent now in place, we are proceeding," Ghoshal said. Ahsan added that although the film was not releasing in Bangladesh, she expected a positive reaction there as well.