Monpura is a romantic tragedy film set in rural Bangladesh. This film was directed by Giasuddin Selim. It was released in 2009. Within three weeks of its release, Monpura broke the 45-year record of ticket sales in the Dhaka box office with over 50,000 tickets sold, surpassing the first Bangla language film made in Bangladesh, Mukh O Mukhosh (1956). This movie still in the top 5 highest grossing Bangladeshi films position.
Main casts of this film are Chanchal Chowdhury as Shonai. Farhana Mili as Pori. Fazlur Rahman Babu as Pori's Father and Mamunur Rashid as Gazi who is a local landlord in this film.
Monpura is one such film that represents a genuine Bangladeshi rural love story. Though the theme is common enough and other famous writers have written similar stories. But the picturisation, the setting of the island named Monpura is what has made the movie unique. Moreover, it is not only a love story; there is a hidden satire in it.
The actress Farhana Mili who plays the lead role shows amazing talent, The expressions of her eyes are something she should be awarded for. Chanchal Chowdhury, a renowned actor of recent times is a natural in his role of Shonai. In his solitude in Char Monpura he befriends the bird and the animals that Gazi left him to look after. The islet Monpura is owned by Gazi, one of the influential landowners of the locality. After Gazi's mentally challenged son kills a woman in his house, Shonai must take the blame for the murder. Gazi promises to get him out of jail in case the police catch him. Shonai being a simple soul believes his master and goes to live in Monpura. Just when he is on the verge of losing his sanity in the quiet, lonely islet he encounters the enchanting Pori, the local belle and this changes him forever. The two pairs of eyes met and many untold tales are revealed. They meet on a regular basis until one day when Gazi comes to Monpura and decides to make her his daughter-in-law. Hearing this Shonai is furious and has a row with his master. As Pori and Shonai plan to abandon everything to be with one another the police come and arrest him. Pori gets married to Gazi's son. But the wondrous strength of her heart makes her resolute in her love. What happens afterwards is something one would find out while watching the movie.
The eternal beauty of the Bangali woman in a sari is depicted in the movie. The pleats are not once misplaced nor is her kajol smudged. The work of the camera in bringing in the effects of sun and rain is commendable. The falling of leaves and dried fruits from the trees is beautifully captured. The audience in fact is constantly reminded of the beauty of the Bangladeshi countryside.
The top title track of monpura film are Nithuaa Pathare, Jao Phakhi Bolo Tare, Shonar Moyna Pakhi and Age Jodi Jantam Re Bondhu. Bangla films rarely come under the spotlight by their music. But in this film the songs were a big hit in Bangladesh before the movie get released, these songs added to the film's overall aesthetic quality. It was thought that the music from Monpura was collected from Bangladeshi folk music but almost all are original songs.
This film got many award like National Film Award, Meril-Prothom Alo Award and so on. Based on Monpura an west Bengal filmmaker Anjan Das made the Indian Bengali film Achin Pakhi in 2010. IMDb rating of this film is 8.6/10. It's a good movie and the story is good enough to have a watch but It is also very normal that there will be different types of comments from the people according their point of view.