Filmmaker Mejbaur Rahman Sumon’s debut directorial venture titled Hawa, which was released in cinemas on Friday, has garnered a huge response from film lovers.

The film was released in 24 cinemas across the country and had more than 65 houseful shows on Friday.

In Dhaka, Hawa is being screened in all branches of Star Cineplex, namely Bashundhara City in Panthapath, Shimanto Shambhar in Dhanmondi, Sony Square in Mirpur, SKS Tower, Mohakhali and Bangabandhu Military Museum in Bijoy Sarani as well as Shyamoli Cinema Hall, Modhumita, Blockbuster Cinemas and Lion Cinemas.

Tickets were sold out in most cinemas two or three days prior to the film’s release. Hawa had 26 shows at different Star Cineplex branches on Friday.

‘After so many days, Bangla film enthusiasts have come to cinemas in such big numbers to watch a local film,’ Star Cineplex senior manager, media and marketing, Mesbah Uddin Ahmed told UNB.

‘Our film has had houseful shows across the country. I feel overwhelmed. I have not seen this kind of hype around a film in the past two decades,’ Chanchal Chowdhury, who portrays the role of Chan Majhi, the leader of a group of fishermen stuck on a fishing boat, told the media after the screening of Hawa at Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City.

‘Only those who have watched Hawa will realise what we went through to complete the film. Now many people are coming to cinemas to watch the result of our hard work and determination. There can be no greater reward than this,’ Chanchal added.

Outside Dhaka, Hawa is being screened in Sena Auditorium in Savar, Cinescope in Narayanganj, Silver Screen, Sugondha, Cinema Palace in Chattogram, Shankha Cinema and Liberty Cineplex in Khulna, Rupkotha in Pabna, Roots Cineclub in Sirajganj, Shapla in Rangpur, Modhuban Cinema and Momo in Bogura, Chhayabani in Mymensingh, and Borsha Cinema in Gazipur, and Grand Sylhet Cineplex in Sylhet.

Hawa stars Chanchal Chowdhury, Nazifa Tushi, Sariful Islam Raaz, Sumon Anwar, Nasir Uddin Khan, and Sohel Mondal in the lead roles. Sukarna Sahed Dhiman, Zahin Faruq Amin, and Sumon wrote the screenplay. Sumon wrote the story and dialogue. The has been produced by Sun Music and Motion Pictures and Jazz Multimedia is the film’s distributor.