Mon Duari: A Valentine’s drama still trending strong

The blend of family emotions, romance, and the picturesque beauty of rural Bangladesh, complemented by soulful music, has made 'Mon Duari' a recent cult favourite among Bangladeshi viewers. Featuring the seasoned romantic drama actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba and newcomer Naznin Niha, whose performance has been widely praised, the drama has captured the hearts of audiences.

Since its release on 18 February as part of the Valentine's season lineup, 'Mon Duari' has consistently remained on YouTube's trending list in Bangladesh, even after weeks of its premiere. Now in the top five, it continues to gain over a hundred thousand daily views, a rare feat for a drama released weeks ago.

A major force behind this success is director Jakaria Showkhin, renowned for his expertise in family and romantic storytelling. Despite the country's recent political instability limiting release of new content, Mon Duari has defied expectations, maintaining its dominance on the platform since its release.

The drama follows Apurba, a Bangladeshi expatriate in the United States, who unexpectedly returns to his village with the intention of taking his grandmother, Dilara Zaman, abroad for a "better life." 

However, she refuses to leave her homeland, valuing her deep-rooted family connections. His cousin, Naznin Niha, along with other family members, strongly oppose the idea, leading to an emotional conflict.

"Apurba is the best when it comes to romantic dramas. No one else even comes close. His acting in this drama was phenomenal. It felt like watching a movie," commented Mazhar Rubel, a viewer from Gazipur.

Wasiur Rahman Javed, another viewer from Uttara, Dhaka, shared, "I really enjoyed the entire drama, but what stood out the most was its breathtaking natural scenery, graphics, color combination, and editing."

With a runtime of one and a half hours, Mon Duari keeps viewers engaged throughout. By 4 March, the drama had already been watched by over  17 million viewers. Among the dramas released on the occasion of  Valentine's, Mon Duari has maintained its position as the most popular so far.

Lead actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba expressed his excitement about the drama's success, saying, "Whenever I receive an acting offer, I not only focus on the story but also try to understand the director's vision and the overall shooting plan. Since I was already familiar with Showkhin's work, I didn't have to overthink anything. I simply focused on my performance. The results speak for themselves. I am truly grateful to the audience and the entire team behind this drama."

Director Jakaria Showkhin emphasised that Bangladeshi audiences have a deep emotional attachment to family-oriented narratives. He noted that themes of family, homeland, and human relationships strongly resonate with viewers, making them particularly drawn to such stories.

"Our audience has always been emotionally connected and family-oriented," he explained. "That's why they deeply resonate with stories about family, homeland, and human relationships."

Showkhin also highlighted the importance of music and the scenic beauty of rural Bangladesh in enhancing the emotional depth of a drama. He shared that he personally enjoys creating such works and aimed to weave all these elements into Mon Duari.

"With Mon Duari, I tried to incorporate all these elements, and I believe the audience easily connected with them," he concluded.