Saatao (2023)

The film revolves around the Saatao everyday life of people living in villages near rivers. The film shows how villagers get exploited by loan sharks, the struggles of farmers and more.

Saatao (Bengali:সাঁতাও) is a 2023 Bangladeshi drama movie. Directed and written by Khandaker Sumon. The movie released on January 27, 2023. The film revolves around the impact of the agrarian society during the time of Memories of Gloomy Monsoons and the life of marginalized people. Khandaker Sumon directorial “Saatao” has been selected for the 19th Kazan International Muslim Film Festival. It is the only Bangladeshi film to be nominated in the Russia-Islamic World category along with 9 other movies from different countries. The film festival will kick off at Russia’s Tatarstan on September 5 and run till September 9. The festival is held with the support of Government of Russia and the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan. Saatao” will be competing with “The Last Birds of Passage” (Turkey), “Paralympian” (Kazakhstan), “Home for Sale” (Kyrgyzstan), “In the form of love” (Iran), “Unhappy Groom” (Uzbekistan), “Orpa” (Indonesia), “Crier” (Russia, Tatarstan), “Knots” (Russia), and “Mariam” (India). Although the film hasn’t been nominated in the main category, the winners in the Islamic World category will claim a cash prize of three lakh Rubels (which can be roughly Saatao estimated to be more than Tk3.5 lakhs). Earlier on, the film bagged the Gautam Buddha Award under the World Panorama category at the 6th Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) in March. The crowd-funded movie, “Saatao”, is based on the lives of the marginalised community. Aynun Putul and Fazlul Haque play pivotal roles in the movie. The plot revolves around a farmer called Fazlu and his wife Putul. Fazlu becomes concerned about Putul feeling isolated at home, so he decides to surprise her with a thoughtful gift—a cow. With this new companion, Putul’s loneliness begins to fade, and she gradually overcomes the emotional challenge of leaving her father’s house.