Saba (2024 film)

Saba
Directed by	Maksud Hossain
Written by	Trilora Khan Maksud Hossain
Produced by	Uri Singer Arifur Rahman Tamim Abdul Majid Maksud Hossain Trilora Khan Mehazabien Chowdhury Barkat Hossain Polash
Starring	Mehazabien Chowdhury Rokeya Prachy Mostafa Monwar
Cinematography	Barkat Hossain Polash
Edited by	Sameer Ahmed
Music by	Amman Abbasi
Production company	Fusion Pictures
Release dates	7 September 2024 (2024-09-07)(TIFF) [1] 26 September 2025 (2025-09-26)(Bangladesh)
Running time	95 Minutes
Country	Bangladesh
Language	Bengali

Saba is a 2024 debut feature film directed by Maksud Hossain. ^[2] It premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, showed at various other film festivals like the Busan International Film Festival and the Red Sea International Film Festival, and released in Bangladesh on September 26, 2025. ^{[3] [4] [5]} It won third place at the Bengaluru International Film Festival. ^[6]

Cast

• Mehazabien Chowdhury as Saba
• Rokeya Prachy as Shirin
• Mostafa Monwar as Ankur
• Schumonn Patwary
• Ashok Bepari as Abbas Karim
• Riasat Salekin as Shisha Customer
• Anjuman Shirin as Dr. Mili
• Syeda Nawshin Islam as Female Nurse
• Hashnat Ripon as Hesitant Husband
• Pran Roy as Police Officer
• Jahangir Alam as Police Constable
• Sohel Towfiq as Ankur's Roommate
• Taslima Hossain Nodi as Bushra
• Kazi Delowar Hemonto as Hospital Receptionist
• Sharmin Sultana Shormi
• Golam Shahariar Shikto as Salesman
• Ummay Marium as Female Receptionist
• Maeen Hasan as Shisha Lounge Server
• Syed Golam Sarwar as Old Pharmacist
• Rafayatullah Sohan as Male Nurse

Production

Starting in 2021, Hossain took Saba's script to "various labs and markets" around the world, including India, France, and South Korea. ^[7]

Critical reception

Screen Daily wrote: "A modest tale in the social realist tradition, the demands of Saba's plot never overpower the focus on the characters. Individuals here are flawed and vulnerable, capable of both kindness and cruelty." ^[8]

Variety called it an "accomplished debut" with "wildly interesting characters and subject matter, and comes ever-so-close to being great, if only it would hold on to its drama a little longer." ^[9]

Moveable Fest called the film "vibrant" and lauded its on-screen relationships. ^[10]

Collider commended Hossain for tackling South Asian cinema through social realism, calling Saba a "remarkable debut." ^[11]

References

1. https://tiff.net/events/saba
2. Sarkar, Dipankar (2025-05-20). "An Interview with 'Saba' Filmmaker Maksud Hossain". Vague Visages (Vawg-Vee-Sawj). Retrieved 2025-12-24.
3. Ramachandran, Naman (2024-09-06). "Bangladeshi Helmer Maksud Hossain Brings Emotional Debut 'Saba' to Toronto". Variety. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
4. "Mehazabien Chowdhury pulls on heartstrings with 'Saba'". The Business Standard. 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
5. Today, Bangladesh (2025-01-13). "Mehazabien's 'Saba' at Göteborg International Film Festival". The Bangladesh Today. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
6. "'Saba' drops — and Mehazabien transforms". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
7. Joshi, Namrata (2024-09-11). "Filmmaker Maksud Hossain: My goal is to make films that are an emotional experience". Cinema Express. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
8. Hunter, Allan. "'Saba': Red Sea Review". Screen. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
9. Adlakha, Siddhant (2024-09-11). "'Saba' Review: An Impressive Debut About a Family Trapped in Bangladesh's Poor Disability Infrastructure". Variety. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
10. Saito, Stephen (2024-09-08). "Maksud Hossain's "Saba" - Toronto Film Fest 2024 Review". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
11. Gorber, Jason (2024-10-11). "'Saba' Review: A Quiet, Powerful Drama About Family and Sacrifice". Collider. Retrieved 2025-12-24.

External links

• Saba at IMDb  
• Saba at Rotten Tomatoes