One of the most successful Bangladeshi films in recent years, 'Utshob' is being lauded for its subtle storytelling, witty and profound dialogues, and overall presentation with its stellar cast. The film has been the surprise hit of 2025-wooing theatre audiences and wowing critics, who view it as potentially pathbreaking.

At a time when almost every film slated for commercial release features several songs that appear in the film as song-and-dance routines, including an almost mandatory item track to satisfy multiplex audiences, essentially turning them into musicals, 'Utshob' completely circumvents that prescription. Even as it serves up an OST (original soundtrack) featuring two milestones from Bangladesh's popular band music scene - and both in service of its storytelling.

Given that the film's story is a trip through Nineties nostalgia in a distinctly Bangladeshi cultural context - a period generally regarded as the zenith of the band music movement - this was essential to projecting the written story (an Eid adaptation of 'A Christmas Carol') on a cinema screen.

The first track is "Tumi", written and sung by Aiedid Rashid of the band Level Five, one of the most popular alternative rock bands in recent times. Known for their moody melodies, introspective lyrics, and emotionally rich sound, Level Five's music-including the hit "Tumi" (originally released as a standalone single in 2022, separate from the 'Utshob' soundtrack)-blends indie and post-rock influences, offering a fresh, heartfelt voice in the local rock scene.

The second is an even more precious, well-known song among Bangladeshi band music fans: "Dhusor Shomoy" by the progressive rock icons Artcell. First released on April 1, 2006, as part of their second studio album 'Oniket Prantor', it became one of the band's most beloved tracks among its legions of fans.

A cult-favorite that became a progressive rock anthem, "Dhusor Shomoy" is celebrated for its poetic depth and emotional intensity. Its inclusion in Utshob added a powerful layer of nostalgia and resonance, perfectly complementing the film's themes of memory, loss, and emotional complexity.

Regarding the use of these two songs in the film, one of the film's four co-writers, Ayman Asib Shadhin told UNB that incorporating these tracks had long been a dream for him and the team.

"As an avid movie lover and a fan of contemporary band music, I always dreamed of using band songs in our film-and luckily, I found that we, especially our director Tanim Noor, shared the same vision. However, the response we received stunned us and surpassed all our expectations. We never imagined that people would love the inclusion this much," said Shadhin.

"We previously used band songs in our OTT fictions such as 'Kaiser' ('Nightdriver' by EIDA and 'Eden' by Arekta Rock Band) and 'Contract' ('Oniket Prantor' by Artcell) - and the overwhelming responses encouraged us to try band songs for our film. That said, it was undeniably a risky move, especially when most commercial and multiplex-oriented films follow the convention of including multiple tracks-often with a 'mandatory' item song," he added.

"Also, the overall journey with a band-from convincing them to be part of the story to negotiating fair remuneration-is not smooth; but thanks to Level Five and Artcell, who wonderfully collaborated with us, even knowing the risk of potential failure in this experiment," Shadhin said, applauding the bands.

Audiences at home and abroad have responded enthusiastically to the film and its musical choices.

"I wasn't that familiar with Level Five's songs before, but after watching 'Utshob', the song "Tumi" is now on my everyday playlist," said Samiha Mahzuza, a Master's student in Information Technology at Western Sydney University, in an email after watching the film at Reading Cinemas Auburn, Sydney, Australia - where the film is dominating the box office.

Meanwhile, Artcell's "Dhusor Shomoy" has seamlessly complemented the film's narrative, according to most moviegoers.

"It's one of my most favorite songs, and the scene we imagined for it in the film was perfectly complemented by the band," co-writer Shadhin explained.

"Being part of this movie means the world to us. It feels surreal to see our song featured so beautifully-we couldn't have asked for more. Seeing our childhood favorites, including Artcell and the stellar cast, in the film made us very emotional, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us," Ashiq said to Courier.

The main conductor of this orchestra, director Tanim Noor, is receiving praise from all corners on the back of the critical and commercial success garnered by Utshob, that he also co-produced. It was only the second feature film that he has helmed as director, and came a full 14 years after the first, 'Phirey Esho Behula'.

Explaining the use of music in Utshob at a special screening recently, Noor said that using two existing songs from two popular Bangladeshi bands (Artcell and Level Five) was initially a risky decision for many reasons-but one that proved incredibly successful, and has been well received.

"I've seen many foreign films, especially Hollywood ones, using band songs-and we, the audiences, love them. I personally listen and enjoy band music, and for my debut film, it was a dream to include band songs," Noor said.

"However, the reactions we received have been incredible and beyond expectations. I'm deeply grateful to the bands and to our wonderful audiences-especially for loving Utshob as it is," he also said, expressing his heartfelt gratitude.

According to the Facebook-based platform BMR (Bangla Movie Review), 'Utshob' earned Tk 18.91 lakh on its 33rd day of release, bringing its total multiplex gross to Tk 6.05 crore. With this, 'Utshob' has become the third film this year to enter the Tk 6 crore club in multiplex revenue.