“Honestly, it still feels unreal.”
Aynun Naher Putul’s Best Actress win for Saatao at the National Film Awards 2023 marked a defining moment in her career.
The recognition came unexpectedly for the actor, whose journey in theatre, television, and cinema spans nearly two decades.
An independently made and crowd-funded project, Saatao, also known internationally as Memories of Gloomy Monsoons, stood apart.
Directed by Khandaker Sumon, the film secured three major honours, including Best Film and Best Director.
Beyond national recognition, the film travelled widely, earning international screenings and winning the Best Feature Film award abroad.
Speaking about the win, Putul admitted the moment still feels surreal and difficult to fully absorb.
“Honestly, it still feels unreal.”
The journey of Saatao itself was uncertain from the beginning, with funding emerging as the biggest challenge.
At one stage, the team doubted whether the film would even be completed, let alone released publicly.
Putul recalled that no investors initially showed interest, forcing the makers to turn towards public funding.
From that fragile beginning, the film travelled internationally, earned accolades, and ultimately reached the national awards stage.
Reflecting on her expectations, Putul admitted she never imagined Saatao would receive a National Film Award.
“When we were making the film, we never thought it would go on to receive a National Film Award.”
She explained that her connection to the character motivated her decision to take on the role.
Putul described feeling that skipping the role would leave her acting journey incomplete, a risk she was unwilling to take.
Her artistic path began in childhood in Jamalpur, where she was involved with Monimela Khelaghor activities.
From an early age, she gravitated towards singing, acting, and dance more than conventional academic pursuits.
Putul credits her brother and teachers for encouraging her to follow an artistic and academic path together.
Recently, Putul also ventured into production, launching a theatre production house with her husband.
She described the move as spontaneous, without elaborate planning, driven simply by curiosity and readiness to begin.
Alongside independent cinema, Putul’s career includes collaborations with the late Humayun Ahmed.
She described working with him as a deeply formative experience during her early professional years.
Her first project with him was Chandra Karigor, while Ghetuputro Komola became their final collaboration.
She also worked on Chhitika in 2012, further observing his approach to storytelling and direction.
She reflected: “You don’t learn everything through academic study.”
For Aynun Naher Putul, the National Film Award is not merely a trophy, but recognition of perseverance, patience, and purpose.
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