Meril-Prothom Alo Awards 2025: A night of nostalgia, rock, and cinematic triumphs

It is that time of the year again. The Meril-Prothom Alo Awards returned for another glitzy evening of celebration, bringing together the brightest stars of Bangladesh's entertainment industry under one roof.

This year's ceremony took place at Dhaka's Bangladesh-China Friendship Convention Centre, drawing together some of the most familiar faces from the country's film, television, and music industries.

The annual event has long been one of the most anticipated gatherings in the entertainment calendar. It is an evening that brings together several generations of performers, directors, and cultural figures who have shaped the country's creative landscape.

The programme opened with writer and managing editor of Prothom Alo, Anisul Hoque, taking the stage. He began by reciting lines from one of Rabindranath Tagore's longest poems, Puroshkar. Through the lines, he spoke of the wish to leave behind a few gentle notes of kindness and warmth in the world before departing from it.

Soon after, Malik Mohammed Sayeed addressed the audience on behalf of Square Toiletries Ltd, the long-time partner of the event. His remarks touched on the growth of Bangladeshi cinema and the importance of recognising creative work. Actor and director Afzal Hossain then stepped onto the stage. He recited the poem Byabodhan by poet Mahadev Saha.

One of the most touching moments of the evening was the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to veteran actor Alamgir. A short documentary highlighting his long career in cinema was screened before the award was handed over. The Ekushey Padak recipient has been one of the defining figures in Bangladeshi film for decades.

The honour was presented by legendary singer and his partner Runa Laila. She handed over the commemorative crest in front of a hall filled with artistes and guests. Also present on stage were Square's managing director Anjan Chowdhury and Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman.

Receiving the award, Alamgir spoke with humility, as he always has done, about his long journey in acting.

"Acting has never satisfied my thirst. The world of acting has such depth that it would take a lifetime to reach its end," he said, reflecting on the boundlessness of the craft and his enduring pursuit of it.

Following the emotional moment, the stage shifted into celebration. A colourful dance performance featuring instrumental arrangements of folk songs filled the hall. Dancers dressed in vibrant costumes moved across the stage as the music blended traditional melodies with contemporary staging.

The evening then moved into its main award segments, hosted by actors Afran Nisho and Mehazabien Chowdhury. Their lively exchanges and humour kept the audience engaged between the award announcements.

In the limited-length fiction category, Tomader Golpo emerged as one of the strongest performers. Siddique Ahmed won Best Screenplay for the project, while Mohammad Mostofa Kamal Raz received the Best Director award for the same work.

In the acting categories, Tanjim Saiara Totini won Best Actress for her role in Bhalo Theko. FS Nayeem received the Best Actor award for Khub Kachheri Keu.

The energy of the programme rose again when actress and singer Nusraat Faria took the stage with a dance performance set to the popular song Konna. The performance brought a vibrant shift in pace and drew cheers from the audience.

In the web series category, the series Gulmohor secured the award for Best Web Series. Director Syed Ahmed Shawki also received the Best Director award for the same project. Jaya Ahsan was named Best Actress in the web series category for her performance in Jimmi. Meanwhile, Nasir Uddin Khan received the Best Actor award for Myself Allen Swapan 2.

One of the evening's biggest highlights arrived when rock legend James walked onto the stage. As the first few guitar chords filled the hall, the audience quickly recognised the tune. It was his timeless hit, Taray Taray. With a sky of countless stars glowing across the large backdrop screen, the audience immersed themselves in the moment for a few minutes. Following the song, James received a special honour recognising his long contribution to Bangladeshi music.

The awards for full-length films highlighted another strong year for local cinema. The Best Feature Film award went to Saba. Actress Mehazabien Chowdhury received the Best Actress award for her role in the film.

The Best Director award was presented to Piplu R Khan for Jaya Aar Sharmin. The Best Actor honour was jointly awarded to Mahfuz Munna and Shanto Chandra Sutradhar for their performances in Uraal.

At one point in the evening, the hosts invited several television stars onto the stage for a spontaneous segment. Khairul Basar, Farhan Ahmed Jovan, Tawsif Mahbub, Keya Payel, and Tanjim Saiara Totini joined in a light moment with the audience. Together they sang Lucky Akhand's timeless piece, Abar Elo Je Shondhya, turning the stage into an impromptu chorus.

The popular choice category, determined by audience votes, also drew attention. Singer Xefer Rahman won Best Female Singer for Lichur Bagane from the film Taandob. Imran Mahmudul received Best Male Singer for the song Konna.

Among the acting honours, Keya Payel won Best Actress in television drama for Eta Amaderi Golpo. Farhan Ahmed Jovan received Best Actor for Tomader Golpo. Shammi Islam Nila was recognised as Best Newcomer.

In the film category, Utshob won Best Film in the popular vote segment. Actress Toma Mirza received Best Actress for Daagi, while for his acting in the same film, Afran Nisho was named Best Actor.