'Utshob': An ode to the 90s, when band music ruled the waves

One of the most successful Bangladeshi films in recent years, 'Utshob' is being lauded for its subtle storytelling, intelligent dialogue, and overall presentation with its stellar cast. The film has been the surprise hit of 2025-wooing theatre audiences and wowing critics with its refusal to bow to conventions.

At a time when almost every film slated for commercial release features several songs that form its original soundtrack (OST) and 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 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 - achieving this was essential to projecting the story as written (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, Utshob's co-writer (one of four) 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.