Bangladeshi feature film ‘Neel Padma’ (Blue Lotus), directed by Towfique Elahi and starring acclaimed actress Runa Khan, has won the Best Feature Film award at the Tokyo Lift-Off Film Festival 2025.
Following the win, director Towfique Elahi shared his excitement, saying, ‘‘Neel Padma’ was officially selected for the Tokyo Lift-Off Festival. The jury analyzed the film from multiple angles and kept me informed through email. I never imagined it would surpass so many strong contenders and be awarded as the Best Feature Film.’
He added, ‘This project was research-driven and took immense dedication. This is ‘Neel Padma’’s first international recognition. The credit goes not only to me but also to the cast, crew, and the OTT platform iScreen that supported its release.’
Actress Runa Khan commented, ‘Every form of recognition is rewarding. Hearing that ‘Neel Padma’ has received an award in Japan makes me very happy. Acknowledgement like this adds to the joy of performing. The credit goes entirely to the team who made this possible.’
Alongside Runa Khan, the film also features Rashed Mamun Apu, Rokeya Prachy, Sujat Shimul, Shahed Ali, and A.K. Azad Setu.
‘Neel Padma’ portrays the lives, identities, and rights of sex workers in Daulatdia, one of the largest brothel areas in Bangladesh. The film had its world premiere at the Suchitra Sen International Bengali Film Festival in New York, and was also screened at this year’s Dhaka International Film Festival, earning praise from audiences.
The film is produced by Impress Telefilm and is currently available for streaming on the OTT platform iScreen.
