It’s not everyday that you get to see a Bengali film being promoted at the iconic Times Square in New York City. Prasun Chatterjee’s Bengali-language film Dostojee (Two Friends) is a glittering exception as its trailer was shown on a Times Square billboard after the film’s US premiere on March 17.

California-based film distribution company Bioskope Films LLC has acquired the US theatrical rights for Dostojee, which was released across 75 cities in 26 states of the U.S. striking a record.

The official Twitter handle of the US Consulate Kolkata shared the video of the historic feat. “Not everyday you get to see a Bengali film promotion at the Times Square. Indian festival-favorite and award-winning Bengali film “Dostojee” (Two Friends) premiered in New York on Friday, March 17,” it mentioned.

Dostojee’s theatrical release in the US is part of a campaign for its consideration at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. In addition to America, the film was also released across the UAE, Australia and New Zealand on March 17.

Taking to Twitter, the film’s director, Prasun Chatterjee, shared the picture of the Dostojee billboard at Time Square. “Times Square, New York City #Dostojee,” he wrote.

The young filmmaker also thanked the US Consulate General Kolkata for their support. He also took to Twitter to show the manual lettering process of Dostojee at a vintage American theatre. “Can't express my feelings while experiencing the manual lettering process of #Dostojee on the top of the marquee of a 100 years' old vintage American theatre!!” he wrote.

Set in 1992-93, Dostojee is the tale of a beautiful friendship between two eight-year-old boys — played by Asik Shaikh and Arif Shaikh — from different religious backgrounds at a time when Hindu-Muslim tensions in India escalated in the aftermath of the demolition of the Babri mosque and the Bombay bomb blasts.