The largest cinematic celebration in Bengal took place in the Netaji Indoor Stadium.

The trailer for Raghu Dakat (film directed by Dhrubo Banerjee) was unveiled as Megastar Dev‘s 20 wonderful years were celebrated in unparalleled splendor in front of a packed house. Dev honored the foundation of the profession that has influenced his career by donating all of the event’s ticket sales to the Technicians’ Welfare Fund, a move that demonstrated his humility and gratitude.

The stadium was filled with images of bravery and revolt as the evening got underway with a stunning laser show, DJ performance, and Kabuki AV. In a moving musical homage, singers Nilayan Chatterjee and Rathijit Bhattacharjee then reenacted the significant moments of Dev’s two-decade journey. When Prosenjit Chatterjee, the timeless Bengali film hero, took the stage to celebrate Dev’s accomplishments and greet Raghu Dakat as the start of a new cinematic era, the mood became emotional.

The evening continued to go smoothly. Viki, as anchor, played Dev’s iconic characters over the years, captivating viewers as Nilayan, Rathijit, Shreya, Shuchismita, and Ishan performed a Raghu Dakat musical. Om Sahani and Sohini Sarkar’s touching act and a heartfelt AV tribute came after Idhika Paul’s elegant performance. Before engaging in a symbolic on-stage conversation that connected the world of Raghu with the present, Anirban Bhattacharya gave a stirring solo performance.

Dev’s leading ladies, Sayantika Banerjee, Srabanti, Nussrat Jahan, and Idhika Paul, lit up the stage together to celebrate his legacy of famous film pairings, making it one of the night’s most beautiful moments.

As the crowd celebrated their shared past, the atmosphere of the evening reached a new high when Megastar Dev’s first co-star, Koel Mallick, made a triumphant entrance and joined him for a unique performance that filled the audience with happiness and nostalgia.

As Dev’s “superstar directors”, Kamaleswar Mukherjee, Avijit Sen, Rahool Mukherjee, Rino, and Dhrubo Banerjee, took the stage, the emotional stakes went even higher in a sincere tribute to the filmmakers who shaped his path.

By combining humor and nostalgia, Srijit Mukherji added warmth and wit by having Dev joke with producers Shrikant Mohta, Mahendra Soni, Nispal Singh Rane, and Atanu Roy Chowdhury. The Honorable Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s voice message, which congratulated Dev on his 20 years, praised his artistry and humility, and blessed Raghu Dakat as the movie that will define Puja 2025, brought the evening to a tearful climax.

The most personal moment came when Dev’s parents and relatives joined him on stage with his cherished canines, Happy and Lucky. Tributes continued with Mumbai, Friends, and Family AVs.

Dev cut a 20th anniversary cake before joining the Raghu Dakat cast and crew for the official trailer debut, making the climax a spectacle. With Dev in a previously unheard-of role alongside Anirban Bhattacharya, Roopa Ganguly, Sohini Sarkar, Idhika Paul, and Om Sahani, the screen came to life with the ferocious tale of Bengal’s renowned rebel. A standing ovation and thunderous cries of “Raghu! Raghu!” marked the completion of the trailer.

The evening was capped off by two historic announcements:

• Reservations are on from September 22.
• The movie opens in theaters in Bengal on September 25, and on September 26, 2025, the national release is announced.

“This night is not mine alone. It belongs to everyone who has walked with me over these 20 years. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to start Raghu Dakat here and to enjoy this journey with my family, friends, co-workers, directors, and my dear Happy and Lucky,” said Dev.

This was more than simply an event, with everything from lighting to music, from sentimental homages to industry friendship, from nostalgia to the prospect of a new chapter. A celebration of film, family, friendship, and a single man who has held Bengali cinema close to his heart for twenty years, it was the biggest festival Bengal has ever witnessed.

A night that will live on in history.

Priyanka Dutta