Cinema of Bangladesh
Encyclopedia
The Bangladeshi film industry has been based in Bangladesh
's capital, Dhaka
, since 1956. As of 2004, it produced approximately 100 movies a year, with an average movie budget of about 20,000,000 Bangladeshi taka. The film industry is sometimes known as Dhallywood, a portmanteau of the words Dhaka
and Hollywood.
weekly Dhaka Prakash reported that films were shown in Dhaka by the Bradford Bioscope Company, at the Crown Theatre, in Patuatuli, near Sadarghat
. The show included news items and other short features. The first permanent cinema in Dhaka, named Picture House, began operation during 1913–1914. This cinema was renamed to New Picture House and then again to Shabistan. By 1947 there were around 80 cinemas in what is now Bangladesh.
The first Bengal
i organization for producing and exhibiting films was the Royal Bioscope Company, established in 1898 in Calcutta by Hiralal Sen
. Although feature films were made in Bengali as early as 1919 (Bilwa Mangal), most production was done in Calcutta. The Nawab family of Dhaka produced Sukumari (1928–1929) and The Last Kiss (1931).
After the partition of India
in 1947, the first film made in East Pakistan was a newsreel
about the visit of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, produced in 1948 by the radio broadcaster Nazir Ahmed.
The first full-length feature film with sound made in East Pakistan was Mukh O Mukhosh
,
which was produced by Abdul Jabbar Khan and released on August 3, 1956. Editing, printing
and all other film processing for this movie was done in Lahore
, Pakistan
.
The East Bengal
Provincial Assembly established
the East Pakistan
Film Development Corporation (EPFDC) on April 3, 1957. The first film produced by this organization was Asiya (The Life of a Village Girl, 1960), directed by Fateh Lohani. During the late 1960s,
between 20 and 35 films were produced each year. Production quantity continued to increase after Bangladesh gained its independence
on December 16, 1971; in 1979, for example, 51 films were
released, and in the 1990s over 90 films per year were released. One of the first films produced in Bangladesh after independence was Titash Ekti Nadir Naam
(A River Called Titas) in 1973 by acclaimed director Ritwik Ghatak, whose stature in Bengali cinema
is comparable to that of Satyajit Ray
and Mrinal Sen
.
Although the majority of the films made in Bangladesh are strictly commercial in nature, a handful of directors from Bangladesh have attained critical acclamation for their outstanding work. Zahir Raihan
, Khan Ataur Rahman
, Salahuddin, Alamgir Kabir
, Amjad Hussain
, Moshiuddin Shaker, Sheikh Niyamat Ali, Humayun Ahmed
, Morshedul Islam
, Tanvir Mokammel
, Tareque Masud
, Salauddin Lavlu
, Enamul Karim Nirjhar
are among those prominent directors. Bangladesh has been officially submitting nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
from 2003. Masud's Matir Moina
(The Clay Bird) was the first film to be submitted, and won a number of other international awards from the Edinburgh
, Palm Springs
, Montreal, Marrakech
, Cairo
and Cannes Film Festival
s. Another internationally acclaimed filmmaker from Bangladesh is Morshedul Islam
, who won major awards at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
and other international film festival
s.
Recently, the Bangladeshi film industry has faced increased competition from foreign films, satellite TV, home video, and other sources. Viewership of Bangladeshi films has dropped, and the industry has been criticized for producing low-quality films whose only appeal is that of sex, violence, or melodrama. Banglar King Kong, a local take on the King Kong tale was released in May, 2010 and was widely derided for its tackiness and sub par production values.
girls (2012) of sikder diamond,
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
's capital, Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, since 1956. As of 2004, it produced approximately 100 movies a year, with an average movie budget of about 20,000,000 Bangladeshi taka. The film industry is sometimes known as Dhallywood, a portmanteau of the words Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
and Hollywood.
History
On April 24, 1898, the BengaliBengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
weekly Dhaka Prakash reported that films were shown in Dhaka by the Bradford Bioscope Company, at the Crown Theatre, in Patuatuli, near Sadarghat
Sadarghat
Sadarghat River Front, located in the southern part of Dhaka, on the river Buriganga, is one of the most dynamic places in Dhaka. Here, the Sadarghat Lunch Terminal is one of the largest river ports in the world. About 200 large and small passenger launches depart and arrive at the terminal every...
. The show included news items and other short features. The first permanent cinema in Dhaka, named Picture House, began operation during 1913–1914. This cinema was renamed to New Picture House and then again to Shabistan. By 1947 there were around 80 cinemas in what is now Bangladesh.
The first Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
i organization for producing and exhibiting films was the Royal Bioscope Company, established in 1898 in Calcutta by Hiralal Sen
Hiralal Sen
Hiralal Sen was an Indian photographer generally considered one of India's first filmmakers. He is also credited with creating India's first advertising films and quite possibly India's first political film...
. Although feature films were made in Bengali as early as 1919 (Bilwa Mangal), most production was done in Calcutta. The Nawab family of Dhaka produced Sukumari (1928–1929) and The Last Kiss (1931).
After the partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947, the first film made in East Pakistan was a newsreel
about the visit of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, produced in 1948 by the radio broadcaster Nazir Ahmed.
The first full-length feature film with sound made in East Pakistan was Mukh O Mukhosh
Mukh O Mukhosh
Mukh O Mukhosh was the first Bengali language feature film to be made in Bangladesh . It was produced by Iqbal Films and directed by Abdul Jabbar Khan. The movie was released in East Pakistan on 3 August 1956. It was released in Dhaka, Chittagong, Narayanganj, and Khulna...
,
which was produced by Abdul Jabbar Khan and released on August 3, 1956. Editing, printing
and all other film processing for this movie was done in Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
The East Bengal
East Bengal
East Bengal was the name used during two periods in the 20th century for a territory that roughly corresponded to the modern state of Bangladesh. Both instances involved a violent partition of Bengal....
Provincial Assembly established
the East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
Film Development Corporation (EPFDC) on April 3, 1957. The first film produced by this organization was Asiya (The Life of a Village Girl, 1960), directed by Fateh Lohani. During the late 1960s,
between 20 and 35 films were produced each year. Production quantity continued to increase after Bangladesh gained its independence
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
on December 16, 1971; in 1979, for example, 51 films were
released, and in the 1990s over 90 films per year were released. One of the first films produced in Bangladesh after independence was Titash Ekti Nadir Naam
Titash Ekti Nadir Naam
Titash Ekti Nadir Naam is a 1973 Bengali film directed by Ritwik Ghatak. The movie was based on a novel by the same name, written by Advaita Malla Burman. The movie explores the life of the fishermen on the bank of the Titash River in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh.Rosy Samad, Golam Mostafa, Kabori,...
(A River Called Titas) in 1973 by acclaimed director Ritwik Ghatak, whose stature in Bengali cinema
Bengali cinema
Bengali cinema refers to the Bengali language filmmaking industries in the Bengal region of South Asia. There are two major film-making hubs in the region: one in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and the other in Dhaka, Bangladesh .The history of cinema in Bengal dates back to the 1890s, when the first...
is comparable to that of Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
and Mrinal Sen
Mrinal Sen
Mrinal Sen is a Bengali Indian filmmaker. He was born on 14 May 1923, in the town of Faridpur, now in Bangladesh in a Hindu family. After finishing his high school there, he left home to come to Calcutta as a student and studied physics at the well-known Scottish Church College and at the...
.
Although the majority of the films made in Bangladesh are strictly commercial in nature, a handful of directors from Bangladesh have attained critical acclamation for their outstanding work. Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan
Zahir Raihan was a Bangladeshi novelist, writer and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his documentary Stop Genocide made during the Bangladesh Liberation War. He disappeared on December 30, 1972 trying to locate his brother, the famous writer Shahidullah Kaiser, who was captured and killed by...
, Khan Ataur Rahman
Khan Ataur Rahman
Khan Ataur Rahman was a Bangladeshi film actor, director, producer, screenplay writer, music composer, and singer. He is mostly famous for his role in the film Jibon Theke Neya . In this film, his rendition of the song E Khancha bhangbo ami kemon kore echoed the national psyche on East Pakistan's...
, Salahuddin, Alamgir Kabir
Alamgir Kabir
Mohammad Alamgir Kabir is a Bangladeshi cricketer who played in 3 Tests from 2002 to 2004....
, Amjad Hussain
Amjad Hussain
Rear-Admiral Amjad Mazhar Hussain, CB is the Director and Controller of the Royal Navy.Born in Pakistan, Hussain and his mother moved to the United Kingdom in 1962 when he was three years old, to join his father who was working as a railway signalman...
, Moshiuddin Shaker, Sheikh Niyamat Ali, Humayun Ahmed
Humayun Ahmed
Humayun Ahmed is a Bangladeshi author, dramatist and director of film and television. He broke through since the publication of his first novel, Nandita Naraké...
, Morshedul Islam
Morshedul Islam
Morshedul Islam is a renowned film director of Bangladesh. He is a successful figure in the film industry of Bangladesh and also attached with independent filmmaking.-Biography:...
, Tanvir Mokammel
Tanvir Mokammel
Tanvir Mokammel is a Bangladeshi film director. He earned a Masters degree in English Literature at Dhaka University...
, Tareque Masud
Tareque Masud
Tareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes...
, Salauddin Lavlu
Salauddin Lavlu
Salauddin Lavlu was born on the 27th of August and is Bangladeshi actor, screenwriter and television director. His works generally consist of television films and telenovelas. His productions are usually comedies, and they generally are immensely popular with the Bangladeshi audiences...
, Enamul Karim Nirjhar
Enamul Karim Nirjhar
Enamul Karim Nirjhar is a Bangladeshi architect and film maker. His skills also include photography, writing poetries, stories and lyrics, with graphics designing and involvement in various social and organizational initiatives....
are among those prominent directors. Bangladesh has been officially submitting nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
The Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film is one of the Academy Awards of Merit, popularly known as the Oscars, handed out annually by the U.S.-based Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
from 2003. Masud's Matir Moina
Matir Moina
Matir Moina is a Bangla film directed by Tareque Masud, a Bangladeshi film director. The film was released in 2002...
(The Clay Bird) was the first film to be submitted, and won a number of other international awards from the Edinburgh
Edinburgh International Film Festival
The Edinburgh International Film Festival is an annual fortnight of cinema screenings and related events taking place each June. Established in 1947, it is the world's oldest continually running film festival...
, Palm Springs
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs International Film Festival is a film festival held in Palm Springs, California. It was started in 1989 and is held annually in January...
, Montreal, Marrakech
International Film Festival of Marrakech
The International Film Festival of Marrakech is an international film festival held annually in Marrakech, Morocco.-Overview:Since its inaugural year in 2000, the FIFM has been one of the biggest events devoted to Moroccan cinema...
, Cairo
Cairo International Film Festival
The Cairo International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Cairo, Egypt. It was established in 1976 and was the first international film festival held in the Arab world...
and Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
s. Another internationally acclaimed filmmaker from Bangladesh is Morshedul Islam
Morshedul Islam
Morshedul Islam is a renowned film director of Bangladesh. He is a successful figure in the film industry of Bangladesh and also attached with independent filmmaking.-Biography:...
, who won major awards at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
Mannheim-Heidelberg International Filmfestival is an annual film festival held jointly by the cities of Mannheim and Heidelberg in Baden-Württemberg. The festival was established in 1952. In Mannheim there are six cinema centres and 19 single cinemas.The festival presents arthouse films of...
and other international film festival
Film festival
A film festival is an organised, extended presentation of films in one or more movie theaters or screening venues, usually in a single locality. More and more often film festivals show part of their films to the public by adding outdoor movie screenings...
s.
Recently, the Bangladeshi film industry has faced increased competition from foreign films, satellite TV, home video, and other sources. Viewership of Bangladeshi films has dropped, and the industry has been criticized for producing low-quality films whose only appeal is that of sex, violence, or melodrama. Banglar King Kong, a local take on the King Kong tale was released in May, 2010 and was widely derided for its tackiness and sub par production values.
Notable parallel films
|
Titash Ekti Nadir Naam Titash Ekti Nadir Naam is a 1973 Bengali film directed by Ritwik Ghatak. The movie was based on a novel by the same name, written by Advaita Malla Burman. The movie explores the life of the fishermen on the bank of the Titash River in Brahmanbaria, Bangladesh.Rosy Samad, Golam Mostafa, Kabori,... (A River Called Titas) (1973) by Ritwik Ghatak, Humayun Ahmed Humayun Ahmed is a Bangladeshi author, dramatist and director of film and television. He broke through since the publication of his first novel, Nandita Naraké... , Tanvir Mokammel Tanvir Mokammel is a Bangladeshi film director. He earned a Masters degree in English Literature at Dhaka University... , Morshedul Islam Morshedul Islam is a renowned film director of Bangladesh. He is a successful figure in the film industry of Bangladesh and also attached with independent filmmaking.-Biography:... , Matir Moina Matir Moina is a Bangla film directed by Tareque Masud, a Bangladeshi film director. The film was released in 2002... (The Clay Bird) (2002), Ontarjatra (2006), Narashundor (2008) and Runway (2010) by Tareque Masud Tareque Masud Tareque Masud was an award-winning Bangladeshi independent film director. He was known for directing the films Muktir Gaan and Matir Moina , for which he won a number of international awards, including the International Critics' Prize and FIPRESCI Prize for Directors' Fortnight at the 2002 Cannes... . |
Notable commercial films
|
List of prominent Bangladeshi actors
- Abdul Matin
- Abdur Ratin
- Azeem
- Alamgir
- Amin Khan
- Anjana Rahman
- Anju Ghosh
- Amit Hasasn
- Aruna Bishwas
- Apu Bishwas
- Amal Bush
- Anwar Hussain
- Anwara
- Antu Kareem
- Abul Khayer
- Abul Hayat
- Aliraj
- Ahmed Shareef
- Afjal Shareef
- Ashees Kumar Luho
- A.T.M Shamsujjaman
- Bulbul Ahmed
- BobitaBobitaBabita is a renowned Bangladeshi film actress. She has also participated in several NGOs focusing on the welfare of women and children and founded a community seed bank.- Early days :...
- Bapparaj
- Champa
- Dipjol
- Doli Jahor
- Dildar
- Diti
- Eka
- Emtiaz
- Farooque
- Ferdous
- Gulam Mustafa
- Humayun FaridiHumayun FaridiHumayun Faridi [Alternative: Humayun Faridee] is an popular actor in Bangladeshi TV drama, theatre and cinema.He is well-known for his villain roles in Bangladeshi drama and cinema....
- Hasmot
- Helal Khan
- Hafizur of ES KU
- Inam Ahmed
- Ilyas KanchanIlyas KanchanIlyas Kanchanis a Bangladeshi Popular film actor.He made his acting debut in the film Bashundhara. He was Main role of Beder Meye Joshna which was biggest hit film ever in the history of Bangladesh film.-Early Life:...
- Jugantar Chakma Chinese
- Jasim
- Khalil
- Kabari Sarwar
- Kabila
- Keya
- Khaleda Aktar Kolpona
- Kumkum
- MannaManna (actor)SM Aslam Talukder popularly known as Manna, was one of the most well known actors in Bangladeshi film industry.-Early life:...
- MoushumiMoushumiMoushumi is a Bangladeshi film actor and director, who was awarded the National Film Award for Meghla Akash . She has acted in over 150 films and made her directorial debut with Kokhono Megh Kokhono Brishti -Career:...
- Matin Abdul
- Mahmood Kohli
- Maruf
- Mahfuj Ahmed
- Miju Ahmed
- Misha Soudagor
- Maya Hazarika
- Naeim
- Nasir Khan
- Nipun
- Nuton
- Omar Sani
- Oyasim
- Sadika Parvin Popy
- PurnimaPurnima (Actress)Purnima also is an Bangladeshi popular film actress. Born 1981 in chittagong, Bangladesh. Her family name is Rita. The year was 1997. A new actress was in search for Motiur Rahman Panu’s movie “E Jibon Tomar Amar”, director Zakir Hossain was busy in searching a new face for the movie...
- Probir Mitro
- Rehman
- RazzakAbdur Razzak (actor)Abdur Razzaq , popularly called Razzak, is a thespian Bangla movie actor. He became famous as a film hero in the mid 1960s...
- RiazRiaz (actor)Riaz Uddin Ahamed Siddique often simply credited as Riaz is a Bangladeshi popular film actor. Riaz made his Dhallywood film debut in Banglar Nayok . Inspired by his cousin Bobita. Riaz was a Bangladeshi film actor not only this he is a famous model as well as a film producer and television host...
- Rosy Samad
- Rozina Dhali
- Rubel
- Raj
- Roushon Jamil
- Rajib
- Raisul Islam Asad
- Sahara
- Salman ShahSalman Shah (actor)Shahriar Chowdhury Emon , better known as Salman Shah, was a Bangladeshi actor. His nickname was Emon.-Film career:The name, Salman Shah, evoked an era in the Bangladeshi filmdom...
- Sohel Rana
- Shakib KhanShakib KhanShakib Khan also Sakib Khan is a Bangladeshi Popular film actor. His original name is Masud Rana. He made his acting debut in the film Annotho Bhalobasha though it did not grant him wide fame. He also starred in Amar Shopno Tumi, directed by Mizan, which was quite successful at the box-office...
- Saukat Akbar
- Sakil Khan
- Sadek Bacchu
- Sumita DeviSumita DeviSumita Devi was a Bangla film and TV actress. She was born Hena Bhattacharya in Manikganj District, Bengal . She was married to the filmmaker Zahir Raihan.-Film career:...
- Shuchanda
- Sujata
- Shabana
- Shuchorita
- ShabnurShabnurShabnur is one of the most popular actress in Bangladesh. She made her film debut in "Chaandni Raatain" directed by Ehtehsham.-Career:...
- Shabnaz
- Shahnaj
- ShabnamShabnamShabnam from the word meaning dew drops on the flowers) is a Pakistani stage and film actress of Pakistan. Shabnam was active in the Pakistani film industry, Lollywood in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and in the Bangladeshi film industry in the 1990s...
- Sharmeeli Ahmed
- Suborna MustafaSuborna MustafaSuborna Mustafa is a Bangladeshi television actress.-Early life and education:She was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her father, Golam Mustafa, was a film actor. Her mother was an actress, radio producer and playwright....
- Teli Samad
- Ujjal
- Zahrat Azra
- Zafar Iqbal
- Zahid HasanZahid HasanZahid Hasan is is a popular Bengali drama and film actor. Many things rolled into one - stage and TV actor- director, as well as an actor on the silver screen In Bangladesh. He born in Sirajganj, Bangladesh, and he joined his first theatre group Sirajganj Torun Shomproday Natya Dol. Zahid...
- Zakaria Masum Joy
- Abdus Samad
- Forid Ali
- Nasrin
- Jambu
- Boby
- Fakrul Hasan Byragi
- Shema
- sikder diamond