The history of Bangla film is as old as the film history. Hiralal Sen of this subcontinent sowed the first seed of film. Dada Vi Falke and Hiralal Sen helped to grow the industry up. Abdul Jabbar Khan sowed the seeds of Bangladeshi films in 1965 and known as the pioneer of Bangladeshi film. Mukh O Mukhosh was the first Bangladeshi Film. In the 1960s, only 3-5 films were released each year even some years passed with no film release. In the 1970s, film industry started to grow up and 20-25 films released each year. Now, about 100 films are released every year. From 1965 to December 2008, more than 2600 films are released.
In this long 50 years, film industry has given birth to many notable films like Asiya, Stop Genocide, Titas Ekti Nodir Naam, Padma Nadir Mazhi, Agami, Muktir Gaan, Surjadihal Bari, Julekha, Dahan, Harano Din, Sat Bhai Champa, Anowara, Rangbaz, Aguner Paroshmani, Arun Barun Kiron Mala, Ora Egaro Jon, Matir Maina, Antarjatra, Nirontar and many other notable films. Jahir Raihan, Alamgir Kabir, Khan Ataur Rahman, Suvash Datt, Morshedul Islam, Tanvir Mokammel, Tarek Masud, Abu Sayed and Tawkir Ahmed are some of the prominent filmmakers who lift the name of Bangladesh up in the world through making internationally recognized award winning films. The themes range from social and historical to fantasies and fairy-tales. In recent years, there has been a tendency to experiment with the medium; one of the outcomes has been an abundance of popular Short Feature Films.
The films and cinema halls are strongly related as without any of them, the other can’t exist. According to Bengali weekly Dhaka Prokash, the Dhakaities had their first views of bioscope in 1898, only three years after the first show in Paris, at The Crown Theatre which was located at Patuatuli near Sadarghat in Dhaka city. Hiralal Sen arranged the first film show. During the first world war, films were regularly shown in a cinema house named Picture House, later named Shabistan, situated in Armanitola. By the year 1947, almost 80 cinema houses existed in Bangladesh. (A brief history of Bangladeshi Cinema: Anupam Hayat)In 2005, more than 800 cinema houses are still being operated in Bangladesh, after the recent closing of about 300 cinema houses. (Asian Communication Handbook: Stephen Logan)
These are the structural achievements, but there is something else; there is another part of the story.
The inner side of film industry is quite ugly. Every years about one hundred films are released but who are behind these films? Notable filmmakers make only one or two films each year. They do not run the industry. In 2006, Impress Telefilm Ltd. and Omi-Boni Kathachitra presents more than three films. Impress Telefilms Ltd. is making traditional, low budget films, but the owner of Omi-Boni Kathachitra is Dipjal who has been jailed due to some criminal conviction and recently been released on bail. Like Dipjal, many other smugglers, terrorists and criminals are the investors in film industry although they do this annonymously. Today’s assistant directors are becoming directors tomorrow and build the third class cinemas. Shaheen Sumon, Shawpan Choudhury, Apurba Rana, Shahadat Hossain Liton etc are some of the filmmakers who were successful of releasing at least three movies last year. The titles of their films represent what is inside the films. All these directors are criticized as their films were full of excessive violent scenes, vulgar dancing and irrelevant dialogues. A report published in 2007 by Bangladesh Film Censor Board (BFCB) tells that about 6.5 million taka are invested per movie and about 100 films are released each year but one in four films in 2006 was banned as they contained excessive fighting scenes, dirty dancing and irrelevant script. These films are not healthy and they hardly reflect the country’s culture and tradition rather they were full with obscene materials and didn’t have any coherent storyline. Another report from the same source says that in 2006, about 59 films were banned by BFCB and 39 films were stopped screening for obscenity, usually known as ‘Cut Piece.’ The number of ‘banned’ films decreased during the entrim government, however, it is exposing again.
From 1965 to December 2006, a total of 2411 films are released and 440 filmmakers, Towkir Ahmed is the last inclusion, directs all these films. Although we name some of our famous films and renowned filmmakers, the number is very few in consistence to the released films and directors. Before the independence, Bangladeshi films were against the Pakistani rules. Liberation war is still a very good topic for making films. In 1973, Jahirul Haq inaugurates the first action film titled ‘Rangbaz. Till now, about 90 percent of the movies released every year are such kinds of formula film i.e. containing love, sorrow, fight, religious advice, respect ness, problems and entertainment. The present picture of Bangladeshi film is horrific enough to destroy and undermine the culture and society. Last 10 years, the situation deteriorates greatly. Today, film industry of Bangladesh has been criticized for producing low quality films whose only appeal is that of sex, violence and melodrama. In 2005, one hundred films were released. Very few of them were successful. Char Satiner Ghar, Meher Nigar, Bideshini, Suva, Matritta, Kal Sokale, Jibon Simante, Hazar Bochar Dhore are some of the well directed films with less or no obscenity and irrelevant dialogue. In 2006, a total of 98 films were released and Bindur Chele, Rupkhotar Golpo, Na Bolona, Koti Takar Kabin, Rakhkhushi, Rani Kuthir Itihash, Nacholer Rani, Bangla, Pitar Ason, Chachu, Dadima etc are the good films. On the other hand, the films that are criticized for violent fighting scenes, dirty dancing and irrelevant script on 2005 and 2006 are Langra Masud, Nagna Hamla, Matha Nosto, Thanda Mathar Khuni, Khuni Billah, Khayesh, Torture, Encounter, Top leader, Lucky seven, Bullet Proof, Mohila Hostel, Action Lady, Durdhoarsha, Kopa, Model Girl, City Terror, and many others represent the present situation of Bangladeshi films.
People with lower earnings and less education, students of schools and colleges and some other ill tasted people are the main viewers of these films. Like any other films, Bangladeshi films have a great impact over its viewers. A deep thinking will help to realize the impact. It’s direct effects falls upon the lower class. If you go to a slum area, you must find some children playing a game– fighting each other. They make a ridiculous sound through their mouth and all these they are imitating their favorite heros like Shakib Khan, Manna, Rubel, Amit Hasan or Alexander Bou.
A great influence of films and cinemas can be found among the youths nowadays. The vulgarity and sex appealing movements, songs and dances stimulate the youths and they try to meet their physical needs unethically. Social crimes and unsocial activities increase. For example, rape by the miscreants and the rising of prostitution. Eve teasing and passing indecent comments to all ages of women are some of the results of Bangla films.
Most of our films represent the heroes as the defenders of crimes. But the presentation is also negative. The hero prevents other crimes by breaking the laws of the country. Such stories tell us the message, “Preventing the crime criminally is not a crime.” This message left a deep shape in the viewers mind and in real life, they do not find it wrong a crime can not stop another crime rather it creates a new kind of crime.
The great filmmakers provide their messages or idealism through films but our films do not contain any message. In our neighboring country India, every year many films are released where they represent their love, responsibility for the country but although we try to follow their stories we can not provide such good qualities to our people. Very few films in our country represents patriotism and respect for the country. Where we do not get uncourageous message for patriotism there we do not hope to get films that can help us to think, to help in policy making. All are help in policy making. All are formula films. The same history, the same romance n all films, only characters are changed.It’s like that proverb, “Old wine in a new bottle.” A variety in the stories is urgent.
