I nt r oducti on:
nema ma ofBangl adesh,r Theci arel yr ef er r ed t o as Dhal l ywood,has had a
si gni ficanteffec ton Asi a.Bangl ades h hashad a si gni ficantfil mi ndust r y si ncet he80' s.Fi l m pr oduct i on r eachedan al l t i mehi gh i n 1990,aperi od r ef er r edt oast hegol denageofBangl adeshici nema ma.Dur i ngt he1990s,t he Bangl adeshifil mi ndust ryproducedsome meoft hebi gges tfil msi nt hehi st ory ofBangl adeshiCi nema ma.Asof2013,t heBangl adeshifil mi ndust r ygr ossed ar ound $62mn mn i n t he dome mest i c mar ke tf r om 120 r el eases, ma maki ng Bangl ade sh t he 10t h l ar gest fil m
pr oduci ng count r y i n t he
wor l d.Accor di ngt ofil m pundi t s,t heBangl adeshifil mi ndus t r yi sgr owi ng ataveryf astpacei nr ecentyears.2014haspr ovedt obeanexcel l entyear f ort he fil m i ndus t r y ,wi t h some me ofmovi es bei ng t he hi ghes tgr ossi ng Bangl ades hi fil ms of al lt i me.The Bangl ades hifil m i ndus t r y has i t s begi nni ngswi t ht he1931pr oduct i on ofLastKi ss;t heear l i es tf eat ur efil m ever ma made i n what woul d become me Bangl ades h.However ,t he fir s t ev er scr eeni ng offil ms i n Bangl ades hs t art ed on Apri l24,1898 by Br adf or d Bi oscope
Company
at
t he
Cr own
The at er
ne ar
Dhaka
har bour .Comm mmer ci al l y succe ssf ul Bangl adeshi fil ms hav e i ncl uded Toj amme lHaq' T s heGypsyDaught er ,AJ Khan' T s hef aceand t hemask, Gi ashuddi n Sel i m' sMonpur a, Ashi qur Rahma man' sKi st i maatand I f t akar [ 9] Chowdhur y' A s gnee. Bangl adeshiFi l mI ndust ryi st hesecondl ar gestfil m
i ndust ryi n Sout h Asi a af t erBol l ywood and as of2014;i ti st he ni nt h l ar gesti nAsi at erms msofr evenue.
1
Pr esentSi t uati on:
Dur i ng1990s,Bangl adeshifil msst ar t ed l osi nga l argesec t orofaudi ence becauseofl ackofqual i t y .Thefil m di r ect or ss t ar t edgi vi ngmor eat t ent i on t ofil m' smu musi c,danceandot herel eme ment si nst ead ofst oryandscr eenpl ay . Some meal sobegant oaddact i onandi nt ensesce nes.Af ew di r ect or sbegant o i mi t at eandcopyf or ei gn fil ms,most l yI ndi an fil ms.Hence,t hefil mscoul d at t r actonl yt heur banl i vi ngsma mal li ncome mepeopl e. Dur i ng2000s,Bangl adeshifil msbegan doi ngpoorbusi nessand i ni t i al l y , t he number s offil ms decr eased.The t er m ' Bangl a Ci nema'bec ame me a mat t erofj okeamo mong t hepeopl e.Though t her eal ways hav ebeen some i ndependentfil m maker swhoat t emptt oma makemo mov i esi n agoodm ma anner , t hei rworkat t r actonl yaf ew audi ence. Af t erdecl i ni ng dur i ng mostoft he2000s,t heBangl adeshifil m i ndus t r y bounced back af t er2009.Wi t ht hehel p oft heBangl adeshiGover nme nt and t he eme mer gence ofgi antproduct i on comp mpani es ,t he Bangl adeshifil m i ndust ryi sgr owi ngataf astpace.Si nce2010,Bangl adeshhasdev el oped se ver al l ar ge pr oduct i on and di st r i but i on comp mpani es , such as Jaaz Mul t i medi aandTi ge rMedi aLi mi t edandt hefil mspr oduce dbyt hem have been doi ng be t t er busi ness t han t he ot her sf or t hei rl ar ge budge tand gl amo mor ous appear ance. But t hese fil ms har dl y cat ch t he educat ed audi encel i vi ngi nr ur alandur banare as. Theyear2014pr ovedt obet hemos tpr ofit abl eyear ,whi l e2015i sal r eady t hebi ggest ,wi t h some meofBangl adesh’ sbi ggestfil msl i ned up f orre l ease. Bol l ywood' sRel i anceEnt ert ai nmentLi mi t edhasexpr essedt hei ri nt er esti n
2
produci ng Bangl ades hifil ms.Howev er ,t heBangl adesh Fi l m Cor por at i on di dn' tr espondduet ot hebanonI ndi anfil msi nBangl adesh.
Envi r onmentofFi l mI ndust r yofBangl adesh: As a nat i on, we have al ways had fil m as a f or emos t choi ce of ent ert ai nment ,andasan ‘ out l et ’ofouremot i ons.St at i st i csshow t hatt he fil m i ndust r y‘ r evi ve s’bet t ert han mostot her sf r om negat nfluent i al i v e I f act ors * ,of t en atr at eswhi ch areunexpect ed f ora peopl ewi t h spendi ng c apabi l i t i e sasl i mi t e dasour s ! Nat ur alCal ami t i e s,Po l i t i c alt r ans i t i o ns and * Fac t o r sl i ke : t al ent eds t ar se t c .
3
l o ss o f
TheEconomi cSegment : Thought hes t udyofFi l m asadi sci pl i nes t ar t edar ound1960s,t hedebat e whe t hera movi ei sa pi eceofar tornotbegan much ear l i er .A gr oup of academi ci ansf avort het erm “ Fi l m”over“ Movi e”andr ecogni zei tasapi ece ofArt .Butagr eatnumberofpr act i t i oner sandacademi ci ansr egardi tasa f or m ofent er t ai nment ,pur eandsi mpl e.Gov er nmentmaypr omot emovi es as a mass communi cat i on t ool t o communi cat e nat i onal l yi mpor t ant messagest oi t speopl e.Wewi l lnott akeanyext r emeposi t i ont oexpl ai nt he phenomena ofFi l m i ndust r y ofBangl ades h.“ Ass umpt i ons t hat f ai lt o pr ovi decri t eri af ort heanal ysi sofmessages,f al l i ngbet ween t heext r emes ofgood and bad,beaut i f uland ugl y and ar t and nonar t mus t pr ov e si ngul ar l y unfitas basi c assumpt i ons f ort he anal ysi s offil ms t hatso cl ear l yf al lbet weent heseext r eme. ”( SolWort h1971)
টললভশন
On t he ot herhand,t he i nher enti ssues l i ke demand uncer t ai nt y ,r i sk i nv ol v ementand bi gi nv es t mentmovi et ur nst obea busi ness..Fr om t he per spect i veoft hephenomenaldecl i neofHol l ywood i nt hel at e1960sand ear l y 1970s Fadi man ( 1973)cont ends t hat“ Movi e maki ng i s busi nes s whi ch i s att he same t i me an ar tand an i ndus t r y . ”Whi l e pr oduci ng a movi e,pr oducer s and di r ect or s have cl eari dea on whatf act orwi l lbe 4
domi nat i ngi nt hatmovi e.Evenwi t houtnegat i nganyoft hesef act or sand maki nga bal anceamongt hef act or sa di r ec t orc an makean out st andi ng movi e. Af t ert heWarofI ndependenceofBangl adeshi n1971,mos toft het i mewe hav eseenoneman show i nt hefil mI ndus t r y .Some t i mesi ti sNay ok Raz Raz z ak, Some t i mes i ti s Dashi ng Her o Jashi m, t hen Romant i c Her o Sal man Shah and Last l ySuperSt arManna.Af t ert hesudden deat h of Mannai n2008,whol efil mi ndust r ywasj ol t eddown.Shaki bKhancamet o t he l i mel i ghtand whol ei ndust rywas di r ect ed cent er i ng hi m.Si t uat i ons wor sened ast her ewasl ack ofvar i at i on i n st or i es,l ack ofi nnovat i on i n ot herareasofmovi emaki ng.Peopl est art edt of or getaboutgoi ngCi nema Hal lt owat chmovi esast henumberofmovi egoer swasdecr easi ngsl owl y af t ert hedeat h ofSal man Shah.TheCi nema Hal l swer eshutdown one af t eranot her .Atl ast ,despi t et hest r ongpr ot estf r om di rect orspr oducersact or s,Bangl ades h Ci nema Hal l Owner s Ass oci at i on i mport ed I ndi an Bangl amovi et oexhi bi ti nt hei rdormi t ory.Butt hi si ni t i at i vewenti n vai n a l s o .
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Gue r r i l l a Wi t ht he eme r gence ofsomebr i l l i antyoung di r ect or s especi al l y Mos t of a SarwarFar ooki(di r ect or),M.A.Jal i lAnant a( Pr oducer Act or) ,Gi asuddi n Sel i m( Monpur a) ,Nasi r uddi n Yousuff ( Guer r i l l a) ,Redoan Rony( Chor abal i ) t he fil m i ndus t r y ge t back i t sl i f e. Bangl a movi e exper i ences some benchmar ks wi t h compl et el y di ffer ent ,wonder f uls t or i es,unpr ecedent ed ci nemat ogr aphyandt hephenomenali mprove menti n ev er yt ec hni calsi de ofmovi emaki ng.Now t i mecomest oar mt hel i f eoft hefil mi ndust rywi t h “ cont i nuousr eengi neer i ng.I ti s a busi ness t er m what Japanese cal l s Kai z en. Fr om t he capi t al i st i c vi ew, wi t hout t he mot i vat i on of pr ofit cont i nuousdevel opmentorr eengi neer i ngofsomet hi ngi si mpossi bl e.
Monpur a Weal lknow t hatagood pr oduceri sagoodi nves t or;agooddi r ect ori sa good manager and obvi ousl y a good mar ket er al so.You need pr oper pl anni ng,managi ng whol e shoot i ng uni t ,fini shi ng al lact i vi t i es wi t hi na defini t eper i od oft i meandwi t hi n defini t eamountofbudge t ,dev el opi nga cont r olsyst em t o be a successf uldi r ect or .You have t o actl i ke a t ot al busi nessman. 6
Anot hert hi ngt oconsi deri st hat“ popul ar i t yi nt hepasthasbeenhasbeen f ound t o be no guar ant eeofs uccess i nt he f ut ur e.Ther ei s no si mpl e, consi st entr el at i onshi pbet weenfil mt hemes,cost sofpr oduct i onsandbox office r ece i pt s. ” ( Edmunds and St r i ck 1977) . I ti s st r at egi cal l y sound t o r ecogni zet het r ut h ofmovi ebusi nessmor eel abor at el y .“ Themeasur eof successi n movi emaki ngi sat t endanceei t heri nt er msoft henumberof admi ssi ons,t hedol l arval ueoft her ent alf eeswhi ch exhi bi t orsret urn t o t hedi st r i but ors .Butmor epr act i cal l yi ti snott henumberofadmi ssi on, notboxofficehi t ;i ti stherent al swhi ch t hedi st ri but orrecei vesthatar e usedi ncal cul at i ngtheact ualpr ofitorl oss. ” ( Jowet t ,Li nt on 1980)
Chor abal i I nt he compet i t i v e mar ketone mustdi ffer ent i at e hi s/hermovi es i nt he market .ButI nwhi chareayouhavet odi ffer ent i at e,i nwhi chare ayou have t o compet ei s a mat t er of concer n. “ Each mov i e whi l e pr oduced i s es sent i al l y a uni que commodi t y .I t nee ds hi gh degr ee of pr oduct di ffer ent i at i on whi ch r esul t si n pr omot i onal compet i t i on r at her t han admi ssi on pri cecompet i t i on. ”( Larmet tetal ,1978) . Pr oductdi ffer ent i at i on needst obedeal twi t hcul t ur alsensi t i vi t yandt hemosti mport antt hi ngi s t oposi t i oni nt heaudi encesmi nddi ffer ent l y .
7
Under st andi ngt hephenomena oft hefil mi ndus t r yi n apragmat i cwayi s si gni ficantt ot hepeopl ehavi ngst akei nt hei ndust ry .Cont empl at i ngt he l ear ni ng of moder n management and i mpl ement i ng l at es t mar ket i ng st r at egi esi n pr oduci ngmovi escan pl ayan i nfluent i alr ol et odevel op t he fil mi ndust r yofBangl adesh.
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TheGl obalSegment :
Bangl adeshici nemagoe r s can now enj oy I ndi an fil ms i n ci nema hal l s acr osst hecount ry ,f ort hefir stt i me,ast heI ndi an act i on cri met hri l l er , Want ed,gotcl ear ancecer t i ficat ef r om t heBangl adesh fil m censorboar d yes t er day .Sai f ulI sl am Chowdhur y ,member oft he censor boar d and pr esi dentofBangl adesh Mot i on Pi ct ur eExhi bi t orsAssoci at i on,confir med t he deve l opment .I nnwi n Ent er pr i se has i mport ed t he fil m,undert he I mportPol i cyOr der ,201215.I nnwi nEnt erpri sepr opri et orI f t ekharUddi n Naushad t ol d TheI ndependentt hatscr eeni ngeach ot her s’movi esshoul d beal l owed i n bot ht hecount r i es,t o savet he ci nema hal l sand t he fil m i ndust ryi ngeneral . “ Manyci nemahal l sar ecl osi ngdown.I ft hi scont i nues,i twi l lbedi fficul tt o sav et hei ndust r y .That ’ swhywehavet oopen up t hemar ket , ”headded. About r el easi ng Want ed, Naushad, al so t he pr opr i et or of Madhumi t a Ci nema Hal l ,sai d,“ I ’ ve cal l ed upon t he fil m pr oducer s'associ at i on,t o r el ease t he fil m i n 5060 ci nema hal l s acr oss t he count r y .Eve r yt hi ng dependsont heappr ovaloft heassoci at i on. ” “ Recr eat i onalpr ogr ammesl i kemusi c,dr ama,movi es,document ari es,et c. can beexport ed i nt hef orm ofaudi o and vi deocasse t t es,compactdi scs ( CD) ,DVDs,et c. ,i ft herei snoobj ect i on f r om t hei nf ormat i on mi ni st ry , ”t he ordersai d. Ar medwi t ht hi sor der ,Bangl adeshdi s t r i but or si mpor t edI ndi anfil mssuch as Don 2,Thr eeI di ot s,and Taar e Zameen Par .Oft he fil ms i mport ed, Want edgott hecl ear anceoft hecensorboar df ort hefir s tt i me,Sai f ulI sl am Chowdhur ysai d. 9
Two ot her fil ms—Khoka Babu and Khoka 420—ar ei nt he pi pel i ne f or cl earanceoft hecensorboar d,headded. Undert heor der ,t wo or gani sat i ons,Khan Br ot her sand UpaharCi nema, expor t ed ei ghtfil msAnant a Bhal abasha,Hr i doy erBondhan,Maa Amar Swar ga,TumiAmarMonerManush,Mukhoshdhari ,Srami k Net a,Pr aner Manush,and JosnerPr em.Oft hese,MaaAmarSwar ga and TumiAmar MonerManushgotcl ear ancef r om t heI ndi ancensorboar d. JK Ent er t ai nment ,aWestBengal baseddi s t r i but or ,di st r i but est hefil ms .I t has fil ed an appl i cat i on wi t ht he aut hori t i es atWes tBengalst at er un Nandanci nepl ex,i nKol kat a,t oscr eent hefil mst her e,i nDecember . Undert heI mportPol i cyOr der ,201215,i mportofci nemat ogr aphi cfil ms f r om SAFTA count r i es wi l lbe equali n number ,agai nstexportoffil ms produce di nBangl ades h.
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TheTechnol ogi cal& Soci ocul t ur alSegment :
“ The t echni que ofarti st o make obj ect s" unf ami l i ar" ,t o make f or msdi f f i c ul t ,t oi nc r e as et he di f f i c ul t y and l e ng t h ofpe r c e pt i on becauset hepr ocessofper cept i oni san aest het i cend i ni t sel fand mustbepr ol onged.Ar ti sa way ofexper i enci ngt heart f ul nessof anobj ect :t heobj ecti snoti mport ant . ” A tasaTe c hni q ue,Vi (r kt or
Skl ovosky) As ment i oned ear l i ert he f ami l i arpor t r ayaloft he l i ber at i on war ofBangl adesh was nott he cent r alconcer n ofNasi r uddi n Yousuff and RubayatHossai n’ sr ece ntfil ms ‘ Guer ri l l a’and ‘ Meher j aan’ .Rat her t hese fil ms at t empt t o open new per spect i ves f r om t het ypi calr epr esent at i on oft hel i berat i on warwhere t he domi nant ver si on has been al ways pr oj ect ed wi t h passi on and aut hent i ci t y.Get t i ngawayf r om t heear l i ergender-bi ased pr oj ect i on of charact er s,t heset wof i l m maker sdef het y pi c alr e pr e s ent at i on ami l i ar i z et ofwomen by voi ci ng i tf r om t he woman’ s per spect i ve and adopt i ng a di s t i nc t i v enar r at ol og i c alpr o c es s.
A tasaTe c hni q uee Vi kt orSkl ovoskyi nhi s r xpresses—
Anyonewho knowsTol st oycan find sever alhundr ed passagesi n hi s wor k wher ehi smet hod ofsee i ngt hi ngsoutoft hei rnor mal cont exti ssoapparent .Tol st oydescri bed t hedogmasand ri t ual s he at t acked as i ft hey wer e unf ami l i ar , subst i t ut i ng everyday meani ngs f or t he cust omari l y re l i gi ous meani ngs oft he wor ds common i n chur ch r i t ual .Manyper sonswer epai nf ul l ywounded; 11
t hey consi der ed i t bl asphemy t o pr esent as st r ange and monst r ouswhatt heyaccept edassacr ed.Thei rr eact i on wasdue chi ef l yt ot het echni quet hr ough whi ch Tol st oy
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per cei ved and r eport ed hi senvi r onment .And af t ert ur ni ngt o whathehad l ongav oi ded,Tol st oyf oundt hathi sper cept i onshad uns et t l e dhi sf ai t h.
The t echni que of def ami l i ar i z at i on i s not hi ng new. But i n Bangl adeshicont ext ,Hossai n appl i est hi st echni quef ort hefir stt i mei n ‘ Meherj aan’t o encount ert hegrand nar r at i veoft he nat i on’ sl i berat i on wart hr oughherout l andi shl ovest or yandf acesal mostsi mi l arcr i t i ci sm t hatTol st oyhad f aced t hen.AsPabl oCasal ssai d,“ Thel oveofone’ s 5 count r yi sa spl endi dt hi ng.Butwhyshoul dl ovest op att hebor der ?” Havi ngthi snot i on i n mi nd Hossai n’ s fil m “ Meher j aan” br eaks t he bor der br i ngi ng t he peopl et oget her under t he magi c of l ove .“ Meher j aan” port r ays t he emot i onalaspect sofhuman psychewher epeopl ear ei nwarf i ghtandki l l eachot her,butt heonl yt hi ngremai nsi st hepuri t yofl ove.Fol l owi ngt he t agl i neoft hefil m“ Lovi ngt heot her”Hossai n creat esa l ovest oryi nt he backdr opoft hewar ,butt her ei sl i t t l eofwari ni t .Shet r i est opr ovi dea post nat i onal i stperspect i veof1971,byval ori zi ngt heeverydaypol i t i csof t hevi l l ager sandal soemphasi zes on l ooki ng att he l i ber at i on t hr ough t he eyes of t he women who l ov es a Bal oc h Ar my,Washi m, who r esc uesherf r om a r apeat t empt .Agai nt hi sWashi m r ej ect st osupport hi sown armywhenher eal i zest heshamel essf er oci t i est heyaredoi ngi n Bangl adesh.I nt er est i ngl y,t hi s fil m pr onounces t he necessi t yofl ovi ng t he“ ot her ”i n ar at hermoreat ypi calway t hatpr oj ect sal lt hesensual aspect soff emi ni nel ovei gnori ngt hehorr oroft hewar( upon whi ch t he st oryi ssupposedl ybased) .Meherj aan,t hepr ot agoni stoft hefil mf al l si n l ovewi t han enemysol di erwhi l el i vi ngi nt hesamehomewi t hhercousi n
13
Ni l a.Herc haract ersymbol i zest hesymbolofl ove,buti nt hewr ongt i me oft hehi st ory.Shei seducat ed,peacef uland agai nstwar .Butdespi t e bei ng educat ed, she i st ot al l y unawar e of t he nat i onal demand of i ndependence and t he r easons behi nd t hat .Thi s pr oj ect i on somehow mi ghtr emi ndofat ypi calI ndi an fil ms’r omancegenr e,wher et he war i s bet ween t he f ami l i es i nt he backdr op, and t he l over s ar e cour t i ng asi de.Cri t i ci smsasi de,t hi ssur el yi sanew wayofpr oj ect i ngthewari n t hec i nemaofBangl adesh.
Agai n, I find s t r ong r esembl ances of Hol l ywood act i on fil ms wi t h t hat of‘ Gueri l l a’ ,wheret heheroi nei st o bri ngj ust i ceand i si nvol ved wi t h ser i ous act i on. The pr ot agoni s t of ‘ Guer i l l a’ di sgui ses her sel f , pr ovi desgr enadesand expl osi vest oco-fight er s,decei vest hehi ghupsof t he ar my and set s a bomb t her et hat expl odes mi nut es af t er her depart ur e.Eve n att heendoft hefil m shemanagest osett hear mycamp on fir et hr ough herhand bomb.Al lt hi sact i on pack t hr i l l er dr ama has been t echni cal l ydonei n ar ealHol l ywood st yl e.Thevi ol entpor t r ayalof gruesomeki l l i ngal sor emi ndsusofanyHol l ywood t hr i l l erfil m.Even t he Bengal isoundt r acki nt hefil mi sal soi nfluencedbyWes t er n composi t i ons. I n t otal ,t hi s fil m, port rayi ng t he 1971 l i berat i on war ,i s act ual l y s t demonst r at i ng a whol e new 21 c ent ur y st y l i s h ac t i on t hr i l l e r as a genr e,whi ch al so i sver ynew way ofdefini ngt hel i ber at i on waron t he cel l ul oi di nBangl adesh.
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ThePol i t i calSegment :
Bangl adeshimovi eact or sand di r ect or shavegoneon an i ndefini t est r i ke prot est i ngagai nstadeci si ont oscreenI ndi anmovi esi nl ocalt heat r es. Shoot s bot h at Bangl ades h Fi l m Devel opment Cor por at i on ( FDC)and el se wher ei nt he count r y have come t o a hal ts i nceThur sday ev eni ng.
' Bangl adesh Chal achi t r aOi kyaJot e'( fil msuni t y)t ol d bdnews24. com t hat t hes t r i kewoul dcont i nueunt i lf ur t herannouncement . Leader s oft he uni t y submi t t ed a memor andum t ot he Pri me Mi ni s t er ’ s OfficeonThur sdayaf t er noon opposi ngt hei mpor tandscr eeni ngofI ndi an fil ms.
Pr i me mi ni st er ’ sI nf ormat i on Affai r s Advi serI qbalSobhan r ece i ve dt he memor andum.
A l eaderoft he Oi kya Jot e and Bangl adesh Fi l m Di r ect or s Associ at i on’ s Publ i ci t ySecr et ary,AhmedAl iMondalsai d,“ I n pr ot estagai nstt her el ease ofI ndi an movi e‘ Want ed’ ,we have deci ded t o suspend al lmovi er el at ed act i vi t i es.
" We ar e now wai t i ng f ort he pr i me mi ni st er ’ sr esponse.Ourst r i ke wi l l cont i nueunt i lourdemandsar emet . ” Hesai d fil m st ar si ncl udi ng' Shaki b' ,' Moushumi 'and Ami tHasan al ong wi t hcr ew member swoul dvi si tt heat r esat9am onFr i day . 15
They woul dr equestt he audi ence t o boycot tBol l ywood movi es athal l s wher e‘ Want ed’i sexpect edt ober el eased. Bangl adesh Fi l m Di r ect orsAssoci at i on,Fi l m Art i st sAssoci at i on and ot her or gani sat i ons oft he fil m i ndust r y have st art ed t he pr ot es tsi nce I nwi n Ent er pr i sedeci ded t oi mport ed f ourHi ndimovi esf r om I ndi a— ' Want ed' , ' Don2' ,' Taar eZameenPar 'and' 3I di ot s' . The Oi kya Jot e was f or med af t er t he I nwi n announced t he r el ease of ‘ Want ed’i n80t heat r es. Leader soft heOi kyaJot esai datapr essconf er enceatt heFDC onTuesday t hat t hey woul d pr ev ent t he scr ee ni ng of Hi ndi movi es at any cost .
On t he ot herhand,head oft he I nwi n Nawshad sai dt hey f ol l owed t he SAFTA Agr ee ment and t he di r ec t i on oft he i nf or mat i on mi ni s t r y whi l e i mpor t i ng t he movi esand hence t her e was no l egalhur dl ei nr el easi ng ‘ Want ed. ’
Meanwhi l e,on behal foft heOi kyaJot e,Adv ocat eEkhl asUddi n Bhui yan hassental egalnot i cet othecabi netsecret ary,cul t ur alaffai rsmi ni st erand secr et ary ,chai r man oft heCensorBoar d,Dhakadeput ycommi ssi oner ,I G of t he pol i ce aski ng t hem
not t o al l ow scr eeni ng of ‘ Want ed’ .
I n t he meant i me, t he Bangl ades h Fi l m Pr oducer s and Di st r i but or s Associ at i on has conv ened an emer gency mee t i ng on Sat ur day t ot ake a deci si onont hei mportandscr eeni ngofI ndi anfil ms.
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TheDemogr aphi cSegment : Af t ert he i ndependence t he decades ofsevent i es and ei ght i es wi t nessed t he gol dent i meoffil mi ndust r y .Ther ewer e1, 200ci nemahal l si nt hecount ryand onl yi nDhakaci t yt her ewer e44ci nemahal l s. Si nce2001t hi snumberst art ed t or educeandatpr ese ntt her ear e500ci nemahal l sandoutoft hem 100hal l s ar eseasonalwhi ch r emai n cl osedal mostal lt heyearr ound.Theyar eopened j us ton someoccasi ons.I nDhakaci t yt her ear eonl y33ci nemahal l snow and i nChi t t agongonl yt hr eeci nemahal l sarei noper at i on.Fr om t heper spect i veof t he phenomenaldecl i ne ofHol l ywood i nt he l at e 1960s and ear l y 1970s Fadi man ( 1973)cont endst hat" Movi emaki ngi sbusi nesswhi chi satt hesame t i meanartandani ndust ry . "Whi l epr oduci ngamovi e,pr oducer sanddi r ect ors havecl eari deaon whatf act orswi l lbedomi nat i ngi nt hatmovi e.Evenwi t hout neg at i ng any oft hes ef act or s and maki ng a bal ance among t he f act or sa di r ect orcan makean out st andi ngmovi e.Bangl adeshifil mi ndust r ywi t ness ed oneman show af t er1971.Si t uat i onwor senedast her ewasl ackofvar i at i on i n st ori es,l ack ofi nnovat i on i n ot herareas ofmovi emaki ng.Peopl est art ed t o f or ge tgoi ngt oci nemahal l st owat chmovi esast henumberofmovi egoer swas decr easi ngsl owl yaf t ert hedeat h ofSal man Shah.Theci nemahal l swer eshut down one af t er anot her .Atl ast ,despi t et he st r ong pr ot estf r om di r ect ors produce r sact or s, Bangl ades h Ci nema Hal l Owner s Ass oci at i on i mport ed I ndi an Bangl amovi est oexhi bi tt hosei nt hei rhal l s.Butt hi si ni t i at i vewenti n vai n. Wi t ht heeme r genceofsomebr i l l i antyoungdi r ect or sespeci al l yMost of aSar war Far ooki ,M A Jal i lAnant awhoi sbot h apr oducerand act or ,Gi asuddi n Sel i m who pr oduced Monpur a, Nasi r uddi n Yousuff who cr eat ed Guer r i l l a and Redoan Rony who madeChor abal i ,t hefil m i ndus t r yhassomehow sav ed i t s 17
l i f e.Bangl a movi e exper i ence s some benchmar ks wi t h compl et el y di ffer ent , wonder f ul st or i es, unpr ecedent ed ci nemat ogr aphy and t he phenome nal i mprov ementi n ev er yt ec hni calsi deofmovi emaki ng.Now t i mehascomet o arm t hel i f eoft hefil mi ndust rywi t h" cont i nuousreengi neer i ng.Weal lknow t hatagoodpr oduceri sagood i nves t or ;agood di r ect ori sagood managerand obvi ousl y a good market eral so.I n or dert o bea successf uldi r ect or pr oper pl anni ng, managi ng whol e shoot i ng uni t , fini shi ng al l act i vi t i es wi t hi na defini t e per i od oft i me and wi t hi n defini t e amountofbudge t ,dev el opi ng a cont r olsyst em aret hepr er equi si t es.Under st andi ngt hephenomenaoft hefil m i ndust ryi n a pr agmat i cwayi ssi gni ficantt ot hepeopl ehavi ngst akesi nt he i ndust r y . Cont empl at i ng t he l ear ni ng of moder n manag ement and i mpl ement i ng l at es t mar ket i ng st r at egi es i n pr oduci ng movi es can pl ay an i nfluent i alr ol et odevel opt hefil mi ndust ryofBangl adesh.
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SWOTAnal ysi s STRENGTHS:
Appr ox.1000ci nemasi nal l66maj ordi st r i ctHQ
No.ofVi ewer s:Over50mi l l i onandabove.
Habi t ualat t i t ude t hat “ e nt er t ai nmenti sabi gpar tofl i f ef or Bangl adeshi s”
Ampl egr oupofTal ent edart i st sandMaker s
Ri si ngdemandf r om vi ewer sf ormor ei mpr ove dqual i t ymovi es
Aver ageCostofpr oduct i on i ssubst ant i al l yl owert hatot her count ri es/economi es.
WEAKNESSES:
Li mi t edt ec hnol ogi caladvancement
Heavi l yi nfluencedQual i t ycont r olf orums.
PoorI nf r ast ruct ur ef orfil m cr ew andvi ewer s.
Pol i t i ci zedcont r ol l i ngbody,Tradeuni on
Rest ri ct edent rygi vent ol ar gePri vat eSect orI nvest ors.
Decl i ni ngno.movi egoers r esul t i ngi nbot hf al l i ngGovernmentand i ndust ryr eve nue
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Ri si ngunmetdemandf r om vi ewer sf ormor ei mprove dqual i t ymovi es
Over al lpoorPercept i onoft heSi l verScr eenandt heval uesi tgener at es
OPPORTUNI TI ES:
Pot ent i alvi ewerbaseof50mi l l i on ( appr ox)
Wi deandext ensi veOut r eachofci nemaHal l s.
Theongoi ngexponent i alri sei nMar ket i nggi vi ngri set oopport uni t i esf or pr oductpl acementi nfil ms.
Physi ographi calt her angeTGsare“ Ent er t ai nmentCr avi ng”
Pot ent i alt ocapt uri ngal ar gechunkoft heSat el l i t eTVAudi ence
Lar geNRB Popul at i on.
Pot ent i alf orbei ngfir sti nBD f orPayPerVi ew onl i ne
Curr entst abi l i t yshoul dpr ovi deconduci vei nvest mentcl i mat e
Ar enewedi nt er esti nl ocalAr t sandCul t ur easevi dencedbyt heboom i n
bot ht hemusi ci ndust r yandPr i vat eTVchannel s.
THREATS:
Sat el l i t eTVst i l lhasaf ormi dabl ei nfluencei nt ermsofvi ewershi p
St ri ngentandcensorshi prul esdat i ngbackf r om bef oret hesat el l i t eer a.
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CheapTec hnol ogi esf orMedi arepr oduct i onCD/DVD/I nt er ne t .
Physi ogr aphi cal l yt her angeTGsar e“ Ent ert ai nmentCr avi ng”( subj ectt o i nfluenceofot hermodesofent er t ai nment )
Curr entI nst abi l i t yt hreatt of ri endl yi nvest mentcl i mat e Lackofpr of essi onalexpert i seent eri ngthefiel dcanf urt herl ower standards
Possi bi l i t i es+Thr eat s=PROSPECT:
Theobj ect i ve,t her ef or e,shoul dbet oputt hest r engt hsandweaknesses onacommonsc al eandbri ngoutt her ewar ds,whi chcanbesummar i z edas bel ow:
By Publ i ci zi ng ‘ The Pr operCast ’( cr ew) ,any pr oducercan gener at e at l eastacer t ai namountofi nt er estaroundeachpr oduct i on.
Bypr omi si ngsomet hi ngNEW i nt hefil m,i ti sal wayspossi bl et ogener at e f oot f al li nt hehal l s( si mpl eani mat i oncandowonderst oo) .
Manypr oduce r sl oseoutonagr oundunknown t ot hem.Thesucce ssof any fil m l ar ge l y depends on under s t andi ng t he i opl e( Hal l mpor t antpe Owners’Shomi t i ,st akehol ders)andothercr uci alf act orsl i keDi st ri but i on pr ocessandnet wor k.
The
success r at es of f r esh pr oducer s ar e al so det er mi ned by t hei r
affil i at i on wi t hl ar geri nst i t ut i ons( Usi ngTV channel sasbanner s)whi ch havet heaboveunder st andi ng.Dat abase,companyhi st oryoffiel dl ev el exper i enceandI ndi vi dualsuccesshasal sobeenaccount edt osuccessas i nv e s t o r( orpr o duc er ) . 21
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Recommendat i on: Bangl adeshfil mi ndust rymustproducequal i t ymovi es
Thepi ct ur eshowsM AJal i lAnant a( l ef t ) ,abr i l l i antyoungdi r ect or ,wi t hhi scoact r essBor sha Bengal ici nemai spassi ngt hr ough at ough and cr i t i calt i me.Ci nemahal l si n t hecount r yhavebeen r educed t ohal f .Rel easi ngnew ci nemashasal socome down t o hal f . The l ack of pat r oni z at i on of gov er nment , nongov er nment , i nfluenceofskycul t ur e,unheal t hyand di l api dat edcondi t i on ofci nemahal l s, notpr oduci ngqual i t yfil ms,financi alconst r ai nt s,l ack ofmoder nt echnol ogy, l ackoffil mi ngeducat i on andt r ai ni nghavebeeni dent i fiedast hepr i mecauses f or mi ser abl e days of t hi s i ndust r y . Fi l ms ar e not onl y a means of ent er t ai nmentbutal soagr eatand ve r yeffect i vemedi um ofeducat i on whi ch manybookscannotdo.Nexti t spr osper i t ygoeswi t heconomi cdev el opmentas wel l .
' MukhandMukhush, 't hefirs tfil m oft hecount ry ,wasr el eased58yearsagoi n 23
1956.Si nce t hen 2, 905 fil ms wer er el eased t i l l2013.Rel easi ng fil ms got i ncr ease dandi n 2005,some100fil mswer er el ease d.Fr om 2005 i tst art edt o wi t ness a sl uggi sh t r end and i n 2013,onl y 45 fil ms wer e pr oduced.The si t uat i on has got back t ot hat off our decades ago.The same mundane f or mul ai cs t or i es had t aken ov er t he i ndus t r y . A maj or breakt hr ough i s r equi r ed.Someonemustbreakt henor m andbri ngf r es h out l ookt ofil mst hat wi l lpr esentabet t erqual i t yofact i on;s t unt sand effect st hatwoul dmaket he fil msst and outf r om t here st .Movi esmustbehi ghl yent er t ai ni ngaswel las educat i ve;ot her wi sespect at orswoul dnotcomet ot heci nemahal l s.Theywi l l sat i sf yt hei rneedsbybuyi ngCDsandwat chi ngBol l ywood movi es.Andt hi si s whati sact ual l ygoi ngonnow. Devel opi ngafil mi nst i t ut ei sa cryi ngneed oft hi si ndust ry .Thei nst i t ut ewi l l pr oduce t al ent ed di r ect ors ,pr oducer s,act or s and act r esses.Sound,cul t ur e f r i endl y ,t i mel y fil ms can be pr oduced whi ch wi l le xhi bi tr el ev ant i ssues di sc ussedatt hepr esentt i me.Fi l mscan beeasi l ypr oducedbasedon f amous l i t er ary booksofBengal iand Engl i sh l i t er at ur e.Fi l mscan show t hepr esent dayworl dpol i t i cs,maket hepeopl eknow t her ul esofheal t handhygi ene,t each t r afficrul es,crumbl i ngrel i gi ousf ai t hofhumans,t eachuswhygi r l s'educat i on i snec es sar y ,i tcan show ushow r ur aland ur ban gapcan bemi ni mi z ed.The ent i r egamutofhuman behavi or ,soci al ,pol i t i caland i nt ernat i onali ssuescan be f eat ur ed t hr ough t he fil ms.These di ver si fied i ssues wi l ldefini t el y dr aw spect at or sf r om var i ous fiel ds and backgr ounds r emovi ng t he i nsecur i t y of mee t i ngfinanci all oss.Whatdowese ei nourpr esentdayfil ms?Jus tt hesame andknownst ori esar eusedi naser i esoffil ms.Eve nasi mpl eandnonsensi bl e mancan al soguessi t scour se,t urni ngpoi ntandendi ngveryeasi l y .Vul gari sm and i r r el evantent er t ai ni ng scenes and si mi l ar ki nd ofst ori es r ei gn i nt he
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pr ese ntdayci nemasofBangl adeshwhi chhavel ostt heappealoft heaudi ence al mostt ot al l y .Twent yfir stcent uryfil msmustbever ypr omi si ng,chal l engi ng, sci ent i fic,f ul l yeducat i veandcri t i calt houghtprovoki ng.
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Concl usi on: The Fi l m i ndust r y has f or l ong been negl ect ed f r om subst ant i alPubl i c or Pr i vat eSect orI nves t ment .TheTruePot ent i aloft hi si ndust ryhas l ong been mi sunder st ood.RecentWor l d Economy i sunder goi nga Reces si on and St at s suggestt hat“ r et ur n upon i nves t ment“i nt hefil mI ndust ryi sri skFr ee,Mor e Secur eandmor ePr ospect i vet hanot herConve nt i onalf ormsofI nve st ment .
Indeed film making is a risky business and very few in our country dare to denote a notion of defamiliarization against the typically “familiar” projection, however it is a noteworthy change in the context of our socio-cultural environment that the recent film-makers are daring to “hink otherwise” and show different perspectives of the great history of our country! he aspiration and the dare to “think otherwise” should stand strong! If so, then someday in near future "angladeshi film industry will be able to uphold the glorious national history of our country in front of the world audience with larger definitions and interesting interpretations!
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Ref er ence:
ht t p: //en. wi ki pedi a. org/wi ki /Ci nema_of _Bangl adesh ht t p: //www. t hefinanci al expr es sbd. com/2014/10/11/60341 ht t p: //www. t hedai l yst ar . net /r evi vi ngt hebangl adeshi fil mi ndust ry-
37120 Bangl adeshJour nal of Envi r onment al Soci et y . June2011. _2
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