A bleak festive season for new movies
The ongoing pandemic has led to significant impediments for the Bangladeshi film industry. None of the big-budgeted films were released since March last year, during special occasions such as Eid, Durga Puja, Pohela Boishakh, and Valentine's Day, among other festivities. More than 25 new commercial films are awaiting release. Though cinema halls were reopened from time to time, directors and producers were reluctant to release new films, due to low audience turnout.
"Ontoratma", "Shaan", "Operation Sundarban", "Adventure of Sundarban", "Mission Extreme", "Bidrohi", "Paap Punno", "Hawa", "Bikkhob", "Djin", "Casino", "Din the Day", "Border", "Poran", "Shashurbari Zindabad", "Agamikaal", "Ostad", "Danger Zone", and "Laal Moroger Jhuti" are among the films that are awaiting release.
Modhumita Cinema Hall remained closed since the beginning of the pandemic, incurring huge losses. Iftekhar Uddin Nawshad, owner of the cinema hall, shares, "We will wait till this year to finalise a decision regarding our future. Even if we reopen now, commercial films will not be released, thus we decided to keep the hall shut."
Mia Alauddin, Senior Vice-President of Film Exhibitors' Association shares, "Big budgeted commercial films will not be released anytime soon, the only way to solve this issue is to release films from across the globe."
"Cinema hall owners are seeking the government's intervention regarding this problem as they cannot rely on us for this matter," he adds. "We failed to keep our words and if this situation continues, the future of cinema halls will be bleak."
"My film, 'Ontoratma', starring Shakib Khan, was ready to be released during the Eid holidays," says director Wazed Ali Sumon. "The production company refused to release the film, due to the ongoing pandemic."
"Bikkhob" directed by Shamim Ahamed Roni and "Bidrohi" directed by Shahin Sumon might get released on Shapla Media's streaming platform, Cinebuzz.
Recently, Shakib Khan starrer "Nabab LL.B" and "Koshai", featuring Nirab in the lead role, were released at Star Cineplex.
Translated by Rasheek Tabassum Mondira