Published on 12:06 PM, January 28, 2023

Dipjol warns against importing Bollywood films in Bangladesh 

Monowar Hossain Dipjol. Photo: collected

Much speculation about importation of Bollywood films and screening them in Bangladeshi cinema halls have occurred for the past week. Last Tuesday, the Bangladesh Film Artistes Association also expressed their consent to the decision, with the condition that 10% of profits from these films would be used to support artistes.

However, not all artistes are in support of this decision, as the noted actor and producer Monowar Hossain Dipjol shared with the media, the possible consequences of the decision. He said that due to the release of Hindi films in the country, Nepal's local film industry is now on the brink of its end. The country, enriched with its own films, has fallen against Hindi films.

The artiste warned that if Hindi films are to be released in Bangladesh one after another, then Bangladeshi films and its film industry might face the same consequences.

He mentioned that, though Hindi films have been screened in Bangladesh before, they didn't receive enough response from the audience. But this new scheme of importing Hindi films might call forth the destruction of the industry and would severely harm the arts and culture of Bangladesh.

Dipjol shared that the film industry is just getting back on its feet with films like "Hawa" and "Poran". Even the cinema theatres which dwindled down to 40-50 halls, have now increased by two or three times.

Dipjol himself has quite a few upcoming productions this year. The actor attested that they have already decided on the release date for five of his new productions—one on each upcoming Eids, one between the two Eids, and two more after Eid-ul-Adha.

Furthermore, fans can expect six to seven more films in the pipeline.

The actor said that if foreign films are to be screened now,  artistes who are making one film after another for the industry to make a comeback, would suffer serious losses.

Dipjol warns that if foreign films are imported and screened in Bangladesh, the industry and the country's culture might fall into existential danger. Therefore, to save the industry and the films, it's best if everyone forgets about importing foreign films.