Gloomy clouds loom over the television industry
The television industry has been barely sustaining its operations for quite a while now. Searching for a solution to its unstable state, many directors, producers and many others related to the tele-films came together on a round-table meeting titled "Shamprodaik Kahini o obhinoy bastobota".
Organised by the Actors Equity Guild, the event took place at the conference room of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Saturday, November 5, 2022.
The artistes discussed concerning the current harsh reality of the television drama world. They attest that the art television dramas have become distant from their original 'art form', as a group has turned the 'art form' (television dramas) into a business.
"Since our liberation, television dramas used to portray the life and tales of our people," said the eminent actor and director Tauquir Ahmed.
"Now, they have become a place for cheap entertainment prone to explicit visuals, language and tasteless themes," he added.
The involvement of corruption and syndicates came up in his speech.
Prominent artistes such as Jaya Ahsan, Salahuddin Lavlu, Chanchal Chowdhury, and Zahid Hasan, among other television stars, attended the conference.
"Actors have distanced themselves from the 'art', and have become view-centric," shares popular actor Sazu Khadem. "Many do not wish to do negative roles, as that would impact their 'image'."
"In the name of stories, the trend of copy-pasting, language altering and audience-pandering stories have become prevalent," he continues. "Due to these situations, I even fear writing stories now."
"Chaos and irresponsibility are increasing intensely these days," says "Aj Robibar" actor, Zahid Hasan. "I am supposed to act, but I end up making my own dialogues."
"The younger generation isn't learning anything, and yet they're called actors," shares Zahid Hasan. "Thus, the quality of television and cinema are declining."
On this note, Chanchal Chowdhury also shared a few words from his experience. "As the budgets for films have been decreasing, the relation between the artistes and films has become contractual," he says.
"The directors, producers and actors now have to worry about the contract first," he mentions. "I did not come here to do business."
"The relationship between the film crew and the actors have also become almost non-existent," says the famed director and actor Salahuddin Lavlu. "Many artistes have no idea about their own craft, yet they are using films to raise their own stock".
The topic of having too many channels was also brought forward, where discussions, questioning how many channels are actually needed?
"I belief that the artistes do not need 'strict regulations', but awareness towards their own responsibilities, honesty and conscience," shares Mamunur Rashid.
"The government and the television regulatory overseers have to come forward in the fight to sustain our culture," concludes Mamunur Rashid.
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