Playing the blame-game will not benefit cinema: Uzzal
Megastar Uzzal has spent 50 glorious years in the film industry, working as a much loved actor, a notable director and producer. The renowned actor, who has given multiple superhits, talks to The Daily Star about the Bangladesh Cholochitro Shilpi Samiti elections, which is set to happen tomorrow, and more.
What kind of leadership are you expecting from this term's candidates of the Bangladesh Cholochitro Shilpi Samiti elections, which is to be held tomorrow?
Only a few seniors of this industry are still amongst us. I believe, any election is a kind of competition and some have to embrace failure while others rejoice upon victory.
The ones who manage to secure positions, I out to remind them that they will serve for a fixed term and have sworn to take responsibilities. They must remember and keep their promises.
We are expecting excellent leadership which will lead to development for the members of this organ. We expect you to work devotedly and selflessly.
Have the priorities of the Bangladesh Cholochitro Shilpi Samiti altered with the course of time?
The Bangladesh Cholochitro Shilpi Samiti is a non-profit social welfare organisation, and I was one of the founding members of this initiative.
We wanted to forge a strong sense of being cooperative and helpful among artistes. However, the essence of this organisation seems to have changed.
The artistes are seen to invest more time into the organisations rather than films. Is this doing any good to the industry?
Artistes of the film industry have to survive through the image they build. Actors have to build up their image and keep it up on the screens to sustain.
As an actor, I affirm that being involved in various organisational activities will never prove to be fruitful for actors. Using politics and the organisation to build up an image is not doing any good to the industry.
The members from differing panels have been playing the blame game for a while now. Do you think such activities will affect the decisions of the voters?
Of course, it is! I have seen artistes come up with different types of blames in interviews published both digitally and in print. Artistes are supposed to be humble and selfless and this attitude disappoints me.
Being against each other breaks our unity and makes us weaker. Playing the blame-game will not benefit our cinema.
Is it possible to save this organisation from collapsing through proper leadership?
Pledging to save the film industry to ensure more voters in favour of oneself is a tactic, and I see both the panels employing this ploy. Cinema does not need such politics to sustain and such actions can never work in favour of cinema.
Translated by Ashley Shoptorshi Samaddar
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