Bangladeshi Film History

Bangladeshi Film History

Bangladesh is varies cultural country. The establishment of film theatres began here in the 1910s, but the production of theatrical features started as late as the 1950s. On April 24, 1898, the Bengali weekly Dhaka Prakash reported that films were shown in Dhaka by the Bradford Bioscope Company, at the Crown Theatre, in Patuatuli, near Sadarghat. The show included news items and other short features. The first permanent cinema in Dhaka, named Picture House, began operation during 1913–1914. This cinema was renamed to New Picture House and then again to Shabistan. By 1947 there were around 80 cinemas in what is now Bangladesh. After the partition of India in 1947, the first film made in East Pakistan was a newsreel about the visit of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, produced in 1948 by the radio broadcaster Nazir Ahmed. The first full-length feature film with sound made in East Pakistan was Mukh O Mukhosh, which was produced by Abdul Jabbar Khan and released on August 3, 1956. Editing, printing and all other film processing for this movie was done in Lahore, Pakistan.

There was no film industry until 1957 in this region. The East Bengal Provincial Govt. of newly created state of Pakistan took initiative to start s film division in 1953-54 and for that purpose a studio and laboratory went in to operation in 1955 in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The East Bengal Provincial Assembly established the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation (EPFDC) on April 3, 1957. The Film Development Corporation (F.D.C.) was established by the legislation of East Bengal Provincial Assembly in 1958. It opened a new vistas for the film industry of Bangladesh. In the meantime, there were several attempts to produce films in Dhaka between 1931 to 1956. The results were The Last Kiss (1931), Salaam (1954) and Mukh-O-Mukhus (1956) which is said to be the first feature film. The first film produced by this organization was Asiya (The Life of a Village Girl, 1960), directed by Fateh Lohani.

At that time Calcutta was the bastion of film producion with full facilities of artists, technicians and studios. Dhaka was devoid of all these facilities. The young group of Napa fan-duly at the Dhaka University at first initiated to produce short film 'Sukumari' (The good girl). The first venture 'Sukumari' was successful, so the group went for a bigger ventuer. The Last Kiss, a feature film of Bangladesh. The film was directed by Ambju Gupta under the production of Dhaka East Bengal Cinernatograph Society. Other cast and crews were Nawabzada Khawja Nasrullah, Khawja Adil, Khawja Akmal, Khawja Zahir. The Last Kiss' was released at the end of 1931 at the Mukul Hall (Now Azad) of Dhaka.
         

  In the year of 1931, the famous rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam joined in the Madan Theaters Ltd. of Calcutta as a music trainer for brushing up the voices of artistes for sound pictures. Later, Nazrul came out in the filmdorn as director-music and organizer, He jointly directed the film 'Dhruba'. He jointly directed the film 'Dhruba' (1934.) He also acted and composed the music and lyric for that film.

During the late 1960s, between 20 and 35 films were produced each year. Production quantity continued to increase after Bangladesh gained its independence on December 16, 1971; in 1979, for example, 51 films were released, and in the 1990s over 90 films per year were released.

On 16th December, 1971 Bangladsih was freed from Pakistan and in the following year film activities took new turn. 29 feature films were released during this year. Chasi Nazrul Islam made Ora Egarojan (Those 11 freedom fighters), Subash Dutta made Arunodoyer Agnishakhi, (Witness to sunrising), and Momtaz Ali made'Raktakta Bangla' (Bengal in bloodshed) on liberation war. Others also announced or started works on liberation war. Kazi Zahir made the super hit Abuj Mon' (Tender Mind), Hasan Imam brought Lalon Fakir into screen on the life of great mystic poet philosopher Lalon. Out of 30 films released in 1973, Zahirul Huq's'Rangbaz '(The Romeo) a social action movie hit the box office. Three films based on Bangladsh liberaion war were also released during the year. The films were Dhire Bohe Meghna (Quiet flows the river Meghna), Alamgir Kurnkum's Amar Janmobhumi (My birth land), and Khan Ataur Rahman's 'Abar Tora Manush Ho' (Be Humane again), Rwittik Ghatak, the noted Bengali Indian director made 'Titas Ekti Nadir Nam' (Titas is the name of a river) based on a famous novel, was a landmark of the year. Kabir Anowar's maiden venture, 'Slogan' (Chanting), was another film which may be mentionable. Severe flood and famine of 1974 engulfed the country and people. Thirty full length feature films were released during the year. Amongst these, Chashi Nazrul Islam's 'Sangram' (The fight), Mita's 'Alor Michil' (Procession of light), F. A. films unit's 'Shanibarer Chiti (Saturday's letter), Mohiuddin's 'Essa Khan', F. Fabir Chowdhury's 'Anek Din Agey '(Many days ago) got international appreciation.

In the following years between 1983-1989 action and fantasy were the chief commercial elements with a few exceptions. In the nineties new faces, love romance-song drama dominated the Bangladesh screen. Ehte sham's Chandni (The moon ray) hit the box office with a new pair Nayeem-Shabnaz in 1991. Shohnur Rahman Sohan's Keyamat Theke Keymat (From doomsday to doomsday), a copyright film of Bombay created Record in the Box of Ice in 1993. In the same year, Padma Nadir Majhee (The boatman of the Padma river) directed by Gautarn Ghosh drew attention of the educated audience. At the end of the 1993. the elected Govt announced the re-introduction of Film Grant Fund. This was a positive step on the way of better cinema of Bangladesh.

Although the majority of the films made in Bangladesh are strictly commercial in nature, a handful of directors from Bangladesh have attained critical acclamation for their outstanding work. Zahir Raihan, Khan Ataur Rahman, Salahuddin, Alamgir Kabir, Amjad Hussain, Moshiuddin Shaker, Sheikh Niyamat Ali,Mostofa sarwar farooki, Humayun Ahmed, Morshedul Islam, Tanvir Mokammel, Tareque Masud, Salauddin Lavlu are among those prominent directors. Bangladesh has been officially submitting nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film from 2003. Masud's Matir Moina (The Clay Bird) was the first film to be submitted, and won a number of other international awards from the Edinburgh, Palm Springs, Montreal, Marrakech, Cairo and Cannes Film Festivals. Another internationally acclaimed filmmaker from Bangladesh is Morshedul Islam, who won major awards at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg and other international film festivals.

           

Most Favorite and historical film of Bangladesh

• Mukh O Mukhosh (1956) of Abdul Jabbar Khan
• Asia (1960) of Fateh Lohani,
• Kakhono Asheni (1961), Kancher Deyal (1963), Sangam (1964), Anwara (1966) and Jiban Thekey Neya (1970) of Zahir Raihan,
• Surya Snan (1962), Je Nadi Maru Pathey (1961) and Dharapat (1964) of Salahuddin,
• Anek Diner Chena (1964), Nawab Sirajuddowla (1967), Soye Nadia Jagey Pani (1967) and Abar Tora Manush Ho (1973) of Khan Ataur Rahman,
• E Desh Tomar Amar (1959) of Ehtesham,
• Sutarang (1964), Kagajer Nawka (1966), Ayna O Abashista (1967), Arunodoyer Agnishakkhi (1972), Bashundhara (1977) and Dumurer Phul (1978) of Shubash Dutta,
• Nadi o Nari (1965) of Sadeque Khan,
• Shahid Titumir (1968) of Ibne Mijan,
• Dhire Bahey Meghna (1973), Surya Kanya (1975), Shimana Periyei (1977), Rupali Saikat (1979), Mohana (1982) and Parinita (1986) of Alamgir Kabir,
• Ora Egaro Jan (1972), Sangram (1973), Debdas (1982), Chandranath (1984), Shubhada (1986) and Hangar Nadi Grenade (1998) of Chashi Nazrul Islam,
• Nayan Moni (1975), Golapi Ekhan Treney (1979) and Bhat Dey (1983) of Amjad Hossain,
• Blackout - Mone nei (2010) of Tokon Thaakoor,
• Megher Anek Rang (1976) of Harunur Rashid,
• Alor Michhil (1974) and Lathial (1976) of Mita,
• Surya Dighal Badi (1979) of Seikh Niamat Ali and Masihuddin,
• Dahan (1985) of Seikh Niamat Ali,
• Ashikhita (1978) and Chhutir Ghanta (1989) of Azizur Rahman
• Nolok (1978) of Shibli Sadique,

• Titash Ekti Nadir Naam (A River Called Titas) (1973) by Ritwik Ghatak,
• Palanka (1976) of Rajen Tarafdar,
• Lalan Fakir (1973) and Lal Shabujer Pala of Syed Hasan Imam,
• Sareng Bou (1978) of Abdullah Al Mamun,
• Suprabhat (1976) of Kabir Anwar,
• Lal Kajal (1983) of Matin Rahman,
• Pension (1985) of Rafiqul Bari Chowdhury,
• Shankha Nil Karagar (1974) of Mostafizur Rahman,
• Aguner Parash Mani (1995) of Humayun Ahmed,
• Poka Makader Ghar Bashati (1996) of Akhtaruzzaman
• Hooliya (1984), Nodir Naam Modhumoti (1995), Lalsalu (2001) and Lalon (2004) by Tanvir Mokammel,
• Agami (1984), Chaka (1993), Dipu Number Two (1996) and Dukhai (1997) by Morshedul Islam,
• Phulkumar (2000) of Ashique Mostafa,
• Muktir Gaan (Song of Freedom) (1997),Matir Moina (The Clay Bird) (2002), Ontarjatra (2006), Narashundor (2008) and Runway (2010) by Tareque Masud.
• Aboorton (1988),Dhushor Jattra (1992), Kittonkhola (2000), Shankhonad (2004), Nirantor (2006), Banshi (2007), Rupantor (2009), Opekkha (2010) of Abu Sayeed.

List of also much loved Actors of Bangladesh:

Abdur Ratin Azeem Alamgir Amin Khan Anjana Rahman Anju Ghosh Amit Hasasn Aruna Bishwas Apu Bishwas Amal Bosh (late) Anwar Hussain Anwara Antu Kareem Abul Khayer (late) Abul Hayat Aliraj Ahmed Shareef Afjal Shareef Ashees Kumar Luho A.T.M Shamsujjaman Bulbul Ahmed (Late) Bobita Bapparaj Champa chancal chawdhury Chunky Pandey Dipjol Doli Jahor Dildar (late) Diti Eka Emtiaz Farooque Ferdous Ahmed Gulam Mustafa (late) Humayun Faridi (late) Hasmot

Inam Ahmed Ilyas Kanchan Jasim (late) Khalil Kabari Sarwar Kabila Keya Khaleda Aktar Kolpona Kobita Kumkum Manna (Late) Moushumi Matin Abdul Mahmood Kohli Maruf Mahfuj Ahmed Miju Ahmed Misha Soudagor Maya Hazarika (late) Mossarof karim Naeim Nasir Khan (late) Nipun Nuton Nusrat imrose Tisha Omar Sani Oyasim Sadika Parvin Popy Purnima Probir Mitro Rehman Razzak Riaz Rosy Samad Rozina Dhali Rubel

Raisul Islam Asad Sahara Salman Shah (late) Shakib Khan Sohel Rana Saddam khan(TOMA) Saukat Akbar Sakil Khan Sadek Bacchu Sumita Devi Shuchanda Sujata Shabana Shuchorita Shabnur Shabnaz Shahnaj Shabnam Sharmeeli Ahmed Suborna Mustafa Teli Samad Ujjal Zahrat Azra Zafar Iqbal (late) Zahid Hasan Zakaria Masum Joy Abdus Samad Helal Khan Roushon Jamil (late) Raj Rajib (late)