Imported Indian films fall flat in Bangladesh
Shafiq Al Mamun | Update: 23:24, Oct 13, 2017
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There was a time when Indian Bangla or Hindi movies were hardly imported to be screened in the local theatres. However, since 2010 the trend has changed, and Indian Bangla films are being released in Bangladesh every now and then.
There have been protests from the local actors, directors and producers, but the import of Indian films could not be stopped.
However, the imported Indian movies have failed to attract Bangladeshi film-lovers. Importers say barring one or two movies all the imported ones cut a sorry figure in local theatres.
According to the firms that had bought rights to screen the movies here, 15 Indian films, including two Hindi ones, were released in Bangladesh in the last seven years. But apart from Jor starring Jeet, not a single film has been a success here.
The last Indian film released here was Posto, which hit 25 theatres across the country on 22 September. The movie did okay on the first day, but failed to draw viewers from the next day.
Some of the importers said due to some complications, it takes time to bring the movies in Bangladesh. As a result, the films are falling victims to piracy in India before being released here. Bangladeshi audiences do not feel like going to the theaters to watch these pirated movies, and it makes the films commercially unsuccessful.
Iftekharuddin Nowshad, the chairman of importer firm InWin Enterprise, blamed it on the ministrys bureaucratic tangles. By the time the papers are sorted and the movie is set for a release, it has already become two or three months old in India. During that time, the movie has already been pirated, he said.
Producer Kamal Mohammad Kibria said the films would have been a success in Bangladesh as well had they been released here on the same day they are released in India. Or else, the movies will not be able to do good business, he added.
Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, president of the directors association, sees things from a different angle. These movies dont have our actors, neither are our stories. Their religious issues occupy the screen time, and it is a turn off for the local audience as well, he observed.
A number of Kolkata-based production companies are also involved in the film export and import process.
Ashok Dhanuka, a producer and managing director of SK Movies, said, Piracy is no big deal. If its a good movie people will come. If its not they wont. No matter if you are in Kolkata or in Bangladesh.
*This report, originally published in Prothom Alo print edition, has been rewritten in English by Quamrul Hassan.
http://en.prothom-alo.com/entertainment/news/162959/Imported-Indian-films-fall-flat-in-Bangladesh