Movie ‘Toofan’ gathers storm over funds, production etc

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :
Shakib Khan starrer ‘Toofan’ movie will be released on Eid-ul-Azha. The movie is directed by Raihan Rafi, and produced by Alpha-i Studios Ltd, along with Chorki and India’s production company SVF.
Although ‘Toofan’ is a Bangladeshi movie, it was shot in India. Indian actors have also acted with the actors of this country. This was already being talked about on social media.
This time the producers of the country have raised questions about the financing and production process of ‘Toofan’.
Last Tuesday at BFDC, the leaders of 19 film related organisations talked about Cineplex, several issues including present state of movies of the country, improving the quality of cinema halls and upcoming Eid movies. There, the producers raised questions about the financing and production process of the movie ‘Toofan’.
Producer Arshad Adnan said, “I saw on social media the budget of ‘Toofan’ is Tk 8 to 10 crore. Now if the question is how Tk 8 to 10 crore has been taken there? Did they take NBR’s clearance? As a producer can I know how to get money?” He also said, “Tk 60 lakhs or 80 lakhs if you show someone to make a movie of Tk 8 to 10 crores there. There is also a rule for working abroad. It has been shown that the payments of Shakib Khan and Chanchal Chowdhury have been paid in Bangladesh. Is it possible to make the entire movie with Tk 60 lakh by working three shifts? Now is the time to ask these questions. As Himanshu Dhanuka entered Bangladesh, SVF entered Bangladesh in the same way. They will work in Bangladesh, but will not work here. The entire work will be in Kolkata and different places in India. The workers of our country will be unemployed.”
The Convenor of 19 film related organisations, producer Khorshed Alam Khosru said, “Talking about the movies of our country, all the work including shooting is done there (in India). Just two of our artistes working. Making a full package there and releasing it in our country. If this continues, our movie industry will disappear. In this regard we will have to make a movement.”
Meanwhile, in his speech, Shahriar Shakil, the producer of ‘Toofan’ movie, said, “I would like to remind everyone first that ‘Toofan’ is not a joint production movie. ‘Toofan’ is a Bangladesh movie, which is produced by Alpha-i Studios Ltd. Its digital partner is Chorki and international distribution partner is SVF. ‘Toofan’ has been made according to the rules and regulations of Bangladesh. It has been made following all the rules of the Ministry of Information, NBR and Censor Board. So, we got the Censor Board’s clearance.”
Regarding talking about this complaint of the producers, Shahriar Shakil, owner of Alpha-i Studios Ltd, said, “This movie has been talked about in various ways before. But we did not take them into consideration. Now the questions that arise are quite intentional. If anyone has any questions, they can check from the Ministry of Information and the NBR. I think they have a lack of information. They could ask us. But trying to block the movie or not knowing it should not be said like this. Everyone should do the industry book together. This culture is very important. There is nothing to hold back here. If someone wants to abuse power, then nothing can be sadder than this.”
It is noted that the screenplay of the movie ‘Toofan’ is made about a gangster of Dhaka in the nineties. In the movie, Shakib Khan is accompanied by Masuma Rahman Nabila of Bangladesh and Mimi Chakraborty of Kolkata. Bangladesh’s popular actor Chanchal Chowdhury will be seen in a special role in movie.