Good films can generate good revenues

Ahmed Tepantor :

Cinema industry, the biggest medium of entertainment, lacks audiences in Bangladesh due to lack of quality films. In the last decade, 1300 cinema halls were closed completely, of which 135 are surviving only thanks to family tradition though among them at least 20 halls were threatened with permanent closure at last.
Hopefully, in the last one and a half year the theaters started to turn around with Golui, Paraan, Hawa, Kill Him, Jeen and Priyatama in the last Eid overflowing with audiences. Since then the movie market has been on the upswing. In the same time, the producers were seen worried about the import of Indian film Pathan in the quota of foreign films. Moreover, the loan fund of 1000 crore for cine industry announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been blocked due to various reasons, as a result the industry is moving forward with a slow pace as it was supposed to turn around very quickly.
The government has allowed the import of 20 films in two years. But most of these movies are Indian Bollywood movies. It will not apply to other films such as Pakistani or Korean films. Many experts consider this to be a hindrance to the progress of cinema. According to the cine experts, Pakistani movies have progressed a lot and South Korean cinema is part of the global competition and is in demand among movie lovers in the country.
Meanwhile, at least 20 multiplexes with international standards are practically not operational due to funds crisis and high import cost of foreign films. According to them, if the government gives a good eye on the matter, it will not take time to launch these multiplexes. However, last year Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arranged a low interest loan of 1000 crores to solve the crisis of cinema halls and gave necessary directions. Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud held several meetings to make necessary preparations for this. The information minister urged joint ventures with producers, directors and artists’ associations regarding the import of movies.
In this situation, the cinema hall owners held several meetings with the producers and directors and agreed in principle on the issue of import of films. However, even after two years, the owners did not get any benefit through banking system. No one has got loan from the fund this year.
To overcome the impasse in the cine industry, a competitive market can be created by importing movies. Through this the government will get more revenue, more job opportunities will also be created in the cinema industry.

(The writer is journalist
and film analyst).