According to the Bangladesh Film Producers and Distributors Association, only one film has applied for release this month, ‘Ekhane Rajnoitik Alap Joruri’. Apart from this, no other film has announced a release or registered its name with the association up to February.
Somindro, an official of the association, told The TIMES of Bangladesh, “Producers are unlikely to apply for movie releases at this time. In previous years, it was common for films to secure release dates just three or four days before their release. This year, however, no one is coming forward to book dates.”
So why is this happening? What are industry insiders saying? Is the election campaign keeping audiences away, or is there another reason behind the slowdown?
Veteran director Kazi Hayat believes that films usually perform better during election periods. “From my experience, people go to cinema halls more during elections,” he said. “But this year, the situation is slightly different. The winter has been colder than in previous years and there are simply no films ready for release.”
Acclaimed producer-filmmaker Khorshed Alam Khosru also agreed with Hayat’s statement. “Usually, cinema attendance drops during winter in our country,” he said. “This time, it has fallen even further. There is a wider crisis behind this.”
He attributed the situation to recent political unrest and economic instability. “Change has come through movements and struggles. During the interim government period, the economy has not stabilised. Many workers have lost their jobs. A large number of them were regular cinema-goers. Without income, they cannot afford to go.”
According to Khasru, it may take another two to three months for the deadlock to ease, as Eid-ul-Fitr falls after that period. Seven or eight films are currently preparing for release around Eid. However, cinema owners say this Eid-centric approach is creating further problems.
Awlad Hossain Ujjwal, president of the Bangladesh Film Exhibitors Association, said cinemas are struggling to survive. “It is not that there are no films,” he said.
“But everyone now wants to release films only during the two Eids. How are we supposed to keep cinemas running for the rest of the year? Very soon, we may have to announce the closure of all cinema halls at once,” Ujjwal concluded.
