Dhallywood has had no shortage of star power, big releases and pre-release hype this year, but the box office tells a different story.
With just two months left, only Bonolota Express and Roid have managed to draw audiences. Even industry heavyweight Shakib Khan has failed to deliver expected returns with Prince and Rockstar, while the much-discussed Dhallywood debuts of Kolkata actresses Jyotirmoyee Kundu and Susmita Chatterjee have failed to turn curiosity into cinema tickets.
For an industry already struggling with shrinking theatrical infrastructure, the shortage of hits is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Industry insiders point to weak storytelling, inconsistent releases and an overdependence on Eid as major challenges.
Awlad Hossain Uzzal, president of the Bangladesh Film Exhibitors’ Association, said cinema owners have endured a difficult year, with single-screen theatres continuing to shut down because of the shortage of good films.
“Even under normal circumstances, single-screen cinemas are closing one after another due to the lack of good films. I believe all cinema owners have suffered losses this year. Unless a film has a good story and strong execution, why would it do business?” he said.
For nearly 18 years, Shakib Khan has remained Dhallywood’s leading star. The success of Priyotoma, Toofan and Borbaad further cemented his dominance, raising expectations that his name alone could draw audiences.
But Prince: Once Upon a Time in Dhaka, released during Eid-ul-Fitr, could not sustain its promising start. Although single-screen cinemas and other theatres initially reported encouraging crowds, with some shows running to full houses, its box-office momentum soon faded.
Expectations were similarly high for Rockstar, released during Eid-ul-Azha. Shakib’s new look and the teaser generated considerable buzz, but the film faced heavy criticism and failed to deliver the expected returns. The consecutive disappointments have made producers more cautious about treating his star power as a guarantee of commercial success.
The Eid-ul-Fitr line-up featured Abu Hayat Mahmud’s Prince, Redoan Rony’s Dom, Tanim Noor’s Bonolota Express, Mehedi Hasan Hridoy’s Rakkhosh and Raihan Rafi’s Pressure Cooker. Each arrived with its own selling point.
Dom, starring Afran Nisho, Chanchal Chowdhury and Puja Chery, attracted attention for being based on a true story, while Bonolota Express, adapted from a Humayun Ahmed novel, drew interest from the author’s readership. Released exclusively in multiplexes, it became one of the year’s few films to record satisfactory business, according to box-office reports.
Eid-ul-Azha brought eight releases: Rockstar, Roid, Bonolota Sen, Malik, Masud Rana, Tosnos, Officer and Pinik. Yet, apart from Roid, none achieved strong business. The outcome is particularly worrying for an industry with only around 150 cinemas left after years of closures.
Kolkata actresses have also struggled to recreate the success of Idhika Paul. Her Dhallywood debut opposite Shakib in Priyotoma in 2023 was a success, followed by Rajkumar and Borbaad, both of which also found audiences. Although Kolkata actresses had appeared in Bangladeshi films before, Idhika’s popularity was followed by a noticeable surge in their casting.
Jyotirmoyee Kundu made her debut in Prince, generating pre-release curiosity, but her character appeared less prominent alongside Tasnia Farin’s role. Critics believe limitations in the screenplay and performances prevented her from making a significant impression.
Sushmita Chatterjee, another familiar Kolkata face, debuted in Rakkhosh, but neither the film nor her presence generated the audience response its makers had hoped for.
The remaining two months offer little certainty of a turnaround. Raihan Rafi’s Andhar, initially scheduled for October, has been postponed to 26 March next year. Shakib’s Soldier was planned for December, but director Sakib Fahad has yet to complete filming.
Rafi’s Surongo 2 has reportedly not started shooting, leaving it unclear whether any of these films will reach cinemas before the year ends.
Producer and industry leader Khorshed Alam Khasru believes the concentration of releases around Eid is partly responsible for the industry’s struggles.
“When films do not release regularly and business becomes centred only around Eid, cinemas remain empty for the rest of the year. But unless films reach audiences throughout the year, it is difficult to build the habit of going to cinemas regularly,” he said.
Dhallywood’s challenge, then, goes beyond finding its next blockbuster. Star power can create anticipation, teasers can spark excitement and Eid releases can bring initial crowds.
But without compelling stories, strong execution and a regular flow of films, the industry may continue to have plenty of releases to talk about – and precious few hits to celebrate.
