Bengali cinema
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Dhallywood is Bangladesh's Hollywood. Many film producion and studios flourished in Calcutta, Dhaka remained with exhibition only. Regular film shows got started in Dhaka during the first World War in a jute godown at Armanitola. A regular cinema house named 'picture house' began showing shows there In 1913-14. Later this house renamed as 'New Picture House' and 'Shabistan', This was the first cinema hall of East Bengal (Later Bangladesh) Dhaka audience had had more cinema halls namely-Cinema Palace (Rupmahl) in 1924-29, Tajmahal, Paradise, Nishat, Britania, Gullstan, Naz. More cinema halls also got Into this show business In other important areas and district head quarters like Chittagong, Dinajpur, Faridpur, Bogra, K"M Barisal, Rajshahl, Narayanganj. About 80 cinema halls were established by 1947.
Picture House, Later Shabistan
And it is another wonder to note that there was no film industry until 1957 in this region. The East Bengal Provincial Govt. of newly created state of Pakistan took initiative to start s film division in 1953-54 and for that purpose a studio and laboratory went Into operation In 1955 in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The Film Development Corporation (F.D.C) was established by the legislation of East Bengal Provincial Assembly in 1958. It opened a new vistas for the film industry of Bangladesh. In the meantime, there were several attempts to produce films In Dhaka between 1931 to 1956. The results were. The Last Kiss (1931), Salaam (1954) and Mukh-O-Mukhus -(The Face and the Ma*-1956) which is said to be the first feature film of a growing film industry, which was under the patronage and financial help of Nawab family, the city of Dhaka got modem water and electricity supplies in 1875 and 1901. Nawab Sir Khawja Ahsanullah and his son Nawab Sir Khawja Salimullah were great admirers of arts and culture. Both of them were member of the Calcutta based Photographic Society of India in 1888-89 and 1890-1896. Under their patronage, photography flourished in Dhaka. The great contribution of Nawab Salimullah was the foundation of Muslim League (1906) and Dhaka University (1921). It was this Nawab family members who tried to make film in Dhaka first also. Nawab Salimullah's nephew Khawja Ajmal, Khawja Adil, Syed Saheb Alam, Khawja Azad, Nawabzada Nasrullah and others took adventures to produce a film here.
A Shot from Sukumari
They were helped by Ambuj Gupta, the physical instructor of Jagannath College who directed the film, and Professor Andalib Sadani of Dhaka University, Syed Abdus Sobhan, Kazi Jalaluddin and others. At that time Calcutta was the bastion of film producion with full facilities of artists, technicians and studios. Dhaka was devoid of all these facilities. The young group of Napa fan-duly at first initiated to produce short film 'Sukumari' (The good girl) as a test case, Khawja Azad, a graduate from Aligarh University and Khawja Aimal, anoted sportsman, who studied photography cranked the camera for their first venture. Nawabzada Nasrullah played the role of hero and Syed Abbus Sobhan, a youngman was chosen to play the role of heroine. For want of female artiste, the male Sobhan was made into 'she', The shooting was done in Dilkusha Garden. Their first venture silent 'Sukumari' was completed by 1928-29. The adventure was successful. The film was screened privately. Later, the print of 'Sukumari' lost for ever. Only one still photo (with hero Khawja Nasrullah and heroine Syed Abdus Sobhan) has been retrieved in the Bangladesh Film Archive in 1979.
In 1931, the famous rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam joined in the Madan Theaters Ltd. of Calcutta as a music trainer for brushing up the voices of artistes for sound pictures. Later, Nazrul came out in the filmdorn as director-music and organizer, He jointly directed the film 'Dhruba'. He jointly directed the film 'Dhruba' (1934). He also acted and composed the music and lyrics for that film.
Nazrul in Dhruba
Other Bengali Muslim artists and technicians also joined the film industry. These included noted singer Abbas Uddin Ahrned, Rokeya Khatun, Mokbul, AJauddin Sardar, Ataur Rahrran (Pinaki Roy), Obaidul Huq, (Himadri Chowdhury), Ismail Muhammed, (Udoyn Chowdhury), Fateh Lohani, (Kiran Kumar), Kazi Khaloque (Swapan Kumm), Anowara Begum (Banani Chowdhury), Aminul Huq, Sarwar Hossain, Abdul Ahad and Enarn Ahmed.
Obaidul Huq of East Bengal produced & directed a film namely 'Dhukhey Jader Jiban Gora' (Miseries are their lot) in Calcutta in 1946 under the nick name Himadri Chowdhury.
In 1947, Pakistan, a new state, was born and Dhaka became the capital of new province of East Bengal (East Pakistan). With that, new hopes brought new blood in cultural activities. Many enterprising people floated new production distribution companies. Nazir Ahmed, a radio broadcaster with some film background was as-signed by Pakistan Central Govt. to make a newsreel on the visit of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in East Bengal in March 1948. Nazir Ahmed produced a newsreel on 10 days visit of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the first Governor General of Pakistan. He took all technical helps from Calcutta. This was the first film of newly created of East Pakistan. In 1954, a film unit was started under the Public Relations Division of East Bengal Government headed by Nazir Ahmed. He made a documentary named 'Salamat from that Unit Salamats story centered on the life of a construction worker, who saw the changes of new capital city of Dhaka. Its music was scored by Abdul Ahad. At that time, Dr. Abdus Sadeq, Director of Bureau of Statistics of East Bengal also took initiative to produce films and formed'East Bengal Film Co-operative Ltd. They started a documentary named 'Appayon'. In the meatime, Abdul Jabbar Khan ventured a full length film Mukh-O~Mukhus' (The face and the mask) in 1954 and also porduced a documentary on food.
A film studio and laboratory was established in Tejgaon. Dhaka by the Provincial government which started operation in 1955. Several documentaries and publicity films were produced and processed from that studio : Fateh Lohani-directed few of the productions such as'Salya Kaft Bobo IQ (an advertising film on mustard oil), The Wheel, The Gateway to East Pakistan, etc. When there was no studio laboratory, no experienced artistes, technicians and no government help were available, Abdul Jabbar Khan an engineer by profession, a dramatist by in stinct took the challenge to make a film under the banner of lqbal Films Ltd. His venture was full of obstruction. But he was successful and came out victorious with the first full length sound feature film of Pakistan. 'Mukh-O-Mukhush' (The Face and the Mask), which was released on 3 August 1956. This film was the result of the Bengali language movement of 1952 which took martyrdom of several lives.
The story of 'Mukh-O-Mukhus' was as usual family drama, evil versus good. The presentation style was theatrical. The film is remembrered for its historical importance.
'Mukh-O-Mukhush' was produced by Nuruzzaman, Shahidul Alam, Kalimullh, M. A. Hasan of lqbal Film, distributed by Mosharaf Hussain Chowdhury of Pakistan Film Trust and M. A. Awal of Pakistan Film Service, DirectorAbdul Jabbar Khan also played the hero's rolefrorn his own story. Inam Ahmed, Purnima Sen, Nazma (Peary), Zaharat Ara, Ali Mansur, Fafiq, Narul Anarn Khan, Saifuddin, Bilkis Bad & others were in the cast. O. M. Zaman cranked the camera while Samar Das scored the music. The entire printing and processing works were done at the Shahnoor Studio of Labore of West Pakistan.
1957 the East Pakistan Film Development Corporation (EPFDC) was established by the elected Provincial Govt. under the initiative of Labour. Trade and Industry Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. With the establishment of Film Development Corporation, the motion picture industry got its footings with facilities of shooting, dubbing, recording, printing, processing, Nuir Ahmed was assinged by the Govt. to take the anchor ship of this organizations as an Executive Director. The newly created FDC allowed few selected directors with back ground of education and Culture.
A Shot from Asiya
The first film, Asiya (The Life of a Village Girl) was born from the womb of FDC under the directorship of Fateh Lohani, an artistic broadaster/litterateur. The master planner of Asiya was Nazir Ahmed. The film centred on rural life, which got high acclamation. The cast included Sumita, Kazi Khaloque, Shahid, Ranen Kushad, Sona Mia, Madhud, Sitara, Sirin, Mesbaah, Rubt, Salim etc. The music of the film was scored by noted singer Abbasuddin Ahmed. The Asiya got the President Award of Pakistan as the best Bengali picture in 1961.
Jago Hua Savera (The Day Shall Dawn), the second film produced at FDC in 1959 which got international appreciation from London, New York, and bagged an award from the Moscow Film Festival, The story of the film was taken from popular novel of Manik Bandopadhaya, scripted by poet Fayez Ahmed Fayez, Director A. J. Karder, a UK Pakistan citizen came to Dhaka with cameraman Walter Lassaly (Germany), recordist Jhon Fleteher (Uk), Editor Ms Binvovet (UK), music composerTimir Baran (India), Assistant Shantikumar Charthedee (India). The cast included Anis (Khan Ata), Tripti Mitra, Zuraine, Roxy, Redwan, Kazi Khaleque, Nasima, Moyna, Latif etc.
Fateh Lohani's second venture, Akash Ar Mati (The Sky and the Earth), was released in 1959. This was a music film with Sumita, Pradip, Amin, Dagu, All, Zinat, Rablul, Madhuri, Tejon, Ranon, Fazlul Karirrt and others. In 1959, Mahluddin Ahmed,* a journalist and radloman, came with his first venture Matir Pahar (The hill of the earth), The film centered on modern science versus superstition. Another film Adesh Tomar Amar (This land yours & ours) was released in 1959. After the partition of subcontinent, creation of new state brought new hopes and inspiration for building up the society. Ehtesham's A Desh Tomar Amar embraced this theme. The cast was Sumita, Anis, Rahman, Sultan, Madhud, Dhagu, Swapna Subbash, Mesbah Shahjahan, Panna and others.
The 1960s were the apex of Bengali cinema: style, presentation, subject, business, artistic inquest, use of the Urdu language, folklore, history etc were all in top form.
Ehtesham's Rajdhanir Buke (In the heart of capital city) was the hit film of 1960 with new pairs Rahman-Chitra, Subbash-Nargis.Salahuddin's Je Nadi Maru Pathe (That river goes to sand way) Mustafiz's Harano Din (The Lost days), Mahiuddin's 'Tornar Amar (Thine & Mine), Zahir Raihan's Kakhono Aseni (Never came) were released in 1961. Of them, Kakhono Aseni (Never came) was an inquest of artistic merit.
In 1962 Salahuddin's Surjasnan (The sunbath), Ehatesham's Chanda marked two different aspects. Surjasnan was an off beat film with social conscience, while Chanda was an Urdu Language movie which hit the commercial circuit of whole Pakistan. This film paved the way for making more Urdu films.
Zahir Raihan's Kancher Deyal (The Glass wall) and Salahuddin's Dharapat (The Numbers) were produced in 1963. Kancher Deyal got 11 awards for artistic merit. Mustafiz's Talash (in search) was a commercial success of the year. In all 5 films were released in ft year 1963.
Among the 16 feature films of 1964, Zahir Raihan's Sangam (The union) was the first color picture of Pakistan. While Subbash Dutta struck the international scene with Shootrang (Hence) in the Asian Film Festival of Frankfurt, Baby Islam's Tanha (The orphan) was another remarkable movie of the year. Rahman's Milan (The Union) was a commercial hit film.
Sadeq Khan, the actor-producer-political activitist made Nadi-O-Nadi (The river and the woman) from a novel with artistic expression embracing rural life of Bengal in 1965. Two commercial films based on folklore were released in the same year. One was Salahuddin's Roopban, a famous folk story which hit the box office, Later this inspired the makers to produce more and more folk films. Another was Mustafiz's Mala centred on the lives of snake- charmer In all 11 feature film were released in 1965.
Urdu and folk films dominated the year of 1966. Out of 26 productions mentionable films were Subhas Dutta's Kagozer Nouka (The Paper boat), Fazlul Haque's Son of Pakistan. Zahir Raihan's Behula, Kazi Zahir's Bhaiya (Brother).
Khan Ataur Rahman an actor-director-composer-singer came with historical venture Nowab Sirajuddoula in 1967. Other important movies were Ehtesham's Chokori, Subhas Dutta's Ania-0-Abshistha (The Glass & the residue). Zahir Raihan's Anowara, Rahman's Darshna (meeting), Kazi Zahir's Nayan Tara (The Stay of eye). In all, 23 films were released in 1967.
The year of 1968 (34 films) and 1969 (33 films) featured With Urdu and folk, Of them, Khan Ata!s Soye Nadia Jage Pani (The river flow) 1968, Joar Bhata (The flow & recession) (1969), Subhash Dutta's Abhirbav (The apperance) (1968), Mita's Ato Tuku Asha (So little hope), Ibne Mizan's Shahid Titumir, (11968), Kazi Zahir's Moina Moti (1968), Nurul Haq Bachu's Beder Meya (The daughter of snake charmer) 1969, Kamal Ahmed's Abanchito (Undesirable- 1969) were mentionable, Subhas Dutta's Abhirbav got special award from the Queen of Cambodia.
The Bangalees (later Bangladeshi) achieved independence in 1971. In 1969-70, popular mass movement rose to the highest peak, against the autocratic rule of President Ayub of Pakistan. In 1970, Zahir Raihan the veteran director took this theme on the screen in Jiban Theke Neya (From the glimpse of life). For the first time camera was cranked on the political subject along with love romance and family drama. Zahir Raihan predicted the liberation o Bangladesh in this film.
41 feature films were released in 1970. Other noteworthy films were Karigor's 'Misar Kumari '(The Queen of Egypt), Rafiqul Bad Chowdhury's 'Tansen', Rebeka's Bindn Theke Britta' (Circle from dot), Subhash Duttwas'Binimoy (The exchange), Nizamul Huq's Kothay Jeno Dekhechi (Seen some where).
1971 was the year of Bangladesh liberation war. A number of director artist-technicians took part in this war. Of them Zahir Raihan -made a documentary Stop Genocide depicting the oppression, of Pakistani Military, plight of the refugees and heroic struggle of freedom fighters. The exile Bangladesh government formed a film unit under the headship of Abdul Jabbar Khan. Several documentary films were produced from the unit on liberation war. On the other hand five feature films were released In Pakistan military occupied territory of East Pakistan (Bangladesh).
On 16th December, 1971 Bangladsih was freed from Pakistan and in the following year film activities took new turn. 29 feature films were released during this year. Chasi Nazrul Islam made Ora Egarojan (Those 11 freedom fighters), Subash Dutta made Arunodoyer Agnishakhi, (Witness to sunrising), and Momtaz Ali made'Raktakta Bangla' (Bengal in bloodshed) on liberation war. Others also announced or started works on liberation war. Kazi Zahir made the super hit Abuj Mon' (Tender Mind), Hasan Imam brought Lalon Fakir into screen on the life of great mystic poet philosopher Lalon.
Out of 30 films released in 1973, Zahirul Huq's 'Rangbaz' (The Romeo), a social action movie, hit the box office. Three films based on Bangladsh liberaion war were also released during the year. The films were Dhire Bohe Meghna (Quiet flows the river Meghna), Alamgir Kurnkum's Amar Janmobhumi (My Birth Land), and Khan Ataur Rahman's 'Abar Tora Manush Ho' (Be Humane Again), Rwitik Ghatak, the noted Bengali Indian director, made 'Titas Ekti Nadir Nam' (A River Called Titas) based on a famous novel, was a landmark of the year. Kabir Anowar's maiden venture, 'Slogan' (Chanting), was another film which may be mentionable.
The severe flood and famine of 1974 engulfed the country and people. Thirty full length feature films were released during the year. Of them, Chashi Nazrul Islam's 'Sangram' (The Fight), Mita's 'Alor Michil' (Procession of light), F. A. films unit's 'Shanibarer Chiti (Saturday's Letter), Mohiuddin's 'Essa Khan', F. Fabir Chowdhury's 'Anek Din Agey '(Many Days Ago) got appreciation from the intelligentsia.
In 1975, film got governmental attention, which included introduction of National Award. Film Grant Fund. recognition of film as an industry, exemption of taxes on children and educational films. The noted cameraman -director Baby Islam's Charitrahin' (Characterless), Sound recordist, Director Mohsin's 'Badi Thekey Begum (Queen from Maidservant) and Mita's 'Lathial' (The Striker) were the best movies of the year of 1975. 'Lathial' got first National Award as the best film, while Zahir Raihan's'Stop Genocide' got the SIDLOC Award in Delhi Film estival.
In 1976, 46 films were released. Of them, Alamgir Kabir's 'Surja Kanya' (Daughter of the Sun) was a combination of fantasy and realism with modern presention. kabir Anowar's 'Shupravat' (Good Morning), Amjad Hossain's'Nayan Moni'(Love of eye), Rajen Tarafdar's 'Palanka,'depicted the feudal and village life, Harunar Rashid's Megher Anek Rang' (The aftermath cloud) was brilliant presentation of war and human angle. The film bagged a National Award. In 1977.Alamgir Kabir's 'Shimanapariye' (Acrose the fringe), Subhas dutta's 'Basundhara' (Mother Earth) and Abdul Latif Bachchu's 'Zadur Banshi' (The Magic Lute) got appreciaiton from the audience. In the year of 1978 four films were made based on literature. Those films were Abdullah Al Mamun's Saren Bau (The wife of ship driver) from a popular novel written by Shahidullah Kaiser, Amjad Hussain's Golapi Ekhon Traine' (The endless trail) from his own novel, Subhas Dutta's Dhumurer Phool (The unseen flower) from a short storyof Ashraf Siddiqui. These films got national and international award. Golapi and Dhmurer phool exhibited at the Moscow Film Festival. Actor-director Darashika made a historical film named 'Fakir Majnu Shah' who fought Against the British and landlord during the late 18th century. Shibli Sadique made Nolok (The rose ring) based on superstition of rural life. In all, 38 films were released in 1978.
In 1979. 51 films were released, But the qualitty were poor in number. Mashiuddin Shaker and Shaik Niamat Ali, two film society movement activitists struck the international arena with their maiden venture Surja Dighal Bari (The ominous house) from a popular novel written by Abu Ishaq based on hunger, war and partition of pre-independence of 1947.'Surja Dighal Badi' bagged five international awards including Mennheim Film Festival, Portugal Film Society etc. The other remarkable movies of 1979 were Abdus Samad's Suria Sangram (The Sun fight), Alamgir Kabir's Rupali Soikete (The loner), Kazi Hayat's The Father, ' Amjad Hossain's Sundari (And she was beaufiful) and Belal Ahmacrs Nagardola.
Fantasy and action dominated the decade of eighties in Bangladesh film scene.
Syed Salahuddin Zaki and Badal Rahman, trained from Pune FTV Institute (India) turned director in 1980. Zaki's Ghuddi (The kite) with Subarna-Asad-Tareq from TV and stage was an off beat movie. Badal's Emiler Goenda Bahini (Emil and his team) was a colorful Children venture. Besides these, Abdullah Al Mamun's Sakhi Tumi Kar (Darling to whom you belong) and Amjad Hussain's Koshai (The butcher) were relief in the action and fantasy loaded filmdom of 1980.
The film scene of 1981 was almost barren from the creative point of view, Shahidul Huq Khan's Kalmilata, Amjad Hossain's Janmo Theke Jalchi (pains since birth) and Syed Hasan lmam's Lal Sabujer Pala (The Saga of colors) were exception to this. The critic journalist-director Alamgir Kabir came up with his new venture Mohana (The river mouth) in 1982. Chasi Nazrul Islam pasteurized Popular novel Devdas written by Sarat Chandra, Amiad Hossain's 'Dui poishar Aalta' was another good movie of the year.
In the following years, between 1983 and 1989, action and fantasy were the chief commercial elements, with a few exceptions. A new generation Murshedul Islam, Tarik Masud, Tanvir Mukammel, Enayet Karim Babul, Mustafa Kamal, Ismail Hussain, Habibur Rahman Habib, Dilder Hussain appeared in the film land with new vision under the leadership of director teacher Alamgir Kabir. They started short film movement. In 1984, Akhtaruzzaman made Princess Tina Khan based on the life of an opera girl, Rafiqul Bari made Pension and Amjad Hussain made Bhat Dey (Hungry). In the year of 1985, two films, one full length Dahan (Affliction) by Shaikh Niamat All got award at the Kadovyvary International Film Festival and another short film. Agami (Future) based on Bangladesh liberation war made by newcomer Murshedul Islam adjudged as the best movie at the Indian International Film Festival. New Delhi, Ramer Sumati (The Kindness of Ram) based in Sharat Chandrs's novel directed by Shahidul Amin was another social movie of the year. Another important film was Chashi Nazruls Shuvada (Good Girl) in 1986 based on Sharat Chandra's novel.
In the 1990s, new faces and love romance-song drama dominated the Bangladesh screen. Ehte sham's Chandni (The Moon Ray) hit the box office with a new pair Nayeem-Shabnaz in 1991. Shohnur Rahman Sohan's Keyamat Theke Keymat (From Doomsday to Doomsday), a copyright film of Bombay created a record in the box office in 1993. In the same year, another movie, Padma Nadir Majhee (The Boatman of the Padma River) directed by Gautarn Ghosh drew attention of the educated audience. At the end of 1993 the elected government announced the re-introduction of Film Grant Fund. This was a positive step on the way to better cinema in Bangladesh.
From 1998 to 2005 Bangladeshi cinema faced very hard times with vulgar movies and challenges from Hindi and English-language movies. Recently, the government passed a law in parliament making it an offense to make pronographic movies. Some of the super hit movies of 2006 so far are: Kuti takar kabin, Jiboner golpo, Vidrohi Padma, Shati tumi kar, Mulla barir bou, Gulap jan, Rani jutir baki itihash, Ayna, Bangla, kelagor, and Ontojatra by Tarek Masud.
Some of the most famous actresses of the Bangladeshi movie indutry are Shabana, Bobita, and today's Shabnur Moushumi and Popi. New actresses include Opu from Kuti Takar Kabin, Resi from Kopal and Fiza from Balo Basha Balo Basha.
Tollywood
Bengali cinema, or the Bengali film industry, is one of the earliest film industries in India. The contribution of Bengali film industry to Indian film is quite important. It is based in Tollygunge, an area of South Kolkata, West Bengal and is more elite and artistically-inclined than the usual musical cinema fare in India. It enjoys large, even disproportionate, representation in Indian cinema, and has produced an Academy Award winner, Satyajit Ray, an acknowledged great of world film and recipient of India and France's greatest honours, the Bharat Ratna and Legion of Honor. (The only other Indian Oscar winner is Bhanu Athaiya, who won for costume design in 'Gandhi').Other prominent film makers in the Bengali film industry are Bimal Roy, Ritwik Ghatak, and Mrinal Sen. The Bengali film industry has produced classics like 'Pather Panchali', 'Devi', 'Jalsaghar', 'Devdas', 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' etc.
The most well known Bengali filmstar till date has been Uttam Kumar; he and costar Suchitra Sen were known as The Eternal Pair.
Pioneers in Bengali film music include Raichand Boral, Pankaj Mullick and K. C. Dey, all associated with New Theatres Calcutta [link].
Tollygunge is the home of many noted Bengali actors and directors.
Early History
The early beginnings of the "talking film" industry go back to the early 1930s, when it came to British India at its capital, Calcutta. The movies were originally done in Urdu or Persian as to accommodate a specific elite market. One of the earliest known studios was the East India Film Company.See also
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