As the country’s film industry is ailing with the lack of creativity in storytelling as well as the skills of cinematography and post-production, the gap is being filled up with foreign films.

‘We had the ‘captive audience’ in the 60s ,70s and 80s. They (audience) came to movie houses to be entertained. The films at that time were commercially profitable evolving as a strong entertainment medium. Now the trend has totally reversed. Viewers have many options to pass their time like gluing to satellite and cable televisions which are also presenting movies. So, it’s very difficult to take the audience back to the hall again,’ said Fahmidul Haq, an Associate Professor of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University.

Fahmid, who has long been researching on popular films, said touching the heart of the audience these days is a very challenging and difficult job.

‘People are watching movies in alternative ways, but the habit of going to movie houses has lost the appeal. So, our movies should be more entraining, sophisticated and meaningful. There should be greater budgets for making movies and better environment in movie houses,’ he suggested.

Regarding the drawbacks of the commercial films now being produced in the country, Fahmid noted that poor storytelling is one of the major reasons responsible for the sorry state of Bangladeshi film.

‘There’s no realistic sequence in movies. The audience do not feel compelled to the movies. But the imaginary or mythic-story based movies produced in foreign countries even in India can attract the audience. Their storytelling style seems very realistic and believable.  This is our problem. When we present any reality-based character, we cannot present it,’ he said.

However, famous film director Kazi Hayat was not of the same opinion regarding the ‘lack of creativity’.

‘Creativity and entertainment are not the same thing. When a director produces an aesthetically developed film, he may not entertain the audience,’ he said.

Kazi Hayat noted that the country’s films have lost the market because of competition. ‘People now watch sports instead of movies. Contents are not then lone factor for losing the market and space,’ he added.

Fahmidul Haq also pointed to the lack of government initiative to develop the film industry and make it compatible again.

‘The state has not been able to ensure enough scope to build a high and developed film culture. Films are not treated as a priority. The government established Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) to develop the film industry. But, It’s working as a commercial company. They aren’t taking responsible measures,’ he said.

Another weakness of Bangladeshi films is the cinematography, Fahmid noted further.

‘Camera is the medium of expressing the story in film. But due to the lack of skilled persons, we cannot provide it. We have got some cinematographers. But the number is very unsatisfactory. Camera can make a simple story in a more interesting way with different effects. But, this aspect has largely been ignored,’ he said.

‘I cannot understand why the actor who acted very well in theatre is misjudged in film. The director cannot use them in the proper way. This is why they are being lost,’ he added.

He also mentioned that unskilled editing panels and weak post- production process make the movies monotonous and uninteresting.

Fahmid wants the government to take more initiatives to revive the film industry.

* Writer is a UNB Staff Writer