Hall owners want to run Hindi movies

The leaders of Bangladesh Film Exhibitors' Association have demanded an import of Indian cinema, as they fear of incurring losses due to a lack of quality Bangla cinemas. On May 12, the leaders of the association had raised this topic in a meeting with the Minister of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP.

Sudip Kumar Das, Chief Advisor to the Exhibitors' association, said, "Hall owners are keen to take loans.  However, if you want to return this loan with interest, you have to do so by generating revenue from showing films in the halls. It is not possible to pay off these loans if we show movies that are currently being made in the country. That is why hall owners are requesting to showcase more Hindi films, as it can help bring in revenue."

Iftekhar Uddin Naushad, managing director of Modhumita Hall, told The Daily Star, "Last Eid-ul-Fitr, we were doing well with local movies.  However, at present, we are going through a bad situation. If we continue on this trajectory, we will incur heavy losses. A paan salesman earns more money daily than us.  We need to make more movies that have good stories, quality producers and skilled actors.  I have heard from the censor board, that there is a concern that upcoming local films are not up to the standard. If we want to save our cinema halls, we must start importing Hindi movies. If we don't, then we will have to shut down our halls soon.  The import of Hindi movies is necessary to turn the cinema hall industry around. '

Rubel, from Madhuban Cineplex in Bogra told The Daily Star, "We are not able to bring audiences into our halls in any way.  To save the cinema halls, we must start importing Hindi movies.  Otherwise, I don't think it will be possible to save our halls. Bengali movies from India should also be alongside Hindi movies. If we continue with the status quo, then very soon we will have to close our doors and move onto another business."

Ahsan Ullah, an official from Shyamoli Cinema Hall mentioned to The Daily Star, "If we import Hindi films, there is an opportunity to increase our audience.  If Hindi movies runs alongside Bangla one, then we may be able to survive.  I hope all film-related organisations will come to a consensus on this issue."