On October 15, Kolkata's high-profile film "Baazi" will be released in local Bangladeshi halls. This is the first time in a while that a foreign Indian film will be released through the SAFTA agreement.

The news was confirmed to The Daily Star by the importer of the film, proprietor of Titas Kotha Chitro, Abul Kalam Azad. 

Reliable sources from the film censor board have stated that it received clearance on June 3. The film, featuring the duo of Jeet and Mimi Chakrabarty, will release in Kolkata on October 10.

With the film, Dhaka's renowned Madhumita Hall will open its doors to the audience once again after a long gap of two years.

"Even in the past, Bangla movies from Kolkata have been on display in our halls," said eminent actor Sohel Rana. "How many of them actually performed well? Had our audiences actually accepted these films? Just look into them and you'll find the answers."

Itekhar Uddin Nawshad, the owner of Madhumita Hall, had a different outlook on the matter. "We just need new films to display in our establishment, and then we can think about opening up again," he said. "I would love to open up shop with 'Baazi', from October 15."

"I believe that our audiences will come and watch if the film is released here soon after it releases in Kolkata," says Mia Alauddin, senior vice-president of Film Exhibitors' Association and owner of Sathi Cinema Hall. "However, it would have been optimal if we could have the release within the same day."

After talking to many hall owners and authorities, it was the general consensus that Kolkata's films rarely do good business after release in Bangladesh. In exchange for anonymity, they told The Daily Star that only joint ventures like "Nabab" and "Sultan" tend to do well locally.