by Abu Shams (The Independent)

From a news report, it appears that the city's cinema halls are at present faced with a critical situation on account of a growing slump in the number of movie viewers at the cinema halls. For sometime, such phenomenon had been in evidence, but lately the situation has been reported to have taken such a bad turn that, as compared with the position last year, the number of cine-goers has almost halved. The concerned quarters in the film industry now feel extremely concerned over this development. For this, they blame the TV satell-channels.

The pictures telecast by such channels have made TV screens mini cinema halls for many viewers. As a result, about 10 lakh people connected with the film industry are now reportedly under threat of losing their source of livelihood. From the sources in the producers and exhibitors' associations, it is learnt that, out of a total of 1,175 cinema halls in the country, only 900 are at present regularly showing films. Of the 46 show houses which used to operate in Dhaka city, five of them have already closed down. In the Dhaka film industry, five hundred film makers are said to exist, half of whom are said to have remained idle as period in the industry arising from a significant drop in the number of movi-goers.It is understood that for making a film in Dhaka, a heavy amount of investment not less than Taka one crore, is required.

The downward trend in the number of film viewers has caused serious concern among the film producers and the film exhibitors. In their opinion, such a drastic fall in their business never occurred in the past.To meet the grave situation, a 21-member committee has been formed with representatives from the concerned areas of the film industry. The committee members solely blamed the satellite channels from which a number of Bangla films are telecast everyday. In this connection, mention was made of our ETV channel through which two Bangla films are regularly telecast everyday. When one of such Bangla films are shown from noon, it is said to affect even the attendance of the school students, particularly in the rural areas, who desert their classes to view the Bangla films.

The prohibition by the teachers and the guardians has reportedly produced little effect in dissuading the students in this regard.Bangla commercial film makers of the country have, therefore, demanded of the government to take necessary steps to save their industry from the hegemony of the satellite channels. The uninterrupted telecast of Bangla movies through ETV and satellite channels are said to pose a threat to the local film industry. Viewers are reportedly prefer watching such channels to going to cinema halls as the Bangla films telecast at prime times, particularly during weekly holidays, prove hot favourites with them.There are of course flaws in the city's cinema halls which discourage the viewers to go the cinema halls for entertainment. Among such flaws, observers mention the poor and unhealthy environmental condition in most of the city's cinema. At present we observe a glaring insufficiency of facilities in some important respects even in some notable cinema. Where there is provision for air-conditioning facility, it is alleged that the facility is discontinued at some stage of the shows, thereby causing great discomfort for the viewers.

The seating arrangement in most of the cinema houses is of a low standard with bugs and other insects infesting it.The environmental situation in most of the cinema houses is as bad outside as the one inside. The areas outside are frequented by touts, ticket black markeeters and some other anti-social elements. There are allegations that some sections of corrupt employees and even some owners of cinema halls are involved in the patronage of these bad elements.On account of such flaws and other shortcomings, the educated and cultured sections of the citizens are averse to visiting a cinema hall to enjoy a picture. This trend is unfortunate in as much as if proper atmosphere prevailed in the cinema halls, it could contribute largely to the availability of healthy and wholesome entertainment at these halls.It is reported that such poor condition does not exist in most Asian countries. Even in India, for example, a better condition reportedly exists.

There the total number of cinema houses is said to be more than 15,000 and everyday more than 12 million viewers attend them, and every year more show houses reportedly come up.Apart from the poor environmental condition in most of the city's show houses, they are subject to criticism on the point that some of them are so located that they contribute in a large measure to the creation of traffic jam, which is already critical, at those places with the crowd of outgoing and incoming spectators during show schedules.In order to exist in the face of the challenges mainly from satellite channels, the cinema houses need to improve their standard.

In most countries of Asia, the movie exhibition business is expanding and developing into lucrative enterprise on account of good management, modernisation of facilities for viewers and improvement of total environment. In the west, new ideas are introduced by way of allowing interested persons to view any picture at any stage of the show and continue viewing it till the previous stage is reached in the subsequent show. There are reportedly drive-in open air cinema shows with similar facilities for enjoying a picture.Observers believe that the show houses in our country can be an effective instrument for good entertainment if the concerned agencies adopt bold corrective steps and innovative ideas, as in other progressive countries, to offset the challenge of satellite channels the locally produced pictures acquire qualities matching those films telecast through satellite channels. At the same time, however, the state of mismanagement, corruption and detrimental environmental situation need to be remedied with a firm and determined hand.