By ASM Nurunnabi

From a recent news report, it is learnt that the Dhaka city's cinema halls are at present faced with a critical situation on account of dwindling numbers of movie viewers. The situation has lately taken such a bad turn that, as compared with last year, the number has almost halved. The quarters concerned in the film industry now feel extremely uneasy over this development. For this they blame the TV satellite-Channels.

During the period spanning from the 40s to 60s, family members from the educated middle and elite classes used to go to cinema halls to enjoy feature films produced in Bombay, Calcutta, UK and Hollywood. At that time, good films were made because, among other factors, movie scripts were based on the writings of eminent authors like Herman Melville, Ernest Hemingway, and Tolstoy, which gave such memorable films like Moby Dick, For Whom the Bell Tolls and War and Peace. The audience in those days were discerning in their cultural tastes leading them to appreciate the creations of great movie directors like David Lean (Lawrence of Arabia), Kurosawa (Roshomon) and Satyajit Ray (Mahanagar).

At present the movies telecast by the satellite channels have turned TV rooms into mini cinema halls for many viewers. As a result, about 10 lakh people connected with film industry are now reportedly under threat of losing their source of living. From sources in the producers and exhibitor's associations, it is learnt that out of 46 show houses that are licensed to operate in Dhaka, five have already been closed down. In the Dhaka film industry, a good number of filmmakers have reportedly remained inactive on account of a dull period in the industry due to a significant fall in the number of movie-goers. The downward trend in the interest of film viewers has caused concern among film producers and film exhibitors who feel that such a drastic fall in their business never occurred in the past.

To deal with the present prevailing critical situation, a 21-member committee has reportedly been formed with representatives from relevant areas of the film industry. The committee members solely blamed the TV satellite channels for the lack of cinegoers' interest in the locally produced feature films.

According to observers, the slide in Bangladeshi films began from the early 80s when too much emphasis was laid on earning quick money by capitalising on the physical aspects of the heroines rather than their acting abilities. The action and adventure films produced by the local producers were of a poor standard portraying a childish mimicry of violent fights, leaving bad examples for our youths.

These may be some of the reasons causing disgust among some viewers of local films and keeping them away from the cinema halls. On the other hand, the satellite channels offer a variety of Bangla films telecast everyday, some of which may not be of questionable quality. The committee which has been constituted to safeguard the interests of the local film industry, directed its grievances against the ETV channel, in particular, through which two Bangla films are regularly telecast everyday. When one of such films is shown on the channel from noon, it is said to affect 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 effects in dissuading the students in this regard.

Bangla commercial filmmakers have, therefore, demanded of the government to take necessary steps to save their industry from the hegemony of the satellite channels. Viewers reportedly favour watching such channels for Bangla films telecast at prime times, particularly during weekly holidays when some highly popular films are shown.

In the opinion of observers, there are, of course, flaws in the city's cinema halls which discourage the viewers to go there for entertainment. Among such flaws they mention the declining standard of film along with poor environment both inside and outside the cinema halls as important factors in causing among the general run of movie viewers. The video cassette culture and the satellite and cable TV have helped them find an alternative.