by Sohel Islam

In the glitzy world of celluloid, although an assortment of people with their different skill is involved in producing a movie, film directors' role is considered to be the most important one. But it is interesting that if a movie becomes successful the lead actor or actress receives almost all of the appreciation. And when a movie fails to pull the spectators, a director is blamed often. With the change of time and taste however, directors' style of presentation has also changed. Bangladesh's film direction is no exception of it.

In the Sixties or even in mid-Seventies, our filmdom grew up with its own distinctive character: almost all the directors tried to portray our social reality in their films in those days. And it was the time when our film directors used to follow and tried to compete with the then Calcutta-based Bangla films' direction and style, and produced, arguably, some of the best Bangla movies in the history of Bengali films. Recently Weekend Independent spoke to some of our directors to know why the standard of our films has drastically fallen. When asked to talk about the reasons that caused the nausea of the educated class of our society about the present-day Bangladeshi films, Shilpi Chatterjee, who directed successful films like Uzan Vati, Charam Patra and Mimangsha, said: "I agree that our films are on a downward slope. But in my entire career I never made a vulgar film. I don't still believe in the presentation of scantily dressed women in my film. Because of my non-conformist attitude towards the present-day changes in the film industry, sometimes even I failed to earn revenue. Sabar Ajantey, you know, was a complete failure. The story of this film was blended with romance and moral values of the middle class society. Vulgarity and violence were deliberately avoided. Despite knowing the factor that our educated class do not visit our cinema halls nowadays, I often direct this kind of film so that they come back." And at this point Chatterjee cross-questioned this writer about the factor that had tempted him to make such kind of movie, though he was quite aware that his film might turn into a complete failure, and related: "Well, I was watching a TV programme on Bangla movies in one of our Bangla satellite channels.

In an interview there, a number of women highly talked in favour of the entertainment the movies of bygone days used to give." He continued to say: "Taking into account these views I directed Sarbar Ajantey. But what happened after that? This movie could not reach even break-even in terms of revenue. Now it seems to me that we do not have any healthy place in our film industry. One problem is that we Bangladeshis do not follow what we say." What should be, you think, your rôle as a film director in the future, Chatterjee concluded desperately, "I have given up the idea of making films owing to the situation that is prevailing in our film industry. There is however still some opportunity to make some good TV programmes in the Bangla satellite channels. I think I will opt for it." Nazmul Huda Mintu who first directed Surza Uthar Agey way back in 1969 and so far made 12 films in his career, said in this regard: "The story of the film was really good. Actors and actresses performed upto their potential." Regarding the problems associated with the present-day films, Nazmul Huda Mintu, whose best movie was supposed to be Anek Prem Anek Jala released in 1975, pointed out, "Nowadays films are made for our lower middle class people.

As such it becomes tough to get a financier to finance movies with social values." Nazmul Huda Mintu, who thinks Zahir Raihan of Kancher Deyal and Jiban Thekey Neya to be the best director in our film history, added: "Satellite TV culture has multiplied the problem. People from the upper middle class do not visit cinema hall at all. We the directors who try to maintain some basic principles in making films are not being able to survive because of these problems." Regarding the rôle of censorship director Noor Muhammad Moni said, "As far as I know Censor Board is doing their job smoothly. The problem is that after releasing the movies some of the unscrupulous directors again replace and add some of the vulgar and pointless scenes to the censored movies. The administration of the FDC, which is supposed to look after these matters, does not perform their job properly.

That's why these days we have to watch these sorts of goofy scenes in Bangla movies."When asked what should we do to get rid of these dishonest practices, he advised, "The authority should give permission to make movies for the adult. If a viewer knows that if it is an adult film then s/he will certainly not go to enjoy the movie with family members."Many viewers opined that our film industry is going through one of its worst times. As all we know, day by day more and more people are getting disinterested about Bangla films. And as for us we may say that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs with the other concerned authorities should take some initiatives to resist these unscrupulous practices in our film industry. Many believe that if we are not earnest enough to save our films then one day our culture will be at stake.