The Cinema of Bangladesh, also known as Bangla cinema, is a diverse and vibrant entity, consisting of films produced across various regions in Bangladesh, each contributing its unique linguistic and cultural perspective. Beyond the dominant Dhaka based Bengali-language film industry Dhallywood, which is a portmanteau of "Dhaka" and "Hollywood", Bangladesh is home to cinema in several other languages and dialects. For instance, Chakma cinema from Bandarban, Garo cinema from Sherpur, Meitei and Sylheti cinema from Sylhet, Chatgaiya cinema from Chattogram. These regional cinemas play a crucial role in preserving and promoting the linguistic and cultural heritage of the country. The dominant style of Bangladeshi cinema is melodramatic cinema, which developed from 1947 to 1990 and characterizes most films to this day. Cinema was introduced in Bangladesh in 1898 by the Bradford Bioscope Company, credited to have arranged the first film release in Bangladesh. Between 1913 and 1914, the first production company, Picture House, was opened. A 1928 short silent film titled Sukumari was the first Bengali-produced film in the region. The first full-length film, The Last Kiss, was released in 1931.
There have been numerous works of art created as a result of the Bangladesh Liberation War. In 1971, a concert was organized by members of the British rock band, The Beatles, in support of Bangladesh. The songs recorded for and broadcast on Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra are still considered to be the best of Bangladeshi protest songs.
SM Aslam Talukder Manna, known by his stage name Manna (মান্না), was a Bangladeshi film actor and producer.
Amar Desh is a defunct daily newspaper in Bangladesh, published from Dhaka in the Bengali language since 2004. Amar Desh provides news about Bangladesh from local and regional perspectives and covers international news. Amar Desh is considered a popular opposition newspaper in Bangladesh and takes an editorial stance, that favours the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The newspaper was closed down by the secular Awami League led Government of Bangladesh ,for the newspaper's propaganda in favour of Pakistan and Jamaat-E-Islami politics.
Khan Ataur Rahman was a Bangladeshi film actor, director, producer, screenplay writer, music composer, and singer, best known for his role in the film Jibon Theke Neya (1970). He received the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Screenplay for the films Sujon Sokhi (1975) and Danpite Chhele (1980). He was awarded Ekushey Padak posthumously in 2003 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Masud Rana, better known by the stage name Shakib Khan, Bengali pronunciation:[ˈʃaːki:bxaːn], is a Bangladeshi actor, producer, businessman, occasional singer, film organiser, and media personality who works in Bengali films, both in Bangladesh and India. He is widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential figures in Bengali cinema and is considered to be one of the most successful actors in the country's history. In his career spanning about two decades and 250 films, Khan has been the propeller of the contemporary film industry, Dhallywood. As of 2022, he was the highest paid actor in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Maasranga Television is a Bangladeshi Bengali-language satellite and cable television channel owned by the Square Group. It commenced broadcasts on 30 July 2011, and is based in Banani, Dhaka.
Montazur Rahman Akbar is a Bangladeshi film director, screenwriter, producer, social activist and entrepreneur. He is known for his work in the Bengali-language film industry, which is centered in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Akbar also fought in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
Nasrin Akter Nipun, known by her stage name as Nipun is a Bangladeshi film actress. She was the former general secretary of Bangladesh Film Artistes Association, the organisation of local film artists. She won the National Film Awards twice - Best Actress for Shajghor (2007) and Best Supporting Actress for Chander Moto Bou (2009). As of 2014, she has acted in a total of 35 films, including Pitar Ason, Rickshawalar Prem, Praner Shami, and Porichoi.
Kazi Hayat is a Bangladeshi film director, producer, writer, and actor. In 2023 he performed in Priyotoma, which is the highest grossing Bangladesh film of all-time.
Shahid Hasan, known by professionally as Misha Sawdagor, is a Bangladeshi film actor known for playing villains. As of 2020, according to him, he has performed in more than 700 films. He won Bangladesh National Film Awards 3 times for his roles in the films Boss Number One (2011), Olpo Olpo Premer Golpo (2014) and Bir (2020). He first got noticed as a villain in the 1995 film Asha Bhalobasha starring Salman Shah. After Shah's death, he continued playing the villain opposite other actors, but failed to achieve any mainstream success or recognition. From 2006 onwards he started playing the main antagonist in a long string of hit movies starring Shakib Khan in the lead role and mostly Apu Biswas as the lead actress, and established himself as a leading antagonist in the Cinema of Bangladesh.
Rawshan Ara Rozina is a Bangladeshi film and television actress. As of 2018, she has performed in over 300 films. She was a prominent actress in the 1980s. She won Bangladesh National Film Awards for the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for her roles in the films Jibondhara (1988) and Koshai (1980) respectively. She also starred opposite to Mithun Chakraborty in Anyaay Abichar. She was awarded Bangladesh National Film Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2023.
Meher Afroz Shaon is a Bangladeshi actress, director, Dancer and playback singer. She won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for her performance in the film Krishnopokkho (2016). She was the wife of writer and director Humayun Ahmed.
Ashraf Uddin Ahmed Uzzal is a Bangladeshi film actor, producer and director. In the film, he made his film debut with Subhash Dutta directed film Binimoy. In addition to acting in the film, he also produced and directed films. He acted in over 100 films and also in about 100 television plays. Notable films in which he starred include Arunodoyer Agnishakkhi and Nalish. His directorial films are Shakti Porikkha, Tibro Protibad, and Paaper Shasti.
Shakib Khan is a Bangladeshi film actor, producer, occasional singer, film organiser and media personality who works in Bengali films, both in Bangladesh and West Bengal. Khan has prolific career spanning over two decades, during which he has appeared in more than 250 films and described as one of the most successful actors in Bangladesh. Most of his films were commercially and critically successful.
Agamee Prakashani is a Bangladeshi publishing house located in Dhaka.
Chowdhury Mazhar Ali is a Bangladeshi actor. He is mostly known for his villain role in Cinema of Bangladesh. In 1998, He started his film career as an actor with the film Matrivumi. His notable works as an actor are Commando, Tungiparar Miya Bhai, Bir, Abbas, Password, Naqaab, Captain Khan, Chalbaaz, Rangbaz, Premi O Premi, Rajneeti, Mental, ShikariWarning
Chachchu Amar Chachchu is 2010 Bangladeshi drama film directed by P. A. Kajol and produced by Mithun Chakraborty under the banner of Taj Kathachitra. It features an ensemble cast including Shakib Khan, Apu Biswas, Abdur Razzak, Prarthana Fardin Dighi, Shuchorita, Mizu Ahmed, Subrata, Rehana Jolly.
