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.
Rabeya Khatun was a Bangladeshi novelist. She wrote over 50 novels and more than 400 short stories. Her works also include essays, research, religious history and travelogues. She was awarded Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1973, Ekushey Padak in 1993 and Independence Day Award in 2017 by the Government of Bangladesh.
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.
Guerrilla is a 2011 Bangladeshi historical drama film based on the events of the Bangladesh Liberation War. It is an adaptation of the novel Nishiddho Loban by Syed Shamsul Huq and was released on 14 April 2011. It has been envisioned by the director of the film Nasiruddin Yousuf Bachchu. He has crafted the film Guerrilla with his own experience as a freedom fighter of 1971.
Afroza Sultana Ratna, best known by her stage name Shabana, is a Bangladeshi film actress. She earned a total of ten Bangladesh National Film Awards. Her national film award-winning roles were in Janani (1977), Sokhi Tumi Kar (1980), Dui Poisar Alta (1982), Nazma (1983), Bhat De (1984), Apeksha (1987), Ranga Bhabi (1989), Moroner Pore (1990) and Achena (1991). Across her three-decade-long career, she appeared in 299 films. She co-starred with Alamgir in 130 of them.
Abu Taher Mohammad Shamsuzzaman, was a Bangladeshi film and television actor, director and screen-playwright. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2015 by the Government of Bangladesh. He won Bangladesh National Film Awards five times for his roles in Dayee Ke? (1987), Madam Fuli (1999), Churiwala (2001), Mon Bosena Porar Table E (2009) and Chorabali (2012).
Shamsunnahar Smrity, known by her stage name Pori Moni, is a Bangladeshi film actress. She is considered one of the most popular and successful actresses in the Bangladeshi film industry. In 2020, she was listed in Forbes Asia's "100 Digital Stars".
Nusrat Imrose Tisha, known mononymously as Tisha, is a Bangladeshi actress, model and producer who has appeared mainly in Bengali television and films. She has garnered popularity with her performances both on television and the silver screen.
Ebadur Rahman is a Bengali novelist and award-winning filmmaker.
Ek Cup Cha (Bengali: এক কাপ চা) is a 2014 Bangladeshi romantic film directed by Noyeem Imtiaz Neyamul. It stars Ferdous Ahmed and Moushumi in the central roles, alongside Omar Sani, Rituparna Sengupta, father and daughter duo Alamgir and Akhi Alamgir, and Humayun Faridi. It was Faridi's final film, he died before it was released.
The 34th National Film Awards, presented by Ministry of Information, Bangladesh to felicitate the best of Bangladeshi Cinema released in the year 2009. The government announced the names of 28 artistes in 26 categories for the National Film Award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the country's film industry. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave away the awards to the artistes. From this year, Government decided to give lifetime achievement award and Sultana Zaman was the first recipient of the award.
Oggatonama is a 2016 Bangladeshi drama film directed and written by Tauquir Ahmed. It was selected as the Bangladeshi entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards, but it was not nominated. The film stars Fazlur Rahman Babu, Shahiduzzaman Selim, Mosharraf Karim, Nipun Akter, Shatabdi Wadud, and several others. Oggatonama was released on 19 August 2016 in Bangladesh by Impress Telefilm. It is about a Bangladeshi migrant who dies after illegally entering the United Arab Emirates with a fake passport. The Bangladesh police receive the wrong corpse.
Adhiar is a 2003 Bangladeshi period drama film directed by Saidul Anam Tutul from a story written by Giasuddin Selim. It stars Raisul Islam Asad, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Champa and Litu Anam in lead roles. The film is set in Bengal during the Tebhaga movement of the late 1940s.
Esha Yousuff is a Bangladeshi film producer.
Sangram is a Bangladeshi war drama film that was released in 1974. The film was directed by Chashi Nazrul Islam and produced by Kazi Sobuz. Its story is based on true events Khaled Mosharraf wrote in a diary; it depicts the East Bengal Regiment's battles against the Pakistan army and the contribution of Bengali armies to Bangladesh's war of liberation.
Poran Jai Jolia Re is a 2010 Bangladeshi romance film. The film is directed by Sohanur Rahman Sohan and produced by Shafiqul Islam under the banner of Bandhan Banichitra. Its story is written by Anonno Mamun, screenplay by Sohanur Rahman Sohan himself and dialogues by prominent director Chatku Ahmed. The film stars Bangladeshi superstar Shakib Khan, Dilara Hanif Purnima, Rumana Khan, ATM Shamsuzzaman and Misha Sawdagor. It was a commercial success at the box office and became a superhit.
