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.
Suchinta Chowdhury Chanchal, better known as Chanchal Chowdhury, , is a Bangladeshi actor. He gained recognition with television roles in late 2000s, and went on to become one of the most popular leading men of Bangla cinema in the following decade. He is the recipient of several accolades, including three National Film Awards and seven Meril Prothom Alo Awards.
Fazlur Rahman Babu is a Bangladeshi actor and singer. He won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor a record five times for his roles in Shonkhonaad (2004), Meyeti Ekhon Kothay Jabe (2017), Fagun Haway (2019), Bishwoshundori (2020) and Nonajoler Kabbo (2021). He also won Best Performance in a Comic Role for Gohin Baluchor (2017).
Masud Rana, better known by the stage name Shakib Khan, is a Bangladeshi actor, producer, businessman, occasional singer, film organiser, and media personality who works in Bengali films. He is widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential figures in Bengali cinema with his career spanning about two decades and 250 films. Khan has been the propeller of the contemporary film industry, Dhallywood and is one of the highest paid actor in Bangladesh and West Bengal. He did his debut in 1999 in action romantic Ananta Bhalobasha, and is one of the most successful actors in Bengali cinema.
Mehazabien Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi actress, model and the winner of Lux Channel I Superstar 2009. She began her acting career after winning Lux Channel I Superstar, a Bangladeshi beauty pageant. Her success in the pageant opened doors for her acting career. Chowdhury rose to prominence after featuring in a television commercial for Banglalink, a mobile phone operator, which brought her to the limelight. She made her debut in the television drama Tumi Thako Shindhu Pare, which was broadcast on ATN Bangla. Since then, she has starred in several popular dramas such as Boro Chele, Chompa House, Buker Ba Pashe, Alo, Lota Audio, Chirokal Aaj, and Kajoler Din Ratri. Chowdhury is widely recognized for her versatility in acting and has received numerous awards and accolades for her performances. Her notable awards include the Meril-Prothom Alo Awards, and the CJFB Performance Award. In 2018, she received the Babisas Award for her performance in the play Sonali Danar Chil. Bangladesh Police Women Network (BPWN) honoured Chowdhury for her drama, Alo, where she played a police sergeant.
Zulfiqer Russell is a Bangladeshi lyricist and journalist. He is currently the editor of the online news site, The Bangla Tribune. He won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Lyrics for the film Putro (2018). He was the winner of the Channel i Music Awards in 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2022 and also received the Mirchi Music Awards (Bangla) award for the Song of the Year in the Modern Song category for, "Shabuj Chilo". On 2020 he was awarded CJFB Performance Award 2019 as best lyricist. He had also worked with renowned Indian singers and composers including Grammy and Academy Award (Oscar) winner musician A. R. Rahman. He wrote the official theme song 'Ektai Achhe Desh' of the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh Independence sang by fifty renowned singers of Bangladesh.
Riaz Uddin Ahamed Siddique, popularly known as Riaz, is a Bangladeshi film actor, producer, and television presenter who has appeared in more than 100 Bengali films in genres ranging from romance to action to comedies. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including three National Film Awards and seven Meril Prothom Alo Awards. He portrayed the famous literary character, Shuvro, created by Humayun Ahmed, in Daruchini Dip.
Kazi Sharmin Nahid Nupur, known by her stage name Shabnur, is a Bangladeshi film actress. She won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress for her role in the film Dui Noyoner Alo (2005).
Sadik Mohammed Symon, popularly known as Symon Sadik, is a Bangladeshi film actor, assistant director, lyricist, model and politician. His films are predominantly in Dhallywood cinema. He made his debut in as a lead role in the Bangladeshi film Ji Hujur (2012) and he won Bioscope Borsho-Sera Awards for Best acting in Poramon (2013). He also won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the film Jannat (2018).
Abdun Noor Shajal is a Bangladeshi actor and model. Shajal began his career through modelling before he started acting on television. He appeared in several films. He has acted in several notable plays. Also among his notable works in the film are Jinn, Haar Jeet, Run Out.
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.
Mousumi Hamid is an actress and model from Bangladesh. She rose to prominence after becoming the 1st runner-up in LUX Channel I Superstar 2010. Since then, she worked in several TV shows such as Love Rectangle , Radio Cholocate and several others. Since 2013, Hamid has signed several films including Anonno Mamun's Blackmail (2015), Shafi Uddin's Full Length Love Story: Part II (2015) and Shamim Ahamed Roni's Mental (2016).
Tariq Anam Khan is a Bangladeshi actor, director, writer and producer in theatre, television, and film. He was awarded the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor in a Negative Role for the film Desha: The Leader in 2014 and in 2019 for the film Abar Bosonto. He is the founding member and leader of the prominent Bangladeshi theatre group Natyakendra, where he holds the position of principal secretary.
Rajneeti (transl. Politics) is a 2017 Bangladeshi political thriller film. The film was directed by Bulbul Biswas and produced by Ashfaq Ahmed under the banner of Arrow Motion Arts. The film's story and screenplay were written by Bulbul Biswas and dialogue by Delowar Hossain Dil. It features Shakib Khan, Apu Biswas, Anisur Rahman Milon, Sadek Bachchu, Amit Hasan in lead roles. The film soundtrack is composed by Habib Wahid, Fuad al Muqtadir and Pritam Hasan. It was released on June 26, 2017, on the occasion on Eid al-Fitr in Bangladesh.
Siam Ahmed is a Bangladeshi television and film actor. He made his debut Bangladeshi telefilm Bhalobasha 101 and he is best known for his debut role in the film Poramon 2 (2018) directed by Raihan Rafi. He is also well known for his various roles in Bengali TV dramas. He won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actor twice for his roles in Bishwoshundori (2020) and Mridha Bonam Mridha (2021).
Alta Banu is a 2018 Bangladeshi romantic drama film directed by Arun Chowdhury and starring Zakia Bari Momo, Anisur Rahman Milon and Farzana Rikta. The screenplay, by Brindaban Das, is based on a story of the same name by Faridur Reza Sagar.
Safa Kabir is a Bangladeshi model and actress. She is notable for her works in television commercials, dramas and telefilms since 2013. She participated in Don Samdany’s Berger presents Rise Above All 2024 public speaking event on 16 November 2024 as a speaker.
Kazi Abu Bakar Siddiky, known as Kazi Riton is a Bangladeshi producer, actor, writer and director. He is the owner of film and television production company Black & White. He was the International Affairs Secretary of Television Program Producers Association of Bangladesh (2019-2021). Currently, he is serving as an Executive Member of Television & Digital Program Producers Association of Bangladesh.
Mridha Bonam Mridha is a 2021 Bangladeshi courtroom film. Directed by Roni Bhowmik, the film stars Siam Ahmed, Nova and Tariq Anam Khan in lead roles.
