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.
Jaya Maswood, popularly known as Jaya Ahsan, is a Bangladeshi film actress, model, producer and playback singer. Starting her career as a model and, later, as a film actress, she works mostly in Bangladeshi and Indian Bengali films. She won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress six times for her performances in the films Guerrilla (2011), Chorabali (2012), Zero Degree (2015), Debi (2018), Alatchakra (2021), and Beauty Circus (2022). She also earned four Filmfare Awards East, Zee Cine Awards, and Meril-Prothom Alo Awards.
Bipasha Hayat is a leading Bangladeshi actress, model, painter and playback singer. She won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film Aguner Poroshmoni (1994). She earned Meril Prothom Alo Awards in 1998, 1999 and 2002.
Tauquir Ahmed is a Bangladeshi architect and actor, turned director in both television and cinema. His films won many international and national awards including Bangladesh National Film Awards in the Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Story categories for the films Joyjatra (2004) and Oggatonama (2016).
Monpura, is a 2009 Bangladeshi Bengali film, directed by Giasuddin Selim. It is considered as one of the greatest Bangladeshi films ever made. Over the years, this film has been a cult-classic due to lead's performance and the music album.
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).
Mostofa Sarwar Farooki is a Bangladeshi film director, producer and screenwriter who works in Bengali films. His films Third Person Singular Number, Television, No Bed Of Roses were critically acclaimed across the world and received numerous international and national awards. On November 10, 2024, he was appointed as the Adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs in the interim government of Bangladesh.
Mamunur Rashid is a Bangladeshi actor, director and scriptwriter. He was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2012 and Bangla Academy Literary Award in 1982 by the Government of Bangladesh.
Abul Hayat is a Bangladeshi actor. He is also a writer, civil engineer and director. He earned Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Daruchini Dwip (2007) and was awarded Ekushey Padak for his acting in 2015 by the Government of Bangladesh. He portrayed the Misir Ali character in the television film, Onno Bhuboner Cheleta.
Arifin Shuvoo is a celebrated Bangladeshi film actor and one of the country's most prominent and bankable superstars. Known for his magnetic screen presence, versatile acting, and commanding performances, Shuvoo has solidified his place as a leading figure in the Bangladeshi entertainment industry. Since his debut, he has captivated audiences with his roles in critically acclaimed films and box-office blockbusters, earning widespread acclaim and a devoted fanbase. Shuvoo’s contributions have not only redefined the landscape of Bangladeshi cinema but also brought it to the attention of international audiences.
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.
Amitabh Reza Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi filmmaker. In his career, he has directed nearly fifteen hundred (1500) television commercials. Amitabh has also directed a few television films to critical acclaim. He founded the production house 'half stop down', which mainly produces TVCs. Amitabh's directorial debut in theatrical feature film is Aynabaji which was released on 30 September 2016.
Chirkutt is a Bangladeshi rock band from Dhaka, formed in 2002 by Sharmin Sultana Sumi.
Fagun Haway is a Bangladeshi historical drama film based on the novel Bou Kotha Kou by Tito Rahman. This movie is based on the Bengali language movement during 1952 in East Pakistan. This was the sixth film directed by Tauquir Ahmed simultaneously released in February 2019 at 52 cinema halls across the country.
No Dorai is a 2019 Bangladeshi drama film directed by Taneem Rahman Angshu. Set in Cox's Bazar, the story of No Dorai is based on the life of a young Bangladeshi girl, who defies society's norms to follow her dream of becoming a surfer. It is the first Bangladeshi surfing film. No Dorai literally means "not afraid" in Chittagonian dialect. It features Sunerah Binte Kamal and Sariful Razz in lead roles.
Lutfur Rahman George is a Bangladeshi television and film actor. He has worked in films like Aguner Poroshmoni and Aynabaji. He is currently the organizational editor of Actors’ Equity Bangladesh. In 2023 he performed in Priyotoma, which is the highest grossing Bangladesh film of all-time.
Faruque Ahmed is a playwright and actor in Bangladesh. He started his acting career by acting on stage while studying at the department of Geography and Environment of Jahangirnagar University. He was introduced across the country by playing a negative role called Rasik Lal in Baro rokom manus broadcast on Bangladesh Television. He was a regular face of popular playwright and writer Humayun Ahmed's drama.
840, also known as Democracy Private Limited, is a political satire Bengali film directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. It was released in theatres across Bangladesh on 13 December 2024. According to the director, this film serves as a follow-up to his 2007 TV series 420, making 840 a 'double up' of that series.
Abu Shahed Emon is a Bangladeshi film director and producer.
