The Cinema of Bangladesh is a diverse and vibrant entity, consisting of films produced across various regions, 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.
Anisul Hoque is a Bangladeshi author, screenwriter, novelist, dramatist and journalist. He won Bangla Academy Literary Award in 2011. His most popular work is his non-fiction novel Maa (mother). He is also the editor of Kishore Alo. In addition, he is one of the two writers of the film Television.
Suchinta Chowdhury Chanchal, is a Bangladeshi actor. He is notable for his performances in Rupkothar Golpo (2006), Monpura (2009), Television (2012), Aynabaji (2016), Debi (2018) and Hawa (2022) Toofan (2024). He has received three Bangladesh National Film Awards for Best Actor and three Meril Prothom Alo Awards for Best Actor.
Fazlur Rahman Babu is a Bangladeshi actor and singer. He won 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.
Third Person Singular Number is a 2009 Bangladeshi drama film directed and co-written by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. It stars actors Mosharraf Karim, Nusrat Imrose Tisha, Abul Hayat and musician Topu.
Television is a 2012 Bangladeshi drama film based on changing social values and adoption of technology directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki and starring Kazi Shahir Huda Rumi, Chanchal Chowdhury, Mosharraf Karim, and Tisha. The film was selected as the Bangladeshi entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.
Arifin Shuvoo is a Bangladeshi film actor and television personality. He is the recipient of several awards and nominations, including a National Film Award and two Meril Prothom Alo Awards. He made his debut in 2007, appearing in the television series Ha/Na before appearing in his first film Jaago in 2010.
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.
Redoan Rony is a Bangladeshi film director, producer and media executive who is the Chief Executive officer of Chorki. He has spent more than a decade in the media industry of Bangladesh. He has directed a few of the most popular TV series of Bangladesh e.g. Housefull, Fnf, Behind The Scene, Pata Jharar Din, etc. Redoan Rony has been awarded Meril-Prothom Alo Award, CJFB Award, Bachsach Award, and many more. He won Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Dialogue and the film won 5 National Award for his directorial debut film Chorabali (2012).
Aynabaji is a Bangladeshi crime thriller film directed by Amitabh Reza Chowdhury and produced by Gousul Alam under the banner of Content Matters Production. The film was released on 30 September 2016 and received critical acclaim for its storytelling, cinematography, and performances. Aynabaji is considered a milestone in Bangladeshi cinema, and is commonly cited by critics as one of the best South Asian films of the 2010s and 21st century.
Chirkutt is a Bangladeshi rock band from Dhaka, formed in 2002 by Sharmin Sultana Sumi.
Marzuk Russell is a Bangladeshi poet, model, and actor. He made his television debut by TV play Ayna Mohol was directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. He got mainstream acclaim after the self-titled role in the film Bachelor in 2004. Since then he acted in many television drama and worked for numerous television commercials. Marzuk also appeared on several music videos, such as Ghuri Tumi Kar Akashe Oro (2012), Smrity Katha (2017) etc.
Bachelor is a 2004 Bangladeshi comedy-drama-romance film directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, in his feature directorial debut. It stars Humayun Faridi, Ahmed Rubel, Ferdous Ahmed, and Hasan Masood. The film was released on January 29, 2004, in Bangladesh. Aupee Karim's performance, in her feature film debut, won the Bangladesh National Film Award for Best Actress.
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.
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.
No Land's Man is a 2021 American-Bangladeshi-Indian drama film directed and written by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. The film follows the journey of a South Asian man which becomes complicated when he meets an Australian woman in America. The plot of the film deals with fascism and identity crisis. It stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Eisha Chopra, Tahsan Rahman Khan among others. The film, a joint production of United States, India, Australia and Bangladesh is produced by Farooki, Shrihari Sathe, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Anjan Chowdhury, Faridur Reza Sagar and Nusrat Imrose Tisha. A.R. Rahman also joins the film as an executive producer and music composer..
Tasnia Zamil Farin is a Bangladeshi actress, model and singer. She has recently worked in Indian Bengali film industry, Kolkata. Critically acclaimed for her work in Karagar. She rose to fame with her central role in the web series Ladies & Gentlemen directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. The ZEE5 web series released on 9 July 2021. She is also known for her performance in the drama EX BOYFRIEND. She has also been seen in several dramas and music videos. She played the role of a katha in a web film Networker Baire directed by Mizanur Rahman Aryan and produced by Redwan Rony, which was released on August 19 of the same year. In 2022, Farin is starring in Indian Bengali language film titled Aro Ek Prithibi Somoy Television directed by Kolkata-based filmmaker Atanu Ghosh.
Ashfaque Nipun is a Bangladeshi filmmaker, screenwriter and actor known for directing Mohanagar, Mukim Brothers, Ei Shohore, Landphone er dingulite prem, Alpona Kajol, Sonali Danar Chil, Ms Shuily, Mukh o Mukhosh er golpo, Victim and Eti Maa.
Something Like an Autobiography is a 2023 Bangladeshi film directed by Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. It is a part of the 'Ministry of Love' 12-film anthology for Bangladeshi streaming platform Chorki. The title of the film, borrowed from Akira Kurosawa's book of same name, resonates with events that question the boundary between reality and fiction from the plot that is presumed by Variety to be inspired from Farooki and his wife Nusrat Imrose Tisha's personal lives. The film is produced by Redoan Rony and co-produced by Anna Katchko, former Film Bazaar chief Nina Lath, Nusrat Imrose Tisha and Farooki. It is co-written by Farooki and Tisha. It marks Farooki's on-screen debut.
