North South University has arranged a webinar to discuss the impact of Hindi films on the Bangladeshi film industry, society, and culture amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Department of Political Science and Sociology (PSS) of the university arranged the webinar, titled "Hindi Film in Bangladeshi Cinema Hall: A Boon or Bane?" on Saturday morning on the Zoom platform.
A book named "Consuming Cultural Hegemony: Bollywood in Bangladesh" written by NSU’s Assistant Professor Dr. Harisur Rahman was formally launched during the programme.
According to a press release, the government of Bangladesh considers screening Hindi films in Bangladeshi theatres simultaneously with their release in India due to the impact of COVID-19 on the film industry.
Apart from a group of Bangladeshi film artists, most stakeholders support the government's move to save the local film industry, which has failed to draw an audience.
Against this backdrop, NSU arranged the webinar with the participation of renowned film scholars, filmmakers, producers, directors, and film artists.
NSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Atiqul Islam presided over the webinar and Professor Sk. Tawfique M. Haque, Chair of PSS, moderated the event.
As Chair of the session, Professor Atiqul Islam mentioned the success and uniqueness of Bollywood, French and Spanish movies despite Hollywood's hegemony
He also said Bangladesh should maintain its principle of secularism to save the film industry.
In his brief speech, Dr. Harisur Rahman said that his book had explored the circulation and viewership of Bollywood films in Bangladesh.
He said that the book examines the circulation and viewership of Bollywood films and film modernity in Bangladesh.
As a discussant, actor Mr. Riaz Ahamed said that they need the institutional infrastructure of the film industry
Filmmaker Amitabh Reza Chowdhury suggested the establishment of a "Film Commission" which will act in the same manner as the election commission or Anti-Corruption Commission.
“We also need to thrive through competition,” he opined.
Bangladesh Film Directors Association President Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar said although they had opposed the release of Hindi movies in Bangladesh in 2011 and 2014, now they decided to allow Hindi movies until Bangladeshi films can stand on their own.
“We need to allow showing Hindi movies as it is a question of survival,” he said.
Professor Dr. Gitiara Nasreen of Dhaka University, Professor Dr. Zakir Hossain Raju of Independent University and Professor Dr. Sumon Rahman of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) also addressed the webinar.
