Film making in post-independence Bangladesh started with limited resources but the appeal of the first few films including Ora Egarojan, in spite of the naivety in all three fields - production, direction and acting - was tremendous, given freedom fighting as the theme. But it was not long before quality films began to be made. In 1973, came on the screen Alamgir Kabir's Dhire Bahey Meghna, setting the trend. However, ingenious script writing and direction was first shown in Khan Ata's Alor Michhil in 1974 and then in Sheikh Niamat's Shurjo Dighal Bari in 1979.

Commercial films did not lag behind. Kazi Jahir's Abujh Mon produced in 1972 led the journey. With Rang Baj in 1973 Zahirul Huque created a niche for for-entertainment-only films. Commercialism was taken a step further forward plagiarizing themes of popular Hindi films with Sohanur Rahman Sohan making Keyamat Thekey Keyamat in 1992.

With about 50 films on average made per year the industry's turnover went way above Tk 500 million but then came a seriously maiming assault on it mainly from two sources: pirated video CDs and satellite Hindi films. By 2007, it is estimated that the number of cine-goers had fallen by about 73 percent. As a result, more than 300 cinema halls in the country, including 9 in Dhaka City, had to be closed. Some insiders however confide that the predominance of people with dubious backgrounds has also contributed to the woe.

But there cannot be a substitute for cinema. To make the industry regain its previous health and then become healthier, a group of committed producers, directors, distributors as well as actors are campaigning for the cause of sanity in cinema. As the only self-sufficient body to provide technical help, BFDC (Bangladesh Film Development Corporation) is doing everything it can to help revive the lost glamour. Mamtaz-Ala- Shakoor Ahmed, Managing Director, BFDC, who is known for his congeniality and cooperation, identifies three major challenges facing the industry:

l Stopping video piracy,

l Stopping vulgarity in the film

l Introducing brilliant directors and efficient actors

In compliance with ET's request, BFDC MD provides the following information:

1. The Source of revenue earning by BFDC:

(A) Income from Sale of Raw Film, Service charges from Shooting floor, Camera hire charges, Equipment hire charges, income from Laboratory, Editing, Recording, Make-up-room, Set Construction, Income from Screening Digital Equipment, Vehicle hire charges, Income from Sale of by-products (Hypo/silver), Income from Rent received, Income from Interest on various types of loans provided to the employees, Interest received from producers, Interest received from Bank Deposit etc.

(B) The revenue & net Profit/Loss in FY 2008-09 (Approx.)

2. The total bill per film comes to approx. Tk38 lakh through selling raw film and from other service charges without any artist remuneration, set decoration, conveyance etc.

3. 64 (sixty four) films were released during the year 2008-09

4. There are 346 (three hundred and forty six) employees in FDC : class-I officers 36, class-II officers 29, class III employees 219 and class IV employees 62. They constitute both technical and non-technical hands.

5. As per agreement a film has to complete within one year. If it is not possible to complete the film within that period then BFDC authority can extend the time for another 6 months.

6. Every Fiscal Year BFDC imports different kinds of Un-Exposed Raw Film, Cinematographic Machineries, Camera and Spare parts from Japan, Belgium, U.S.A, France, U.K, Australia, Switzerland and Germany on a requirement basis.

7. Last Fiscal Year (2008-09) total BFDC imports (raw film and spare parts) amounted to TK. 11,80,50,503/- (Taka eleven crore eighty lakh fifty thousand five hundred three) only.

8. For outdoor shooting BFDC has a shooting spot named Bangladesh Film City which is situated at Kabirpur. In this film city there are flower garden, lake, Timber tree garden, open space and rest house.

9. For outdoor shooting BFDC gives support with camera, light, reflector board and other related equipment.

10. BFDC is a mother organization. It can give all kinds of support for making a complete motion picture film.

11. An idea of how to make a film is shown by block diagram.

Camera Þ Negative Processing Þ Sorting Negative FilmÞ Rush Print Þ Dubbing Editing Þ Transfer to magnetic film Þ Background Þ Re-recording Þ Mixing Optical transfer Þ Sound negative processing Þ Final Editing & picture adjustment Censor print Þ Final print

12. To make a film in BFDC the Producer has to fill in a form, submit the TIN number, trade license, Bank solvency certificate and Clearance from "Producers Association". There are two kinds of facilities available in BFDC for film making: Normal party and Cash party

(A) Normal party: Under the normal party procedure the producer will have to deposit one lakh taka; BFDC will provide all service facilities on credit up to the censor print.

(B) Cash party: Under the cash party procedure the producer will have to deposit ten thousand taka. BFDC will provide all service facilities.

According to Showkat Jamil, President, Bangladesh Film Directors Association, there are three basic things that are needed to make a film: money, cultural bent of mind and proper technical support. "First of all you need to manage enough finance for the planned film; next collect a good script, after which you need to contact commercial artists. Other steps involve shooting with the help of good cameras, dubbing, editing, recording, background music, sensor print, final print, etc."

Talking about the procedures for agreement between a producer and a director, Showkat says, "We can categorize the procedures as two types - one is the director provides the script to the producer and convinces him to invest in a particular film and the other is that the producer meets the director who is very familiar with the industry or has a strong image." He adds, "On average, it takes about 6 months to 1 and a half years to make a film."

The FDA president thinks the main challenge for the industry is having access to proper technology. As regards FDC, he says, "Frankly speaking, FDC is very much cooperative but they have resource limitation; they want to cooperate more but they can't."