Entertainment industry at a standstill due to nationwide curfew

Amid political unrest, a nationwide curfew and an internet shutdown following the quota reform movement, the country’s entertainment industry is facing major disruptions, resulting in the lowest revenue of the year. Almost all multiplexes and single-screen cinemas, including Star Cineplex and Lion Cinemas, have been closed for over a week due to the national crisis.

Two films, Sadek Siddiqui's 'Direct Action', starring three-time National Film Award-winning actress Sadika Parvin Popy, and Montazur Rahman Akbar's 'Jimmi', were scheduled to release on July 19 but were postponed at the last minute. 'Jimmi' stars Monowar Hossain Dipjol and Shirin Shila, while 'Direct Action' stars Amin Khan opposite Popy.

Another film, 'Haimantir Itikotha', was scheduled to release next Friday (July 26). Director Mirza Sakhawat Hossain said that the film's release might be postponed due to the current situation. “We had planned to start promoting the film last week, but the unrest has started. With theatres closed, we are waiting to see how the situation evolves,” he told the media yesterday.

Political unrest over the quota reform movement led to curfews, which closed almost all theatres. Theatre performances and concerts scheduled in Dhaka were also cancelled.

Since last Friday, no screenings have been held at Lion Cinemas in Dhaka. The cinema managed to screen Toofan twice that day, in the afternoon and evening slots. According to Mirza Khalek, the owner of Lion Cinemas, film screenings have stopped since the curfew was imposed. He mentioned that one of their two servers can function without internet, which allowed them to screen two screenings on Friday. However, no films were screened on Saturday or Sunday, and Khalek is not sure when screenings will resume, depending on the curfew.

The film 'Haimantir Itikotha', based on Rabindranath Tagore's acclaimed short story 'Haimanti', marks the Dhallywood debut of actress Aishika Aishi, starring opposite actor Saif Khan.

Apart from cinemas, OTT platform Binge has also delayed the release of several films and web series. The short film ‘Ekti Khola Janala’, directed by Vicky Zahed, was scheduled to release on July 18 but has been postponed. A Binge official told the media on Saturday afternoon (July 20) that the release date would be announced later, depending on the situation.

“Ekti Khola Janala” is a psychological thriller set in Keshabpur, where a series of murders are wreaking havoc. The story focuses on who is killing the nurses and why. Tasnia Farin and Salha Nadia play the roles of the two nurses.

Several plays cancelled

Theatre has also been affected by the political unrest of the past week. The play “Anne Frank” was scheduled to be performed at the Shilpakala Academy Experimental Theatre in Bangladesh on Friday night (July 18). But the production company, Mad Theater, cancelled the performance at the last minute. The play, adapted from the highly acclaimed “Diary of Anne Frank,” was written by Asadul Islam and directed by Kazi Anisul Haque. The play features a solo performance by Arya Meghdut. Meghdut, who is due to study abroad in September, was due to play the role of Anne Frank for the last time, but unfortunately she was unable to do so.

Several other plays have also been cancelled, including the highly acclaimed play 'Achalayatan' by the pioneering theatre troupe Prachyanat. 'Achalayatan', the 42nd production of Prachyanat, was written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and directed by Azad Abul Kalam. Sanjida Prity played the character of Panchak, Sakhawat Hossain Rezvi played Maha Panchak and Chetona Rahman Vasha played Acharya. Sahana Rahman Sumi, Jaganmoy Paul, Proddut Kumar Ghosh and Jahangir Alam, among others, played different characters in the play.

On Wednesday evening, July 17, Prangonemor Theatre Troupe staged the play “Tiner Talwar” at Dhaka’s Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium. Actress and organizer Nuna Afroz reported a promising turnout despite the ongoing political unrest. On Facebook, she said, “Our play is our protest. We were not sure of having an audience given the situation in the country. Fortunately, our audience did not disappoint us.” She also announced the upcoming performances of “Abhineta” on July 24 and “Tiner Talwar” on July 31 at the National Theatre Hall in BSA.

However, media reports say that at least eight plays and events scheduled for this week have been postponed due to the country's political climate. These include Prachyanat's “Achalayatan” and Desh Natok's “Nittopuran” at the National Theatre Hall, as well as Natyakendra's “Punyaha.”

In addition, the drama school’s alumni reunion and the new play scheduled for Friday have been postponed. The Kamal Lohani Birthday Celebration Committee has also postponed its event to mark the cultural personality’s 90th birth anniversary. Uncertainty remains over whether Theatre 52 will stage “Nononpurer Melae Ekjon Komolasundori O Ekta Bagh Ashe” on Friday, leaving Dhaka’s theatre community in a state of flux.

Concerts are suspended

Pakistani musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan's concert in Dhaka has been postponed. The concert was scheduled for July 20 at the United Convention Center in Dhaka. Organized by Asiatic Limited and sponsored by Buy Here Now (BHN), the show has been postponed to November.

Rahat Fateh Ali announced the concert on his official Facebook page on July 11. Priced at Tk 10,000 each, tickets for the show were already sold out.

However, Asia's Hasib-Ul-Islam informed the Daily Star that the exact date of the concert would be announced once internet services resume in the country.

The organizers have also decided to offer a refund option for the tickets purchased since the concert has been postponed. The refund option will be available on their website after the concert date is announced.