Children's film fade away in Bangladesh amid producer and exhibitor apathy

"When we were very young, living on Abhoy Das Lane, my father’s office was in Tikatuli," filmmaker Animesh Aich reminisces. "There were two cinemas—‘Abhisar’ and ‘Madhumita’. It was customary then that when relatives visited, we'd all go to the movies together."

Animesh vividly recalls the 1980 film Danpite Chhele, especially the song "Hayre Amar Mon Matano Desh" ("Oh my fascinating country"). "I was terrified of contracting rabies after watching that movie. But the song was truly memorable."

He fondly remembers other children's classics like Dumurer Phul, Chhutir Ghonta, Puroskar, and Emiler Goenda Bahini. Reflecting on the current state of children's cinema, he laments: "Where are such popular children's movies now?"

In the 1980s, films like Chhutir Ghonta (1980), Ashikkhito (1978), Matir Moina (2002), and Ghetu Putro Komola (2012) featured compelling child roles that contributed to their success, even if they were not strictly children's films.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING: LAGGING BEHIND OR OVERLOOKED?

The Bangladeshi government began funding domestic films in the 1976-77 fiscal year.

Badal Rahman's Emiler Goenda Bahini, which received a grant that year, remains one of the most celebrated children's films.

In 1978, a directive emphasised that one of every three funded films should cater to children. However, various challenges—including prolonged production times and lukewarm audience reception—diminished their prominence.

After a hiatus, film grants resumed in 2007-08, but children's films were notably absent from the 2007 list. Amar Bandhu Rashed, funded in 2008-09, stands out as a recent success in this genre. Subsequent years saw sporadic grants for children's films, but many faced delays or limited releases. For instance, Kaktarua, funded in 2010-11, was released in 2024, and Hudsoner Bonduk, funded in 2011-12, premiered on Dec 2, 2022—eight years post-grant.

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, two films received grants: Niamul Mukta's Chalanbiler Manik and Towkir Islam's Od-Bhoot, produced by Raed Morshed. Despite these initiatives, numerous funded children's films remain unreleased. Priyo Janmabhoomi, granted in 2016-17 and directed by the late Sohanur Rahman Sohan, never reached theatres. Other projects like Raseler Jonno Opekkha, Matir Rajkumar, and Mosto Borolok, funded between 2019 and 2023, are still in production.

Director Lubna Sharmin, discussing her film Nuliachhorir Shonar Pahar, noted: "Production was completed long ago. It has been screened at the ministry and submitted to the certification board." Similarly, Matir Rajkumar's director, Rubel Shankar, stated, "Our pre-production work is complete. I'm awaiting the start of shooting."

Aka Reza Ghalib, director of Mosto Borolok, said: "Shooting concluded in December last year, and post-production is in full swing. The project faced delays due to the July movement. Once post-production is complete, it will be submitted to the ministry, and a release date will be announced upon approval."

MEMORIES AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

Actor Nasir Uddin Khan still vividly remembers “Puroskar”, the 1983 film that left a lasting impression on him.

Speaking to Glitz, he recalled: “My elder brother Amanullah Khan, my friend Kanchan, my nephew Shahed, and I went to watch it at Almas Cinema Hall in Chattogram. I really liked it.”

When “Chhutir Ghonta” was released, Nasir Uddin was a secondary school student. The film told the tragic story of a boy accidentally locked in a school bathroom the day before Eid holidays.

“Our school washroom was on the lower floor. After watching Chhutir Ghonta, I was too scared to go there alone,” he said. “Films like those had a deep impact on us. We don’t see that kind of cinema anymore.”

Why not?

“I don’t know,” he said. “But I really miss those films. We have so many stories about children in our country. If they were made well, parents would gladly take their children to the movies.”

Ibtida Khanam Tuha, an eighth-grade student, last saw a local film two years ago — Adventure of Sundarbans — at Star Cineplex with her brother. She hasn’t watched another Bangladeshi film since, though she regularly watches Hollywood animated films.

“I’ve never been to the Sundarbans,” Tuha told Glitz. “But when the film came out, I went to see it. It was… okay. Nothing exciting like that has come out since.”

She now watches animated titles like Ratatouille, How to Train Your Dragon, Migration, Coco, and Moana on her brother’s laptop.

“These are my favourites,” she said. “We don’t have movies like this here. I wish we did.”

Last December, the animated film Moana 2 was released in Bangladeshi theatres. Othoi Zaman watched it with her 4-year-old nephew.

“I had come to Babyland with the child, saw the poster, and decided to watch it,” she said. “There are hardly any children’s movies these days. Even on TV, there’s barely anything. Just one channel shows some cartoons.”

“There used to be so much content for children—shows, films, discussions. That’s all gone now. There are no films, no programmes. We really need good movie theatres dedicated to children.”

EXHIBITORS WANT QUALITY, BUT PRODUCERS STEP BACK

Outside of government grants, few children’s films are made in Bangladesh — and producers show little interest in investing.

Speaking to Glitz, producer Khorshed Alam Khosru said, “Even mainstream cinema is struggling. Films have become overly dependent on star power. That’s not healthy for the industry. The movies don’t work, audiences aren’t interested, the stories aren’t strong, and there aren’t enough good filmmakers. In this situation, no one wants to risk money on children’s films.”

He also pointed to insufficient government funding and reluctance from theatre owners to screen children’s films as key barriers.

“Even after making a film, releasing it is a challenge. Theatres don’t want to show films without commercial appeal. And our production technology isn’t up to global standards — no VFX, limited equipment. Competing globally in children’s cinema is not easy for us.”

On Aug 18, 2023, the children’s film Aam Kathaler Chhuti was released in theatres. It was both directed and produced by Mohammad Nuruzzaman.

When asked about the challenges and potential of children’s cinema, Nuruzzaman said: “It’s not just Bangladesh — children’s films are few and far between globally. Investors don’t believe they’ll get their money back. The usual commercial elements aren’t present in these films, and the audience is smaller too.”

“I made the film with my own money because I felt it was important. And yes, I recovered my investment. With courage and the right mindset, it is possible.”

However, Star Cineplex’s Senior Marketing Manager Mesbah Uddin Ahmed disagrees with the claim that theatres avoid children’s films.

“We do screen children’s films. If they’re made, we’ll show them. But we can’t screen what doesn’t exist.”

He noted that international children's films perform well in their theatres.

“Hollywood films like Kung Fu Panda 4, Haikyuu: The Dumpster Battle, and Moana 2 — we’ve screened them for weeks. There is clear audience demand. If good Bengali children’s films are made, why wouldn’t we show them?

Children deserve entertainment too. It can’t just be about adults.”

Bangladesh Film Exhibitors Association General Secretary Aulad Hossain Uzzal echoed that view.

“Cinema as a business is struggling. We barely see five or six hits a year. So there’s little room for children’s content. But if a children’s film is good and generates buzz, audiences will come.”

He added, “We screened Adventure of Sundarbans. Since then, nothing else noteworthy in this genre has been released.”

STRUGGLES ON OTT PLATFORMS

Over the top or OTT platforms also struggle with children's films.

Mushfiqur Rahman Manzu, chief content officer of Bongo and co-producer of Adventure of Sundarbans, admitted the film failed to recover its investment.

He said, “It was a tough shoot, showcasing the Sundarbans involved significant costs. We never got the money back. The situation was dire—our budget was high, yet earnings barely reached Tk 1 to 1.5 million.”

"We are interested in making children's films, but after incurring a loss, it's difficult to take another risk. If at least 50 percent of the investment had been recovered, we could have considered it.

“We, however, do have separate plans for children's content."

According to him, OTT in Bangladesh has not yet established itself as a sustainable market.

Mushfiqur said, "Around 10 million people may be watching OTT content, but they aren’t paying. Most of them download for free.

“Since OTT is emerging as a new medium, there should be content for children, but audiences also need to support it."

The OTT platform iScreen has created a dedicated section called “Kids Tales” to promote children's content.

Asad Islam, operations manager of iScreen, said: "We've included Off the Mark, directed by Afsana Mimi, in the 'Kids Tales' section. The Korean animated series Big Five has been dubbed into Bengali.

He added, "We have also added all episodes of Faridur Reza Sagar's Chotokaku series. This Eid, Chotokaku Chapter Two: Mission Munshiganj will be released on iScreen after its TV broadcast.

“In addition, films like Aam Kathaler Chhuti and Mike are available on the platform."

Asad claimed that iScreen prioritises children's content. "We always consider children's content and are actively working on it. If any director is interested, we support them, value their scripts, and facilitate production.

“Visual media, whether OTT or television, must focus more on quality children's content."

PAUCITY OF SPONSORSHIP HIGHLIGHTED BY MORSHEDUL ISLAM

Morshedul Islam, a pioneer in children's cinema with films such as Duratta, Deepu Number Two, Amar Bondhu Rashed, Akhi O Tar Bondhura, and Shorot '71, has expressed concerns about the decline in children’s films.

When asked why children's films are no longer made as before, he pointed to several reasons, primarily the lack of sponsorship.

“Children’s films aren’t commercially viable. Since they lack commercial appeal, most producers believe they won’t be profitable and, therefore, avoid making them,” he said.

The director emphasised the need for government backing, citing recent initiatives where one of the funded films must be for children.

He, however, pointed out that despite receiving funding, such films often fail to garner significant audience engagement.

"Making children's films is not easy; it requires a deep understanding of children’s psychology. Many directors fail to make such films because they can’t connect with this mindset," Morshedul said.

He also highlighted the lack of recognition for children's films. "We often undervalue these works. At the National Film Awards, children’s films aren't awarded in major categories, only for best child actor.

“This marginalisation discourages production."

Morshedul also raised concerns about disparities in government grants. "In the 2023-24 fiscal year, government grants were given to 20 films across four categories.

“A total of 16 received Tk 7.5 million, while four received Tk 5 million, he said. “Among these, two children's films—Cholonbiler Manik and Od-Bhoot—received the lower grant.

“This reflects a bias. Producing children's films often requires more resources, yet they are allocated fewer funds."

Amidst these challenges, the Children's Film Society Bangladesh, established in 2006, continues to organise an annual international children's film festival, albeit on a smaller scale due to lack of funding.

The director said, "We used to receive government funding for the festival, but it has ceased in recent years, forcing us to scale down."

He suggested that all filmmakers should focus on making children's films. “Successful directors rarely take on children’s films.

“If they do, it could create a sense of responsibility and competition, helping revive the genre.”

SHISHU ACADEMY’S UPCOMING FILMS

Bangladesh Shishu Academy has produced two films, Khan Ataur Rahman's Danpite Chhele and Syed Salahuddin Zaki's Golpo Dadur Golpo Kotha.

In addition, the academy has been involved in the production of several short and feature-length children's films.

To date, the state-run institution has produced 57 children's films.

Though there was a brief hiatus in production, the academy has confirmed that the two films are in the final stages of release.

The academy’s former director Anjir Liton told glitz: "There was a break in production for some time, but this year we’ve taken responsibility for these two films, which have already received censor approval and will be released soon."

Among the films, Maniker Lal Kankra is directed by actor and director Afzal Hossain, while Shobuj Pakhi has been made by Shuvo Pal.

[Writing in English by Akramul Momen and Sheikh Fariha Bristy]