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The Evolution OF Bangla Movies 

General Information

March2,2023 // Written By Ridika Basak Kotha 

What  is Bangla Movie?

Films produced in the Bengali language, which is spoken in Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and by the Bengali diaspora worldwide, are referred to as "Bangla" movies. The earliest examples of Bengali cinema may be found in the early 20th century, with "Bilwamangal," the first Bengali feature film, being released in 1919.

Over the years, West Bengal's film industry and Bangladesh's cinema have created a broad variety of films, including comedies, action flicks, historical epics, romantic dramas, and more. Bangla movies are renowned for their compelling narratives, diverse cultures, and creative use of dance and music.

A new generation of directors and actors have revitalized the Bangla film industry in recent years, bringing new viewpoints and creative ideas to the sector. The recent Bangla films "Shonibar Bikel" (Saturday Afternoon), "Komola Rocket," and "Pather Panchali" are a few of note.

Bengali cinema, which is another name for Bengali movies, has a long and varied history that dates back to the early 20th century. Below is a quick history of how Bangla movies have changed over time:

Early Years of Bangla Movies(1918-1932):

Silent movies dominated Bengali cinema's early years. The majority of the films made during this time period were mythical or historical dramas with a strong emphasis on Indian culture and tradition. Intertitles were employed to communicate the plot, while the directors used straightforward filming methods.

"Bilwamangal," the first film in Bangla, was published in 1918. Hiralal Sen, who is recognized as the founding father of Bangla film, directed it. The majority of Bangla movies in the early years were silent movies that were based on mythical or historical tales.

Advent of sound(1932-1950):

Sound made a huge impact on the business when it first appeared in Bangla cinema. Filmmakers are now able to include speech, music, and sound effects in their films thanks to the invention of synchronized sound. Talkies, which were produced as a result, replaced silent movies with ones that were more entertaining and realistic. Around this time, social and romantic issues predominated the themes of Bangla cinema. Jamai Shashthi, the first sound movie in Bangla, was released in 1932. The "New Theatres" studio, which made some of the most well-known Bangla films ever, such "Devdas" (1935) and "Pather Panchali," first appeared in the 1940s (1955). High production values, realistic topics, and socially concerned messages made these films stand out.

Golden Era of Bangla Movie(1950-1970)

A new generation of filmmakers who experimented with many styles, genres, and themes emerged during the golden age of Bangla cinema. The emphasis switched from love stories to socially conscious films that looked at topics like injustice, exploitation, and poverty. The films of this time period were creative, realism, and socially significant. One of the best movies ever made is generally acknowledged as Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali (1955). The movie, which chronicles the maturation of a little kid in rural Bengal, received multiple international honors and established Ray as a significant filmmaker.Satyajit Ray also directed Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959), the second and third installments of his well-known "Apu Trilogy." These movies have a strong connection to the rhythms and textures of rural Bengal, just like Pather Panchali.

Commercialization of Bangla Movies(1970-1990)

Bangla cinema become more commercialized in the 1970s and 1980s, and the emphasis turned to making well-liked, mainstream films that would draw sizable audiences. Many well-known performers and actresses, including Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chatterjee, and Suchitra Sen, rose to fame during this time.

Contemporary Era of Bangla Movies(1990-present)

Bangla cinema has significantly changed in recent years thanks to the development of a new generation of filmmakers who are experimenting with various genres, styles, and topics. With Bangla movies being presented at international film festivals and gaining popularity on a worldwide scale, the industry has also become more international. Dhaka Attack (2017), Aynabaji (2016), and Debi are a few of the famous modern Bangla films (2018).

OTT Platforms

"Over-the-Top" is referred to as OTT. It describes the transmission of media, including video, audio, and other types, through the internet without the use of established broadcast or cable infrastructure. Many devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and streaming devices, can be used to view OTT content.

Customers get access to a wide variety of material on OTT platforms, including movies, TV series, live sports, news, and more. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and YouTube are a few well-known OTT platforms. Throughout the years, these platforms have greatly increased in popularity, especially among cord-cutters who favor on-demand video over traditional cable TV subscriptions.

Why Bangla Movies are now on OTT platforms?

OTT platforms now offer Bangla movies for a variety of reasons.

First off, OTT services have gained more and more traction in recent years, particularly with younger consumers that favor on-demand and flexible viewing. The demand for Bangla movies on OTT platforms has increased as a result of this trend.

Second, OTT platforms give Bangla movie makers a great chance to reach a larger audience outside of conventional movie theaters. This is crucial for Bangla movies in particular because they have a specialized audience and might not have the same distribution options as Bollywood or Hollywood blockbusters.

Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced theaters to close across the globe, including in Bangladesh. Movie makers were forced to find different distribution channels as a result, and many chose OTT platforms as an effective solution.

OTT platforms, in particular in locations where movie theaters are difficult to access, offer audiences a practical method to see Bangla movies from the comfort of their homes. This has contributed to the rise in popularity of Bangla movies and broadened their appeal.

Here are some of the best Bangla movies available on OTT platforms:

Drishtikone (2018) - Directed by Kaushik Ganguly, this movie is a romantic thriller starring Prosenjit Chatterjee and Rituparna Sengupta. It is available on Hoichoi.

Chotushkone (2014) - Directed by Srijit Mukherji, this psychological thriller features an ensemble cast including Aparna Sen, Chiranjeet Chakraborty, and Parambrata Chatterjee. It is available on Hoichoi.

Bela Seshe (2015) - Directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, this movie is a family drama featuring Soumitra Chatterjee and Swatilekha Sengupta in lead roles. It is available on Hoichoi.

Mayurakshi (2017) - Directed by Atanu Ghosh, this movie is a drama about a father-son relationship, starring Soumitra Chatterjee and Prosenjit Chatterjee. It is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Durga Sohay (2017) - Directed by Arindam Sil, this movie is a social drama starring Sohini Sarkar, Indrasish Roy, and Tonushree Chakraborty. It is available on Hoichoi.

Dhaka Attack (2017) - Directed by Dipankar Sengupta, this action thriller stars Arifin Shuvoo, Mahiya Mahi, and ABM Sumon. It is available on Netflix.

Haami (2018) - Directed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, this movie is a coming-of-age drama featuring child actors Broto Banerjee and Tiyasha Pal. It is available on Hoichoi.

These are just a few of the best Bangla movies available on OTT platforms. There are many other excellent movies to discover on Hoichoi, Amazon Prime Video, and other OTT platforms.

Conclusion

Movies in Bangla are of varying quality and appeal based on the plot, directing, acting, music, and technical components of the production. A number of critically acclaimed and financially successful films from Bangla cinema have won awards at both national and international film festivals over the years.

Nonetheless, Bangla cinema also suffers difficulties, such as a lack of funding, competition from other regional and international films, and censorship issues, much like any other film business. The Bengali-speaking population's cultural identity still heavily relies on Bangla movies, and the business has proven resilient and adaptable over time.