Doing down Dhaliwood
Bangladesh’s censor board said Tuesday it had banned a quarter of all films made by its small “Dhaliwood” movie industry in the past year, according to AFP (via). Their justification is that they are stamping out “immoral” cinema in the Muslim-majority nation.
The Dhaka based industry made 86 films in the year to June at an average cost of 6.5 million taka ($100,000) aimed at 1,000 cinemas nationwide. But a quarter of these were banned because of excessive fight scenes and dirty dancing, according to vice-chairwoman of the censor board Kamrun Nahar.
An Islamist-allied government began the campaign against “obscene” films in 2004. It amended the film censorship act last year to include a three-year jail term for producers whose movies are judged to be against Bangladeshi cultural values.
Nahar said, however, that some producers were able to show movies after extensive cuts were made, though 14 film companies were warned for compelling directors and actors to make immoral films.
“We have this time warned only the producers because it was found that they are the ones who are responsible for these immoral films. It’s their money that made these unhealthy films,” she said.
Bangladesh has been ruled by a military-backed emergency government since January.
Wednesday 12 Sep 2007 | Paul | Bangladesh
