Filmmaking in B'desh is very difficult: Mokammel

Panaji, Dec 6 (PTI) God movies and a genuine cinematic tradition are very hard to come by, as is the case with Bangladesh, if country's political situation is not conducive to the very concept of individual freedom, according to noted filmmaker Tanvir Mokammel.

God movies and a genuine cinematic tradition are very hard to come by, as is the case with Bangladesh, if country's political situation is not conducive to the very concept of individual freedom, according to noted filmmaker Tanvir Mokammel.

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Mokammel, whose film Lalon was screened at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here, terms film making in Bangladesh as very difficult and slow process.

A strict censor board and a political leadership that lends no support to directors makes the going tough for someone who wants to make an independent film, he told PTI.

"Our censor guidelines are very harsh and the government lends us practically no support. In my 17 years as a filmmaker, I have managed to make hardly 4-5 films and some documentaries as the environment is not conducive to cinema. Also Bangladesh lacks in infrastructure and the technology required," he said.

Mokammel said one of his films on the murder of intellectuals during 1971 by Islamic fundamentalits cannot be shown in his country while another was blocked for two years before he appealed to the High Court for its release.

Some filmmakers, who want to make movies outside the studio setup and mainstream, have to resort to different formats like hiring auditoriums and screening them. Audience come to watch our films based on our reputation and word of mouth, Mokammel added.