Once upon a time, the cinema hall was a place to get a taste of culture and entertainment. As soon as a new movie comes out, many people may have forgotten about seeing it with their friends. That image has been lost for several years.
Even at the beginning of the nineties, there were 1,435 cinema halls opened across the country. There are only 60 in operation now. Why this misery of the cinema hall? With the availability of dish channels, smartphones, and the internet, people no longer go to the cinema hall to watch movies. Moreover, due to the lack of quality movies, bad quality of screens, and the atmosphere of the hall as per the demand of the audience, the cinema audience has turned away from the hall. As a result, the cinema halls are closing one by one, there is a recession in this business.
The same is the case with cinema halls in Sylhet city. Of the nine cinema halls in Sylhet, only two survive now. The remaining 7 halls are closed. The two functioning cinema halls are also not in good overall condition.
It is known that a few years ago, movies were regularly shown in these nine cinema halls - Nandita, Dilshad, Abakash, Lalkuthi, Rangmahal, Monika, Kakali, BGB and Jalalabad Sainik in Sylhet. These halls used to be busy with the audience. But now that image is gone. The two that have somehow survived lack audiences. There is no nice atmosphere to watch movies in the cinema hall.
One of the two halls functioning in Sylhet is BGB Auditorium in the Akhalia area, the other is Nandita in Taltala. Out of the seven closed cinemas 'Obokash and Rangmahal', two have been demolished. Multi-storied buildings and markets have been established there. Among the other four that have closed down, a 'sale notice' hangs at the Dilshad cinema hall in Taltala. Apart from this, Lalkuthi, Monika, and Kakali, Jalalabad cinema halls are also closed.
Due to the lack of quality movies, bad screen quality, and the atmosphere of the halls as per the demand of the audience, the concerned parties fear that the doors of the remaining two which are open will also be closed someday.
Going to the surface, it can be seen that their business is going on somehow with the seat of the old period. audience service has not increased yet. The audience has to enjoy the entertainment by fighting with mosquitoes and cockroaches while the film is playing.
But movie lovers are seeing hope in all this. Many people think that the newly opened 'Grand Sylhet Cineplex' on Airport Road will attract visitors.
Sujan Mahmud, a Leading University student, came to watch the film at Nandita Cinema Hall in Taltala, and said, "Nobody wants to watch a movie unless it is good." And reluctance has come to Bengali cinema to watch English movies. Many people want to watch good movies. Good movies doesn't come for a long time.
Bithi, a student of SUST, said that our generation has turned away from Bengali cinema due to a lack of quality movies. But some good movies are coming. Bengali cinema will slowly regain its lost tradition - this is the hope.
Another person who came to the hall said - how can I come to see the movie? The condition inside the hall is very bad. The seats are not good. The screen is blurry. There is a stench inside the hall. In the meantime, if you go to watch a movie, you get disorientated by mosquito bites.
Subal Das, an operator of Nandita cinema hall, said that if the film is good, there will be audience. But not like before. It is good in bad. He said most cinema halls have closed down as business is not good. But lately, some good movies are coming, they are attracting an audience. If good movie came to the market hall business that can be strong again. At the same time, the quality of the hall will also be better, this official thinks.
Shawon Das Roy, Manager of BGB Auditorium in the Akhalia area, said that the cinema hall was closed for almost two years due to Corona. This days people are watching more Hindi and South Indian movies as there are no good movies of them. He said that the hall is being redecorated to attract people.
Director of District Information Office Ujjal Sheel said about the plight of cinema halls, once it was a culture to watch movies with the whole family. But now that scene is no longer seen. If a good movie is made, people will go to watch the movie again.
He said - now and then good movies are being made. It is expected that slowly people will turn towards the hall again.
Ujjal Sheel also said that the government is giving loans at low cost for building advanced cinema halls. An entrepreneur can take this advantage if he wants. Bengali cinema has a rich tradition. Hopefully, it will come back one day as a result of the timely thinking and efficiency of those concerned.