Dhallywood actresses busy in TVCs, stage shows

Dhaka's film industry, Dhallywood, has been in doldrums for quite some time now.

The number of movies being released in the first quarter of 2018 (January-April) is almost half of that in the corresponding quarter of 2017.

Last year, 24 movies were released in that span of time, this year only 15 have been so far.  Movie production has dropped too.

This has hit the top actresses of the industry including Apu Biswas, Bidya Sinha Mim, Nusrat Faria and Pori Moni.

They have now fewer movies, some none at all. Some have movies from over a year ago.

There are hardly any new films in the pipeline. So the actresses now busy themselves with stage shows, inaugurating showrooms and TV commercials, both home and abroad.

'Inspector Notty K', starring Nusrat Faria, was released last February. She hasn't signed a new movie since then.

She said she was waiting for a good story, adding, "I could have signed several if I wanted, but I have to work carefully." She will be going to Kolkata on Sunday. She said, "I will come up with some good news very soon."

Faria recorded a song 'Pataka' and was the model in its music video. The song was criticised widely after its YouTube release on 26 April.

Another Dhallywood actress Apu Biswas is back after a six-month hiatus, after she appeared in a TVC. Two months ago, she signed two movies, 'Chandrabati' and 'Jaanbaz' in Tollywood. Filming is yet to start.

Apu said the filming will start after Eid. She is currently busy with stage shows, inaugurating showrooms inside the country and abroad.

Bidya Sinha Saha Mim has returned after shooting for 'Sultan' in Kolkata a month back. She has some work left for the songs of the movie 'Daag'. The shooting started two years ago. She has no new movie in hand at the moment. She said, "Offers are coming, but the stories are not good."

She has been performing on stage and doing ads. She did two stage shows last month in Canada. Another work on an ad will start this month.

Pori Moni's predicament is no different. A few of her movies that are from last year or earlier, are to be released. Shooting of two songs from the movie 'Bahaduri', is still to be done.

Her own production house's movie 'Khata' (The Wound) will start this month. But the filmmaker hinted that the shooting may not start at all.

Pori Moni is in Kolkata now, filming a TVC.