Bangladesh
Shah Rukh Khan, the undisputed king of Bollywood, has once again proven his star power as his latest movie takes Bangladesh by storm. The film, which has been received with great enthusiasm by audiences across the country, is breaking records and redefining the box office success of Bollywood films in Bangladesh. With its captivating storyline, stellar performances, and Shah Rukh Khan’s magnetic presence, this movie is truly a game-changer in the Bangladeshi film industry.
According to twitter account, Current Breaking News Online@CBNews_online Pathaan has done 4 Crore in 15 days.
After several decades without the screening of Bollywood movies in Bangladeshi cineplexes, history was made on May 12 when the Bollywood film “Pathaan,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, hit the big screens in Bangladesh. This marked the first Indian film to be officially released in theaters across the country in over five decades. Unlike Hollywood films that were limited to a select few cineplexes catering to high-end audiences, “Pathaan” was simultaneously released in 40 theaters, allowing middle and lower-middle-class audiences to enjoy the movie-going experience.
The decision to reintroduce Bollywood films in Bangladesh came after a consortium of 19 Bangladeshi film associations lobbied for the return of Hindi-language movies. They proposed the release of 10 films per year, leading to the authorities granting permission for the screening of “Pathaan.” The ban on Bollywood films was implemented in 1971 when Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan, extending the existing ban on Indian films during the period when Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani films were also prohibited in Bangladesh after independence.
During this period, although Bangladeshi audiences were unable to watch Bollywood blockbusters in movie theaters, pirated copies of these films were widely available. People would watch them through VCR cassettes, DVDs, and later via online platforms and cable channels. Local cable operators, through their syndicates, continued to distribute pirated copies of Bollywood films despite the official ban.