Films and Censor Board
Okay the title is as straight forward as it can be, but has anyone really checked out the website of the Censor Board of Bangladesh. To put it in a word, it's simply hilarious. Why ? - Look around, in fact the next time you see a commercial film poster in the streets of Bangladesh, take a moment and think...look closely at the poster...beyond the half naked WOMEN and the "over dramatic" heroes- what lies beneath you ask? - Everything and everything that needs to be CENSORED !!!
The website carries 12 specific RULES in regard to OBSENITY, and the last time I checked, all films (feature length) have to be approved by the Censor Board. Then, how come hundreds of films are getting released each year violating the very basis of existence of our Censor Board ? Honestly, I don't have an answer, and I expect none from anyone reading this - and frankly I could care less, but I, being a student studying abroad, feel ashamed every time someone googles or youtubes "Bangladeshi Cinema" and even before you can hit ENTER the automated search engine brings up titles containing obscenity in all forms and sizes. Do I have an answer for my foreign friends when they ask me, why? Did I ever ? - No ! because if the ENGINE IS DEAD then it does not matter IF YOU CAN DRIVE A CAR OR NOT !!!
I do agree to spending boring long hours on the internet watching trailers of numerous Bangladeshi films (among many other things), where a few amazed me - MOST made me cry in laughter. Who do I blame for making me laugh ? After all laughter is the best medicine, right? So "All's well that ends well"? again NO. Because I will cry in regret any day of the week than laugh at something which deprives our talented and established filmmakers of making a name for themselves while degrading the Bangladeshi film industry.
I know it might not be my place. But IT IS my question. How do we go around solving this little puzzle called the Censor Board of Bangladesh? Among 15 crore Bangladeshis I, for one, am disgusted and I know there are thousands more like me. All in all, ARE WE THAT BLIND ? ARE WE THAT STUPID ? and ARE WE THAT IGNORANT ? The ball is in your court now - think fast and decide which shot to play, or you might just miss the chance.
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