The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has issued a legal notice to the government and also to the Film Certification Board about the release of Hindi films in the country.
Shahrukh Khan’s ‘Pathaan’ became the first Hindi film to be released in Bangladesh in decades and it broke many box office records. But now, films will not be released in their original language. And all movies will have to be dubbed in Bengali.
The notice mentions that this rule should be implemented within three days otherwise legal proceedings will go on.
As per the notice, the Hindi films pose a cultural threat to the sovereignty of Bangladesh and to balance the cultural and linguistic impact that these films are having on the citizens, this step seems necessary. There are chances of having much controversy regarding this soon but as for now, the movies will have to be dubbed.
While there are many fans of Hindi cinema in the country, there is little possibility that people will like to watch those films in Hindi over Bengali. But it is also true that only films cannot do much to distort the linguistic sensibility and Identity that Bangladeshis are famous for.
How this law will affect the Hindi film industry and it’s business is not known yet.