Entertainment Desk : dhakamirror.com
Indian action thriller film titled Pathaan, starring Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, would be released in cinemas in the country on May 12.
‘The film received permission from Bangladesh Film Censor Board on Thursday. We are looking forward to releasing the film in cinemas across Bangladesh on May 12,’ said filmmaker Anonno Mamun on behalf of Action Cut Entertainment, the importer of Pathaan.
‘We have imported Pathaan following all necessary procedures and paid duty and VAT for importing the film. We hope that the film will be screened in local cinemas until Eid-ul-Azha,’ added Anonno Mamun.
An official of information and broadcasting ministry, preferring anonymity, said that an import duty of $10,000 had been paid to import Pathaan to Bangladesh.
‘Pathaan has been imported to the country and Abdul Mannan-directed Panku Jamai, which stars Shakib Khan and Apu Biswas in lead roles, has been exported to India,’ he said.
Pathaan was theatrically released in India on January 25.
It was reported in the local media that Shahrukh Khan-starrer Indian spy film Pathaan might be released in Bangladesh on February 24. However, the film’s release was postponed as International Mother Language Day is observed in February.
Later, it was reported in Indian media that the film would hit cinemas in Bangladesh in March. However, it was not released in the country.
The government in April gave conditional permission to import films, shot in languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent, from South Asian Free Trade Area signatory countries—India, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
According to the conditions, Bangladeshi legitimate film producers and exhibitors will be able to import films shot in languages spoken in the Indian subcontinent from SAFTA signatory countries and the films can be imported with subtitles opposite exported local films for a tentative two-year period.
The circular said that 10 films could be imported and equal number of Bangladeshi films could be exported in the first year and the imported films would have to get clearance from Bangladesh Film Censor Board prior to release in local cinemas.
