JAYA & SHAKIB Hunt For Celluloid Chemistry

JAYA & SHAKIB Hunt For

 Celluloid Chemistry

Bangladeshis are movie lovers. For generations, watching movies on the big screen with the whole family became a part of our culture. Suddenly, something hit the industry like a boulder that killed part of our culture. We lost interest in local films. The halls became a safe-haven only for the low-income group audience. The industry began to be filled with businessmen who lacked the love for movies. This Eid, we watched Jaya Ahsan, a star of a different platform paired with proven celluloid megastar Shakib Khan. The pair looked promising on-screen. The movie felt like an experiment in a science lab where we will only know the outcome after several trials-and-errors.

By Zia Nazmul Islam

GOLDEN AGE OF ON-SCREEN COUPLES
To name only a few, Uttam-Shuchitra, Razzak-Kabori, Sohell Rana-Suchorita, Alamgir-Shabana, Salman-Shabnur were pairs who were not only sensuous on-screen with the right chemistry but they were much talked and rumoured about.. People gobbled-up each and every movie they starred in – magazines and newspapers were filled with their movie posters. The movies were entertaining with stories appealing to the mass. Producers like Kazi Zahir, Narayan Ghosh Mita, Zahir Raihna and many others created on-screen couples with movies made with entertaining stories. Some rumours were true and some were not. No matter what, on-screen couples were the secret ingredient of the film.
One of the attractions of Eid was to gather the whole family and watch movies at cinema halls. Cinema halls used to get filled women wearing colourful Eid dresses while the men hunting for tickets – ticket scalpers were the VIPs of the day. Those heydays of Bangla cinema owe much to the on-screen couples. The producers and directors relied on them, and the audience just loved them.
The reliance of a stable on-screen couple is seen even in Hollywood and the Indian film industry. In India, we see Raj Kapoor-Nargis, Dilip-Kumar-Madhubala, Waheeda-Dev Anand and in Hollywood, there’s Bogart-Bacall, Cary Grant-Sophia Loren, Rock Hudson-Doris Day, Gregory Peck-Audrey Hepburn and many more. These pairs were the souls of their industry.

FALL FROM GRACE
Cracks began to show during the mid-nineties in the Bangladeshi film industry. Salman Shah-Shabnur was probably the last on-screen couple who managed to capture the hearts of the mass audience. Then, came the hollowness where the industry lost almost all the talents. The legends began to retire, the figureheads began to turn their backs and audience succumbed to violent and vulgar storylines which attracted only a small working-class minority. Shabnur-Riaz and Ferdous-Moushumi tried their best but failed to carry on following the footsteps of previous successful couples. They stood there with a torch that diffused without any warning. After a long pause, the pair of Shakib Khan and Apu Biswas became a hope that had potential.
A NEW HOPE
This Eid four movies were released: Purnodoirgho Prem Kahini, Premik No 1, Full and Final and Ki Prem Dekhaili. People involved in these movies along with the audience are with mixed feelings. Out of the four, Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini created a buzz even before the movie was released. Jaya Ahsan, who was already a megastar with an international accreditation paired with the long-time reigning king of Bangla movies, Shakib Khan. Being a successful TV star with a few alternative films on her belt, Jaya had her own fan following. Jaya’s appearance as a commercial actress was a bold move, she ventured into an unchartered territory. On the other hand, it seemed Shakib Khan has been ruling the industry for ages. He became the ‘fail-safe’ hero for many producers and directors. He brings a huge fan following of his own. Bringing the two giants from two platforms together was an experiment that went well ­– so it seems so far. Now, it is time to watch how long and how far they can carry this hype of a ‘new on-screen couple in town’.
On large screen, they seemed like a perfect match. It felt, both the movie and the actors were made for each other. The on-screen chemistry doesn’t last too long unless the chemistry is there off-screen – a professional chemistry that is.
A FEW THOUGHTS
With the introduction of digital film it has become easier and cheaper to produce movies nowadays. Many new young talented filmmakers entering the industry are equipped with proper film knowledge and an aesthetic sense. These new film makers should not be confined only to alternative films. They must come forward and dive into commercial films. It must be realized that it is an industry and should run like one. No film industry can survive without commercial films. If the new ones don’t come forward it will again fall into darkness.
Besides the storyline, look, feel and sound of a movie should be given proper importance too. George Lucas said “I feel that sound is half the experience”. Digitization of film gives the audience a better impression of the film. This is high time that all involved in the industry exploit this new opportunity.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are few other pairs who are trying to perk up the industry. Bappi-Mahi and Shuvo-Mahi have potentials too. Both Shakib and Jaya are mammoth figures of their own field; there is no denying that the pair comes with the biggest hope in our hearts. Once or if they become an on-screen ‘item’, they may reignite the flame that we lost from our industry ages ago. Producers and directors will start believing in the talents that will help rejuvenate the industry. Businessmen with the love for movies will come back with their cash, knowing that their investment will return. The clogged wheel of our film industry will finally be rolling again.