Directors such as Fateh Lohani, Zahir Raihan, Alamgir Kabir, Khan Ataur Rahman, Subhash Dutta, Ehtesham, Chashi Nazrul Islam, Kazi Hayat, Sheikh Niamat Ali, Tauquir Ahmed, Tanvir Mokammel, Tareque Masud, Morshedul Islam, Humayun Ahmed, Kamar Ahmad Simon, Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, Rezwan Shahriar Sumit, Abdullah Mohammad Saad Himel Ashraf, Raihan Rafi, and others have made significant contributions to Bangladeshi mainstream cinema, parallel cinema, and art films.

[8]: pages 1, 3 After the partition of India in 1947, there were efforts to turn Dhaka into East Bengal's cultural center, with various individuals like Abbasuddin Ahmed creating short-lived film production companies in the city.

[citation needed] Two years after the creation of the Bengali Language Movement in 1952, the film-making company Co-operative Film Makers, Ltd. was formed in Dhaka under the leadership of Shohidul Alam, Abdul Jabbar Khan, and Kazi Nuruzzaman.

The first full-length feature film with sound made in East Pakistan was The Face and the Mask,[7] which was directed by Abdul Jabbar Khan and released on 3 August 1956.

Notable films from these directors include Matir Pahar (The Clay Hill) (1959) by Mohiuddin and E Desh Tomar Amar (1959) by Ehtesham.

In addition to directing, Lohani also acted in a number of East Bengali films throughout the 1960s, including Tanha (1964), Agun Niye Khela (1967) and Julekha (1967).

Other notable directors of the 1960s include Salahuddin, who made a number of social drama films like Je Nodi Morupothe (1961), and Khan Ataur Rahman, who directed Nawab Sirajuddaula (1967).

Jibon Theke Neya, a political satire based on the Bengali Language Movement under the rule of Pakistan, is considered a classic of Bangladeshi cinema.

[citation needed] Some notable actors from the 1960s include Rahman, Sumita Devi, Khan Ataur Rahman, Rawshan Jamil, Anwar Hossain, Anwara Begum, Golam Mustafa, Abdur Razzak, Kabori Sarwar, Shabana, Farida Akhter Bobita, Farooque, Shabnam, Shawkat Akbar, Rosy Samad, Baby Zaman, and Kohinoor Akhter Shuchanda.

The most well-known Bangladeshi actor to date had been Abdur Razzak, who was deemed the Nayok Raaj Rajjak (King of Heroes) by his fans.

A total of 41 films were released in 1970, including Shorolipi by Nazrul Islam, Taka Ana Paay and the Jibon Theke Neya by Zahir Raihan.

[16] Other significant works of 1970 were Mishor Kumari of Karigir, Tansen of Rafiqul Bari, Bindu Theke Britto of Rebeka, Binimoy of Subhash Dutta, Kothay Jeno Dekhechi of Nizamul Hoque.

Some notable social drama films include Nacher Putul by Ashok Ghosh, Sritituku Thak by Alamgir Kumkum, and Shukh Dukkho by Khan Ataur Rahman.

Following the outbreak of the Bangladesh Liberation War, Raihan made the documentary Stop Genocide to draw attention to the plight of the people of East Bengal.

Other filmmakers who made critically acclaimed war films in the 1970s include Alamgir Kabir, Chashi Nazrul Islam, and Subhash Dutta.

[20][21] His films include Dhire Bohe Meghna (1973), Shurjo Konya (1976), Shimana Periye (1977), Rupali Shoykte (1979), Mohona (1982), Porinita (1984) and Mohanayok (1985).

After independence, one of the first international acclaimed film was A River Called Titas released in 1973, directed by prominent Indian Bengali director Ritwik Ghatak and starring Prabir Mitra in the lead role.

[23] Some other notable films of 1970s include Joy Bangla (1972) of Fakrul Alom; Lalon Fokir (1972) of Syed Hasan Imam; Obhuj Mon (1972) of Kazi Jhohir; Shongram (1974) by Chashi Nazrul Islam, Arunodoyer Agnishakkhi (1972), Bashundhara (1977) by Subhash Dutta; Alor Michil (1974), Lathial (1975) by Narayan Ghosh Mita; Megher Onek Rong (1976) by Harunur Rashid; Golapi Ekhon Traine (1978) by Amjad Hossain; Sareng Bou (1978) by Abdullah al Mamun; Oshikkhito (1978) by Azizur Rahman; The Father (1979) by Kazi Hayat, and Surjo Dighal Bari (1979) by Sheikh Niamat Ali and Moshiuddin Shaker.

At this time, a lot of actors and actresses enjoyed popularity, including Abdur Razzak who was the most successful actor commercially during this period, as well as Kabori Sarwar, Shabana, Farida Akhter Bobita, Farooque, Shabnam, Kohinoor Akhter Shuchanda, Alamgir, Sohel Raana, Amol Bose, Bulbul Ahmed, Zafar Iqbal, Wasim, Ilias Kanchan, Jashim, Rozina, Parveen Sultana Diti, Champa and others.

Some notable original and adapted films include Chhutir Ghonta (1980) by Azizur Rahman; Emiler Goenda Bahini (1980) by Badal Rahman; Shokhi Tumi Kar (1980), Akhoni Shomoy (1980) by Abdullah Al Mamun; Lal Shobujer Pala (1980), Obichar (1985) by Syed Hasan Imam; Koshai (1980), Jonmo Theke Jolchi (1981), Bhat De (1984) by Amjad Hossain; Devdas (1982), Chandranath (1984), Shuvoda (1987) by Chashi Nazrul Islam; Smriti Tumi Bedona (1980) by Dilip Shom; Mohona (1982), Porinita (1986) by Alamgir Kabir; Boro Bhalo Lok Chhilo (1982) by Mohammad Mohiuddin; Puroshkar (1983) by C.B Zaman; Maan Shomman (1983) by A.J Mintu; Nazma (1983), Shokal-Shondha (1984), Fulshojja (1986) by Subhash Dutta; Rajbari (1984) by Kazi Hayat; Grihilokkhi (1984) by Kamal Ahmed; Dahan (1986) by Sheikh Niamat Ali; Shot Bhai (1985) by Abdur Razzak; Ramer Shumoti (1985) by Shahidul Amin; Rajlokkhi-Srikanto (1986) by Bulbul Ahmed; Harano Shur (1987) by Narayan Ghosh Mita; Dayi Ke (1987) by Aftab Khan Tulu; Tolpar (1988) by Kabir Anowar and Biraj Bou (1988) by Mohiuddin Faruk.

Intellectual Directors such as Tanvir Mokammel, Tareque Masud, Morshedul Islam, Humayun Ahmed, Nasiruddin Yousuff, Akhtaruzzaman and Mustafizur Rahman made some critically and internationally acclaimed films at that time.

[26][27] His untimely death at the height of his fame in 1996, is noted to be a tragic event for the nation which evoked unanimous public reactions of grief and brought the film industry to a standstill.

[28] Some other successful male actors during this time were Alamgir, Jashim, Ilias Kanchan, Nayeem, Manna, Riaz, Ferdous Ahmed and Omar Sani.

Some notable films from this decade include Padma Nadir Majhi by Indian director Goutam Ghose, Padma Meghna Jamuna by Chashi Nazrul Islam, Pita Mata Sontan and Banglar Bodhu by A. J. Mintu, Aguner Poroshmoni and Srabon Megher Din by Humayun Ahmed, Desh Premik by Kazi Hayat, Anya Jibon by Sheikh Niamat Ali, Poka Makorer Ghor Bosoti by Akhtaruzzaman, Dukhai by Morshedul Islam, Hothat Brishti by Indian director Basu Chatterjee and Chitra Nodir Pare by Tanvir Mokammel.

In the late 90s, Sohanur Rahman Sohan's Ananta Bhalobasha (1999) was the turning point of Bangladeshi cinema by introducing Shakib Khan, who is now one of the biggest superstars in the industry.

[31] Besides critically acclaimed films like Kittonkhola, Lalsalu, Hason Raja ,Matir Moyna, Bachelor, Joyjatra, Hajar Bachhor Dhore, Ghani and Chandragrohon were produced in this decade.

Some other good independent films of Bangladesh are: Ekattorer Jishu by Nasiruddin Yousuf Bachchu; Chaka (1993) and Dipu Number Two (1996) by Morshedul Islam; Nodir Naam Modhumoti (1996), Chitra Nodir Pare (1999), Lalshalu (2001), Lalon (2004) by Tanvir Mokammel; Muktir Gaan (1995) and Ontarjatra (2006) by Tareque Masud and Catherine Masud; and Swopnodanay (2007) by Golam Robbani Biplob.

Internationally acclaimed Bangladeshi films include Zahir Raihan's Stop Genocide (1971);[17][18] Ritwik Ghatak's A river called Titas (1973); Sheikh Niamat Ali and Moshiuddin Shaker's Surja Dighal Bari (1979); Tanvir Mokammel's Hooliya (1984), Nadir Naam Modhumati (1995) Quiet Flows the River Chitra (1999), Lalsalu (2001) and Lalon (2004); Morshedul Islam's Agami (1984), Chaka (1993), Dipu Number Two (1996), Dukhai (1997), Duratta (2004) and Amar Bondhu Rashed (2011); Tareque Masud's The Inner Strength (1989), Song of Freedom (1995),[34][35] Story of Freedom (1999) and The Clay Bird (2002); Humayun Ahmed's Aguner Poroshmoni (1994)[36][37] and Shyamol Chhaya (2004); Abu Sayeed's kittonkhola (2000), Shankhonad (2004), Rupantor (2008); Enamul Karim Nirjhar's Aha!

(2007); Golam Rabbany Biplob's On the Wings of Dreams (2007); Mostofa Sarwar Farooki's Bachelor (2003), Third Person Singular Number (2009), Television (2013) and No Bed of Roses; Tauquir Ahmed's Joyjatra (2004) and Oggyatonama (2016); Rubaiyat Hossain's Meherjaan (2011) and Under Construction (2016); Kamar Ahmad Simon's Shunte Ki Pao!

(2012); Zahidur Rahim Anjan's Meghmallar (2014); Aung Rakhine's My Bicycle (2015); Bijon Imtiaz's Matir Projar Deshe-Kingdom of Clay Subjects (2016), Amitabh Reza Chowdhury's Aynabaji (2016) etc.