Bangladesh's "Bangla cinema" is a diverse and vibrant film industry, encompassing the dominant Dhaka-based Dhollywood and significant regional cinemas that preserve local linguistic and cultural heritage. Its cinematic journey began in 1898 with the first film release by the Bradford Bioscope Company, leading to the production of the first Bengali short film, Sukumari, in 1928, and the full-length The Last Kiss in 1931. Following the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan, Dhaka emerged as the industry's heart, notably producing the first Bengali-language feature film, Mukh O Mukhosh, in 1956.
Characterized by a melodramatic style that developed from 1947 to 1990, the industry flourished through the 1970s and 1990s. Numerous acclaimed directors have since contributed to its mainstream, parallel, and art films, with some achieving global recognition.