Literature, music and plays from Bangladesh have always mesmerized audiences in West Bengal. But the cultural thread that unites the two 'Banglas' was never retied when it came to cinema. No Indian film has been commercially released in that country since the 1965 Indo-Pak war.

But all that is set to change with a joint cultural platform - Friends of Bangladesh - receiving a nod from the ministries of both countries to go ahead with an exchange programme for films in October. Six Bengali films from India and as many from Bangladesh will be released on either side of the border next month, reports Times of India.

While Indian audiences will get to watch celebrated Bangladeshi films like 'Guerrilla', 'Chorabali' and 'Television', Bengali films from India like 'Parichay', 'Shunyo Anko' and 'Goynar Baksho' will be simultaneously screened across Dhaka, Chittagong and Barishal. This will be a major step towards reviving the film industries in both countries that have been severely challenged by a shrinking market, said Nasiruddin Yousuff, veteran filmmaker from Bangladesh.

On Sunday, Yousuff and director Goutam Ghose, who is also the president of Friends of Bangladesh in Kolkata, chalked out a plan for the exchange programme. "It has been decided that a package of six films each from India and Bangladesh will be released in the two countries. Along with new films from this side of the border, old classics like 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' will also be included. The idea is to let audiences in both countries watch these films at a theatre. It will help create a larger market for films from both countries. At present, Bengali films made in the two countries have a restricted audience, thanks to piracy, Hindi films and a sharp deterioration in the condition of cinema halls," said Yousuff.

Ghose, whose film 'Moner Manush' was simultaneously released in Bangladesh, said there was no reason why audiences in Bengal and Bangladesh should be deprived of the chance to watch films made in their own language and which reflect their culture. "There was never any embargo in either country. But none took the initiative to get films released across the border. We approached the cultural ministries in Delhi and Dhaka and they approved it. It's absolutely essential for both countries to have a bigger market. It will not only let audiences watch good films, but also help producers and distributors to make films profitably," argued Ghose, who had launched an initiative to get Bengali films from West Bengal released in Bangladesh with actor Prosenjit Chatterjee.

The exchange programme will continue, with the eventual goal being the release of every Bengali film simultaneously in both countries. "To begin with, we will stick to films that reflect the Bengali sensibility and cultural milieu. Mainstream cinema will not be included since they are already watched on pirated DVDs," said Yousuff.

There is a tremendous following of cinema from Kolkata in Bangladesh, he said. "Unfortunately, they can only be seen at festivals. The same holds for Bangladeshi films in India. While there has never been any restriction on literature, music or theatre, it's unfair to have a ban on films," he said.

Films could pave the way for greater cooperation between the neighbours, felt Ghose. Friends of Bangladesh has been trying to mend fences with the people of Bangladesh ever since the collapse of Teesta water agreement led to ill-feeling across the border, he said. "There was suspicion and disappointment about India. As a bigger nation, we have the responsibility of extending a hand of friendship. It can be done at a cultural level through trade, commerce and sports. This is exactly what we are trying to achieve," said Ghose.