Sarker Protick goes behind the scenes of a Dhallywood film.

The film industry in Bangladesh has existed since 1956. Bangladesh cinema is filled with noble heroes, epic danger and ludicrous levels of glitz and glamour. Popularly known as the Dhallywood, this film industry churns out around 100 films a year and enjoys the support of many moviegoers.

In the process of making photographs of Dhaka, Sarker Protick visited the Bangladesh Film Development Corporationa’s film studio. He was immediately taken by the colours and lights and the electric atmosphere. The happenings on the sets were close to bizarre, the costumes over-the-top, and the sets and effects were tacky and cheap. Protick says, “I found it full of life”, despite the minimal contact with real life.

Born in Dhaka, Sarker Protick discovered photography around the age of 24. After a bachelor’s degree, he enrolled at Pathshala South Asian Media Institute to learn photography. His photographs have been published in The New York Times, The British Journal of Photography, Wired and National Geographic amongst others. In 2014, he was named in British Journal of Photography’s annual list of “Ones to Watch”. He was also selected for the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass. In 2015, his story What Remains went on to win a World Press Photo award. Sarker Protick is represented by VII Photo Agency.

Love Me Or Kill Me is part of the exhibitions line-up for this edition of the Delhi Photo Festival opening October 30 at the IGNCA.