BTV classic ‘Ei Shob Din Ratri’ back again

Television channels industries across the world are battling to renew their scripted productions as the world has been grappling with the ongoing pandemic.

It has, however, now appears to be a blessing in disguise for many Bangladeshi viewers as Bangladesh Television (BTV) has decided to re-air popular dramas that had dominated the industry throughout the 80’s.

The TV series aired in 1980 and 1990’s are mostly praised for their articulate Bangla, dress sense and overall presentation. Many viewers still craved for those TV series. The shutdown due to the coronavirus has brought the opportunity to tune up the channel for the classics both for old and new generations.

Earlier, the government TV channel started airing ‘Kothao Keu Nei’ and ‘Bohubrihi’ by prominent Bangladeshi author Humayun Ahmed. The two timeless dramas have already created a buzz in the social media among the new-generation viewers. BTV is set to air another classic ‘Ei Shob Din Ratri’ that used to be telecast on the channel back in 1985.

BTV director general for Dhaka centre has confirmed to Prothom Alo correspondent Masum Ali about re-airing ‘Ei Sob Din Ratri’ from Tuesday night. The drama, directed by Mostafizur Rahman, consists of the country’s most seasoned actors Dolly Zohur, Bulbul Ahmed, Dilara Zaman, Abul Khayer, Nayar Sultana, Lutfun Nahar Lata and so on.

The drama portrayed a middle-class family back in mid 80’s struggling to save one of the youngest members suffering from leukemia. A number of viewers back in 1985 wrote to playwright Humayun Ahmed to keep the sweet ‘Tuni’ alive.

Dolly Zohur, one of the key characters in the drama, became enormously popular through her role as ‘Neelu Bhabi’ both in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.

The actress while talking to Prothom Alo once, said, she was traveling to Kolkata after the drama was aired when a man greeted her recognising as ‘Neelu Bhabi’.

The actress said, “I was pregnant with my son during the shooting of the drama. I still can recall the time. I shot for it during the first six months of my pregnancy.”

Until the late 1990s there was one TV channel in Bangladesh, BTV, which created quite a number of TV shows appealed across generations, from children to grandparents. Those serials, namely ‘Kothao Keu Nei’, ‘Songsaptak’, ‘Ei Shob Din Ratri’, ‘Bohubrihi’ and so on had once-in-a-generation phenomenon that ruled over the industry in terms of pulling audiences and advertisement both.

These nostalgic shows may not eradicate the fear and loneliness entirely from our minds amid the crisis, but hopefully provide us with sense of personal history and meaning of life. After all, the show must go on, no matter what!