Television was one of the main means of entertainment in the decades prior to the 2010s. In the 1990s there was only BTV in the country, and the channel aired various programs and dramas specially for Eid. And these programs and dramas were made with sufficient budgets because people all over the country would enjoy them over the holidays. Back then, just as the viewers were focused on television, television producers also thought primarily about the viewers.
But the heydays of television have very clearly faded. Clearly, today no one keeps track of which dramas will be aired on TV on Eid. Back then, from the time the promos were broadcast, many people would write down when and which dramas would be shown. Newspapers would bring out dedicated supplementary issues about these shows, and after the dramas were broadcast, there would be a thorough analysis of them.
The situation began to change with the increase in the number of private TV channels. As the number of dramas increased, the quality of the programming took a noticeable dive. As an alternative, many directors chose online platforms such as YouTube. Through YouTube, viewers can directly express their opinions by writing comments, while viewership can also be analyzed more comprehensively through views and other engagement metrics.
Although new opportunities were created through over the top (OTT) platforms, none of them could play a role in improving the quality of dramas in the same way. The technical aspect of dramas in Bangladesh has advanced a lot compared to before. For example, dramas are shot using state-of-the-art cameras and other equipment -- due to technology, there has been great improvement in shooting, editing, colour grading, etc as well.
Today no one keeps track of which dramas will be aired on TV on Eid. Back then, from the time the promos were broadcast, many people would write down when and which dramas would be shown
While presentation matters, it is clear that story-telling has taken a backseat. Earlier, one of the main drivers behind the popularity of dramas was story. Due to this shift in focus, the quality of dramas has dropped quite noticeably. Even though there is advancement in production values, there is a shortage of good stories on the small screen.
To improve the quality of Bangladeshi dramas, we have to seek out fresh and unique stories. There is a constant shortage of professional screenwriters here. But there is no urge to create new writers or screenwriters -- a good story needs time investment, after all. A good story is one of the major components of making a good drama. Thinking of a good story and creating a screenplay from it is time-consuming. If you rush or don't have proper preparation, the structure of the story breaks down or becomes weak.
The modern audience can easily catch the flaws in the story, and, ultimately, it is a good story that will impress the audience over flashy effects or even impressive cinematography. May the good old days of dramas prioritizing stories over production values return.
Fahim Ibne Sarwar is a Writer and Film Critic. He is also the Founder and Editor of bhalochobi.com.