Actress Afsana Mimi has been quite popular among the small screen audience for over a decade. A few years back, she turned her hand to direction. Mega-serials directed by Mimi have earned immense popularity. In their ranks is “Doll's House.” The serial currently being aired on ATN Bangla is targeting for 500 episodes.
“I emerged as a director with the mega-serial “Bandhan” (2001), which is considered a turning point in Bangladeshi TV serials,” says Mimi.
Quality control of drama serials, she believes, is an urgent need. In her words, “Due to the absence of strict policies on this front, talented directors often get sidelined. Somehow or the other, many inept makers make hay at prime time, much to the chagrin of the viewers.”
Ekushey TV, she points out, is an exception in this regard. As she says, “When Ekushey came up, it spurred younger directors such as Giasuddin Selim, Mostafa Sarwar Farooki and myself to generate new ideas which captured the imagination of the audience. But this is not the case with most TV channels. However, since the job is challenging, only the fittest can survive.”
Problems she has faced while making mega-serials? Mimi's response: “Budgetary constraints are the biggest stumbling block. Moreover, the surfeit of news and commercials compel viewers to surf channels. Subsequently, viewers lose interest. I also feel that we have a shortfall of capable artistes, especially playwrights. However, I have never had to cope with such problems since my friend, actor-director Azad Abul Kalam has always handled that aspect carefully.”
The conversation goes on to the mushrooming of satellite channels. “I think there should be either news or entertainment-based channels. At prime time, all channels air news hourly, compelling the viewers to switch to foreign channels,” she says.
As for the long term, Mimi believes that the TV channels and production houses should work jointly to form a film institute in Bangladesh. “We need many actors, playwrights, directors and technical crew to boost the burgeoning package drama industry in our country by encouraging new talent,” she concludes.
