The Nostalgic Era of Bangladesh's Supernatural Drama 'Bishaash'

Recalling the memories of the 2010s brings a wave of nostalgia for many of us. Names like Tisha, Joya Ahsan, and the music of Arifin Rumi, Nancy, Habib, and Balam evoke a time when life was different. Homes were yet to have LED TVs, and smartphones were still a new phenomenon for most Bangladeshis. The typical middle-class household relied on small, 2nd-generation mobile phones, mostly Nokia handsets. Daily companions were the radio and a set of wired earphones, while social media was still unfamiliar to the majority.

Evenings of load-shedding were not seen as inconveniences but as opportunities for families to gossip and hang out with neighbours. The youngest people of that era, who fondly remember these times, are now adults, occasionally reminiscing about those days.

Then there was the popular English-learning program 'BBC Janala Mojay Mojay Shekhay,' which aired in 2009. It was a fun family watch, and following its success, the production company introduced a unique and widely loved drama, 'Bishaash(2010-2011).' This 24-episode series sparked excitement among youngsters, and many still vividly remember every episode.

"Oh, those days were so silly! Abir Zaman completely enthralled me. Back then, he remained my celebrity crush for quite some time," reminisced Rubaiyat Jahan Bithi, a freelancer who fondly recalled her teenage years. The song from Mila Islam and Sayed Babu, who portrayed Abir Zaman, one of the central characters of the drama, captivated much of her attention.

"As far as I can remember, the drama was quite different from other Bangladeshi shows. It was well-detailed and didn't feel confined to the typical single-storied building where most TV dramas were shot," said Selina Akhtar Juthi, a psychology student at a national university, as she reflected on her joyful memories of watching the show.

Produced at a time when the internet was still relatively new in Bangladesh, and the popularity of TV dramas had not yet waned, 'Bishaash' quickly garnered significant attention from the youth of that era. The romance between Abir and Zara was a significant draw for many viewers.

'Bishaash', as a drama for the first time, give its viewers a newer cinematic tone to the thriller genre outside of the silver screen. People who had been enjoying thrillers in books got something new. Ashfaqur Rahman, a Malaysian immigrant who was a student back then, expressed similar feelings regarding the drama.

He said, "Apart from detective and thriller books, there weren't many Bangla series in that genre. I've always been fond of such stories since childhood, so I was thrilled to see a show like this with Bangladeshi actors."

While 'Bishaash' might seem like a classic drama with a unique storyline, it was more than just entertainment. It was the first supernatural drama series in Bangladesh, blending elements of mystery, action, and the supernatural, and it was also an initiative aimed at teaching English and conversation skills to underprivileged people.

The drama was a collaborative project between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, produced by the BBC World Service Trust and funded by the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID). As a result, its audience extended beyond Bangladesh to include viewers in the UK.

The story begins with Zara Rahman (played by Shama Rahman) arriving in Bangladesh from London. She joins a meticulous team consisting of Abir (played by Sayed Babu), Laboni (played by Arabi Rahman), and Ferdous Chacha (played by Rahmat Ali), who are preserving an old antique shop passed down through their ancestors. Zara, as it turns out, has a deep connection to the shop and is, in fact, its rightful co-heiress, just like Abir Zaman.

Together, the four of them embark on an expedition, and each 25-minute episode is filled with suspense, thrill, and unpredictability, making it especially beloved by the younger audience. The show featured various locations across Bangladesh and London, offering a rich visual experience to its viewers.

Zaima Alam Shanta, a housewife and mother of two, shared, "The show had many English conversations and subtitles, which significantly helped improve my English-speaking skills, as I wasn't able to continue my studies after the intermediate level."

Even 14 years after the show's airing, people continue to express interest and nostalgia, asking for more similar shows. The demand for suspenseful, thrilling detective dramas remains high, but unfortunately, there seems to be no sign of supply on the horizon.