Top: A scene from “Choita Pagol”. Bottom: A scene from “Jhulonto Babura”.

With the increasing number of TV channels, the number of TV plays is also on the increase. Although plays on urban and rural issues, comedy, mystery and more are all being aired, directors are getting more and more inclined towards rural backdrops for their stories.
“Rong-er Manush” was a milestone in Bangladeshi TV serials with rural background. At a time when people were rejecting the typical urban storylines, “Rong-er Manush” came like a breath of fresh village air, proving that the simple lives of rural folks can be very entertaining as well.
The director behind “Rong-er Manush”, Salauddin Lavlu, said that he grew up in the villages and since he knows that life, that familiarity made the serial believable.
The success of “Rong-er Manush” motivated a lot of other directors to move towards this genre of dramas, with Salauddin Lavlu carrying on with the theme in “Sakin Sharishuri”, “Bhober Haat” and “Ghor Kutum”. Apart from TV serials, the tele-films that Lavlu made on the theme, notably “Goru Chor” and “Dhol-er Baddi”, were also well received. One of Lavlu's current hits, “Harkipta”, is being aired on Banglavision.
Meanwhile, Brindabon Das came to the limelight for writing the scripts of these rural themed serials and plays. Although he is one of the topmost scriptwriters at the moment, he has never written plays on urban life or issues. Brindabon said that he was raised in a village, and feels at home writing scripts in line with it. Masum Reza is another writer who drew quite a bit of attention with his village-based stories.
One much-talked about TV serial, “Choita Pagol”, was directed by actor Mahfuz Ahmed. On the serial's popularity, Mahfuz said that the simplicity of the village life generated interest in the audience.
Another popular and successful TV drama set against a rural backdrop was “Nurul Huda Ekoda Bhalobeshechhilo” -- directed by Aronyo Anwar. He went on to make similar dramas like “Otohpor Nurul Huda”, “Amader Nurul Huda”, “Kanon-e Kushum Koli”, “Ghora'r Dim” and “Kobiraj Golap Shah”, the last one of the list being aired currently. Aronyo said that if the stories of village dwellers can be presented well, the audience takes it well.
Belal Ahmed's drama serial “Tariq Ali Hadari”, with eminent actor ATM Shamsuzzaman playing the lead character, was another TV show that gained huge popularity.
Syed Shakil has been making dramas on rural lives for quite a few years now. One of his biggest recent hits on TV was “Rongila Bao”, after which he directed “Hawai Mithai”. His drama “Bagha Sher” is being aired on Gazi TV right now.
Serials depicting rural lives on Rtv are: “Oloshpur” directed by Al-Hazen, and “Boyra Poribar”.
Maasranga TV is airing “Saat Sawdagor” currently, written by Masum Reza and directed by Syed Awlad. Writer Masum Reza usually sends the scripts in from England, where he resides at the moment.
Other channels are not far behind, with ATN Bangla broadcasting “Jhulonto Babura”, directed by Kabir Babu and Boishakhi TV is airing “Batpar”.
Some of the other top favourite TV serials set in villages are: Rulin Rahman's “Moyur Bahon”, “Utshob”; Badrul Anad Saud's “Gohiney”; Afsana Mimi's “Poush Phaguner Pala”; Zahid Hasan's “Ghughu'r Basha”l Debashish Barua Dwip's “Byasto Doctor”; Abul Hayat's “Pingol Akash”; Saiful Islam Mannu's “Hoihoi Roiroi”; Saidul Anam Tutul's “Alok Nagar”; Suman Anwar's “Shobuj Graam'e Neel Dish Antenna”; Ayan Bishwas' “Jao Pakhi”; and Mustafa Kamal Raj's “Mike”.