Over-the-top (OTT), being a relatively new medium of entertainment, earned immense acceptance from the audience within a short span of time.

To honour, celebrate and encourage the efforts and contributions of the artistes who have been relentlessly working both on and off-screen in Bangladesh's OTT and digital content industry, Blender's Choice-The Daily Star OTT and Digital Content Awards arranged its second iteration.

Nominations in 28 categories have been announced yesterday; Out of which, 14 are for Film/Drama/Story, four for Music, four Critics award and six for content creators.

In the highly anticipated Best Actor (Male) category, five leading actors of the industry have been nominated. They are—Afran Nisho (Kaiser and Redrum), Chanchal Chowdhury (Karagar), Mosharraf Karim (Tin Shoroter Golpo) and Ziaul Faruq Apurba (Mayashalik).

Similarly, in the Best Actor (Female) category, five prominent ladies from the OTT scene have secured nomination. These talented actresses are—Mehazabien Chowdhury (Sabrina and Redrum), Nazia Haque Orsha (Sabrina), Shobnom Bubly (Taan) and Tasnia Farin (Karagar).

In recent times, the perspective of darker roles has been changed as OTT offers the freedom to the directors to explore various plots. Thus, there has been a rise in antagonists in this arena. The nominees for the Best Actor (Negative Role) are—Afzal Hossain (Refugee), Imtiaz Barshon (Kaiser), Nasir Uddin Khan (Syndicate), Shohel Mondol (Taan) and Lutfur Rahman George (Kalo Projapoti).

As the OTT industry continues to dominate, it has successfully reshaped the conventional idea of supporting roles, assigning them equal significance in designing the overall narrative of a show. For the Supporting Actor (Male) category, we have—Afzal Hossain (Bodh), Intekhab Dinar (Karagar), Mostafizur Noor Imran (Kaiser), Manoj Kumar Pramanik (Redrum) and Shatabdi Wadud (Muntasir).

Read more

Full winners' list for Blender's Choice-The Daily Star Awards 2021

Meanwhile, the nominees for the Supporting Actor (Female) are—Farzana Chobi (Taan), Sallha Khanam Nadia (Redrum), Tania Brishty (Dui Diner Duniya), Tanvin Sweety (Dui Diner Duniya), and Tropa Majumdar (9 April).

The director of any production is the captain of the ship, who is entirely responsible to make the project the best of their efforts. There are two categories of directors which have been divided for series and film. The nominees for the Best Director (Series) are—Mohammad Touqir Islam (Shaaticup), Nuhash Humayun (Pett Kata Shaw), Syed Ahmed Shawki (Karagar), Shihab Shaheen (Syndicate), and Tanim Noor (Kaiser).

On the other hand, the Best Director (Film) nominations go to—Anam Biswas (Dui Diner Duniya), Raihan Rafi (Taan), Robiul Alam Robi (Café Desire), Sanjoy Somadder (Daag) and Vicky Zahed (Redrum).

Chorki and Hoichoi are the most prominent OTT platforms which have been dominating the film landscape since its inception. The Best Drama/Series nominations have been grabbed by Kaiser (Hoichoi), Karagar (Hoichoi), Pett Kata Shaw (Chorki), Shaaticup (Chorki), and Syndicate (Chorki).

Interestingly, the platform Binge has been producing quite a good number of productions, which have already gained appreciation from the audience. For the Best Film category, the nominations go to – Café Desire (Chorki), Dui Diner Duniya (Chorki), Mayashalik (Binge), Redrum (Chorki), and Taan (Chorki).

Nominees for the Best Makeup Artistes are—Atia Rahman (Karagar), Arobindhu Joydher Sumon (Sabrina), Khokon Mollah (Redrum), Rashid Al Rashid (Mayashalik), and Rubama Fairuzz (Pett Kata Shaw).

For the Best Editing category, the nominees are—Jobayer Abir Peal (Syndicate), Nuhash Humayun and Fuad Shourav (Pett Kata Shaw), Saleh Sobhan Auneem (Karagar and Shaaticup) and Simit Ray Antor (Taan).

OTT platforms have earned praises for their ability to narrate distinct stories and present a fresh perspective compared to other medium. The nominations for the Best Script Writer (Story) are—Ayman Asib Shadhin (Kaiser), Neamoth Ullah Masum (Karagar), Siddiq Ahamed and Raihan Rafi (Taan), Shihab Shaheen (Syndicate) and Vicky Zahed (Redrum).

Music has been a great part of these contents—be it the tracks used in the show, lyrics, or the background score. These elements definitely play a vital role for a project to enter into the audience's hearts.

The nomination for the Best Lyricist are the following—Anam Biswas (Teka Pakhi from Dui Diner Duniya), Asif Altaf (Lalit from Taan),Khayam Sanu Sandhi (Kotha Chilo from Syndicate), Pulak Aneel (Jibon Dilam from Taan), and Robiul Islam Jibon (Mitther Khoto from Tonoya).

In the Best Music Composer category, the nominees are—Arafatul Hasan Shanto (Ekla Pakhi from Muntasir), Emon Chowdhury (Teka Pakhi from Dui Diner Duniya), Jahid Nirob (Lalit and Jibon Dilam from Taan), and Khayam Sanu Sandhi (Kotha Chilo from Syndicate).

As for the Best Singer category, we have—Arko Mukhaerjee (Taan Poreni Aagey from Daag), Dilshad Nahar Kona and Imran Mahmudul (Ki Kori from Taan), Jahid Nirob (Lalit from Taan), Masha Islam (Teka Pakhi from Dui Diner Duniya), and Rehaan Rasul (Kotha Chilo from Syndicate).

For the Best Background Score, the contenders are—Avishek Bhattacharjee and Rakat Zami (Pette Kata Shaw), Jahid Nirob (Sabrina), Nabarun Bose (Shaaticup), Ruslan Rehman (Karagar) and Rasheed Sharif Shoaib (Kaiser).

Other than these categories dedicated for the OTT contents, Blender's Choice-The Daily Star OTT and Digital Content Awards 2022 will also recognise the content creators in six other categories.

Voting lines are open till September 14. One can vote for their favourite artistes and content creators to support them win.