OVER the last decade, popular TV actress Afsana Mimi reigned supreme on the small-screen. Nowadays, she has successfully emerged as the director of popular mega-serials such as Bandhan, Greeho Galpo and Share Tin Tola. Now she is directing a serial titled Kachher Manush. Of the 80 episodes of Kachher Manush, Amlan Biswas directed nine episodes. Mimi directs the remaining episodes.

Explaining her divergence into direction, Mimi says, “When I embarked on the production house business, I could not devote much time for acting. Then I began working with a panel of directors of the mega-serials. I found the job both challenging and exciting. Moreover, it does not clash with my production house business. That is why I direct TV serials. I emerged as a director of TV plays in the mega-serial Bandhan, in 2001,which is considered as the turning point of mega-serials in Bangladesh.” Any problems that she faced while making mega-serials? Says Mimi, “The budget is the main constraint. In fact, mega-serials have not yet taken proper shape. They should be aired as daily soaps. Moreover, the surfeit of news and commercials compel viewers to channel surf. As a result, viewers lose interest. I also feel that we have a shortfall of artistes, especially playwrights.”

Mimi is of the opinion that all the channels as well as the production houses should jointly work to form a film institute in Bangladesh. As she says, “We need many actors, playwrights, directors and technical crew. An institute will give a boost to the growing package drama industry in Bangladesh by encouraging new talent.”

According to Mimi, script writing is complex as it is totally based on imagination and a playwright does not get any technical support while writing the plays.

The conversation turns towards

upcoming satellite channels. As Mimi says, “Three more channels will launch programmes soon. However, I think the channels should be either news or entertainment-based. In the prime time, all the channels air news on an hourly basis and the viewers are compelled to switch to foreign channels.”

In the near future, Afsana Mimi hopes to direct single episode plays. She says, “The single episode play Off Beat, that I directed, has earned huge appreciation. I would like to make a few other single episode TV plays. In fact, I want to bring about a change while making mega-serials. Moreover, I wish to make a few other off beat TV programmes.”

Besides acting and directing TV plays, Mimi has also won plaudits as a model in commercials. Mimi has received the Meril-Prothom Alo best critic award- 2002 for her performance in the TV play House Wife. Moreover, she is the winner of the Anya Din Shirsho Dosh award.