The fifth iteration for the industry’s biggest digital awards lands today
The spotlight is set, the stars are ready, and Bangladesh’s OTT industry is gearing up for a night of celebration. The fifth edition of the Blender’s Choice–The Daily Star OTT & Digital Content Awards takes place today, bringing together some of the biggest names and brightest talents in the industry.
Since its inception, the awards have recognised the creativity and achievements shaping Bangladesh’s rapidly evolving digital entertainment landscape. This year’s edition continues that tradition, with honours across 28 categories and two special awards, spanning Popular and Critics’ segments, music, content creators and a People’s Choice Award decided entirely through public voting.
Adding to the excitement, fan-favourite hosts Rafsan Shabab and Afsan Ara Bindu will return to the stage to entertain audiences throughout the evening. Rising stars Priyontee Urbee and Prantar Dastadir will take charge of the red carpet.
The evening also promises an exciting line-up of performances, including a dance performance by Alifia Squad and Sarika Sabah, alongside a special dance act featuring Sunerah Binte Kamal and Irfan Sajjad. For the first time, Mehazabien Chowdhury will take the stage as a performer at the Blender’s Choice–The Daily Star OTT & Digital Content Awards. The programme will also feature a musical performance by Emon Chowdhury’s band, Bengal Symphony.
With some of the best OTT productions of 2025 competing for recognition, the Popular categories feature several of the industry’s most familiar faces.
Competition is particularly strong in the Best Actor (Popular) category, where Afran Nisho, Mosharraf Karim, Nasir Uddin Khan, Mostafizur Noor Imran and Pritom Hasan are vying for the top honour. Several of these names also feature in the Best Actor (Critics) category, with Afran Nisho, Mosharraf Karim, Nasir Uddin Khan and Mostafizur Noor Imran joined by veteran actor Zahid Hasan.
The Best Actress categories are equally star-studded. Jaya Ahsan, Mehazabien Chowdhury, Tama Mirza, Tanjin Tisha and Rafiath Rashid Mithila are competing in the Best Actress (Popular) category. Meanwhile, the Critics’ segment features Jaya Ahsan, Mehazabien Chowdhury, Tama Mirza and Tanjin Tisha alongside Tanzika Amin.
Last year saw a diverse range of web series, from light-hearted stories that made audiences laugh to productions exploring mystery, suspense and horror. The Best Drama/Series (Popular) category reflects this variety, with Amitabh Reza Chowdhury’s “Bohemian Ghora”, Nuhash Humayun’s “Dui Shaw”, Syed Ahmed Shawki’s “Gulmohor”, Ashfaque Nipun’s “Jimmi” and Shihab Shaheen’s “Myself Allen Swapan 2” competing for the award.
The Best Film (Popular) category features Raihan Rafi’s “Amalnama”, Saraf Ahmed Zibon’s “Dimlight”, Jahid Preetom’s “Ghumpori”, Vicky Zahed’s “Neel Shukh” and Anonno Proteek Chowdhuri’s “Noya Note”.
Meanwhile, the Best Film, Drama, Series (Critics) category brings together “Dui Shaw”, “Gulmohor”, “Jimmi” and “Noya Note”, alongside Sukorno Sahed Dhiman’s “Feu”, making it another closely contested category.
Behind these productions are directors whose creative visions have shaped some of the year’s most talked-about OTT projects.
In the Best Director Film (Popular) category, Anonno Proteek Chowdhuri is nominated for “Noya Note”, Jahid Preetom for “Ghumpori”, Raihan Rafi for “Amalnama”, Shihab Shaheen for “Tomar Jonno Mon” and Vicky Zahed for “Neel Shukh”.
The Best Director Drama/Series (Popular) category features Amitabh Reza Chowdhury for “Bohemian Ghora”, Ashfaque Nipun for “Jimmi”, Nuhash Humayun for “Dui Shaw”, Shihab Shaheen for “Myself Allen Swapan 2” and Vicky Zahed for “AKA”.
The Critics’ category brings together another group of prominent filmmakers. In the Best Director Film, Drama, Series (Critics) category, Ashfaque Nipun is nominated for “Jimmi”, Nuhash Humayun for “Dui Shaw”, Raihan Rafi for “Amalnama”, Sukorno Sahed Dhiman for “Feu” and Syed Ahmed Shawki for “Gulmohor”.
What’s digital platform without music? The fourth edition of the Blender’s Choice–The Daily Star OTT & Digital Content Awards introduced the Best Music in Digital Platforms category, recognising the growing significance of music in the digital space. Continuing that recognition this year, Angel Noor is nominated for “Teel”, Ishaan Mozumder for “Gulbahar”, while Elita Karim and Pritom Hasan are recognised for “Bagan Bilash”.
Whether it is romance, action or a thriller, music often plays an important role in shaping an OTT production and its popularity. Interestingly, this year’s nominations also highlight the versatility of filmmakers, with some directors taking on the role of lyricists for their own projects.
In the Best Lyricist category, Jahid Preetom is nominated for “Premeri Jokhom” from “Ghumpori”, while Anonno Proteek Chowdhuri is recognised for “Amio Manush” from “Noya Note”. They are competing against Jahid Nirob, nominated for “Ghuri Ami” from “Dimlight”.
The Best Singer category also features a diverse line-up of artistes. Ankan Kumar Roy is nominated for “Ghuri Ami” from “Dimlight”, while Emon Chowdhury and Xefer Rahman are recognised for “Shundori Konnya” from “Tomar Jonno Mon”. Tanzir Tuhin is in the running for “Shurer Hahakar” from “Gulmohor”, while Mahtim Shakib and Shithi Saha have been nominated for “Premeri Jokhom” from “Ghumpori”. Tasfia Fatima Tashfee completes the category with “Khuji” from “Little Miss Chaos”.
The Best Music Composer category further highlights the musicians behind these OTT tracks. Emon Chowdhury is nominated for “Shundori Konnya” from “Tomar Jonno Mon”, Jahid Nirob for “Premeri Jokhom” from “Ghumpori” and Khayam Sanu Sandhi for “Shurer Hahakar” from “Gulmohor”. Naive Band is in the running for “Amio Manush” from “Noya Note”, while Pritom Hasan has been nominated for “Amra Koshai” from “Dui Shaw.”
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By the end of the evening, there will be winners, applause and perhaps a few surprises along the way. But beyond the trophies, tonight belongs to the stories that stayed with audiences long after the screens went dark, and to the creators who continue to demonstrate that Bangladesh’s OTT industry has many more stories to tell.
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