OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms have revolutionized the service of watching TV with web content on the Internet. OTT offers users an alternative way to watch their favorite TV shows, movies, and other content. Nowadays, different local OTT platforms have become increasingly popular in Bangladesh. The emergence of new forms of Bengali serials following the trend of international web series is giving a power boost to the entertainment industry. In his legacy, the Bangla OTT platform Binge offers a wide range of available content. 

The popular playwright and director Vicky Zahed's first web series 'Silence' is going to be a more blazing example of this evolution. The web series stars a bunch of popular and talented actors from old to new generations. Let’s get updated about this thriller series which is waiting to be released on Binge screen in the upcoming February month.

Vicky Zahed: A Storyteller Who Plays with the Psychology of his Audience

The birth date of Vicky Zahed is August 29, 1990. He spent his entire childhood and adolescence in Dhaka. Although he studied textile engineering, he went straight to visual media after his studies from the Bangladesh University of Textiles. Taking this new career turn was not very pleasant. On the other hand, he had to fight a lot with himself and his family in addition to pursuing his career against the tide.

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After several works, 26-year-old Vicky Zahed finally got the limelight in 2016 for the short film 'Moments'. In line with its popularity, 'Maya', 'Doyal', 'Durbin', and 'Aaj Amar Pala' were released one by one. Through these works, he basically tried to understand his audience as well as taught himself.

With 'Dwitiyo Shuchona', 'Priyo Adnan', and 'Kaikobaad', he continued to redefine the thriller genre in Bangladesh. Each of his creations comes with fresh themes, concepts, and storylines which have entertained the fans of the Bangla thriller genre.

The drama 'Chirokal Aaj' and the web film series ‘Punorjonmo’ finally marked a long milestone in his career. Vicky became the focus of patronage for many prominent figures in the entertainment industry. Punorjonmo-3 became one of the most viewed videos on YouTube within just 12 hours of its release. Even those who did not know Vicky till then watched the film and went back to watch its first parts.

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Now, Vicky Zahed’s creations come first, when it comes to crime, thriller, supernatural, and suspense dramas or movies in Bangladesh. This is very obvious for him to be a devoted fan of Alfred Hitchcock, the father of the modern thriller genre in Hollywood. He candidly admits his interest in playing with the psychology of the audience. Even to critics, he is unabashed, straightforward, and spontaneous in his storytelling.

Every time he comes up with a script, he first thinks of a single keyword. The theme is then conceptualized around that word, and to widen it, he plunged himself into deep research. Based on the learned knowledge, the story begins to develop, which culminates in a complete script.

He is not willing to change his team members frequently. In fact, he claims, working with a dedicated team for a long time makes his content creation process much easier.

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Binge: Blend of TV and Digital Entertainment

This OTT platform, a service of Robi Axiata's subsidiary company Reddot Digital, started its journey in 2020. This subscription-based web app, developed by Genex Infosys Limited, an IT (information and technology) company, is now the country's largest digital entertainment platform.

Combining IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) and digital entertainment services into a single online streaming site has made Binge stand out. This app can be easily downloaded from Google Play Store.

This is the first Bangladeshi Google-certified online video streaming service that can be used on any Android device, including phones and televisions. Even without having a smart TV at home, customers can experience full HD quality using Binge's two-way device.

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The production team for Vicky Zahed's 'Silence' includes Binge's Ahmed Arman Siddiqui, Rizwana Rashid Ani, and Hasibul Hasan besides Rangs E-Mart and V-Creation.

Silence: A Potential Shout in the Thriller Genre

Since the beginning of creation, there has been a forged and inexhaustible attraction in the human race toward forbidden things. It makes them on the one hand excessively ambitious, on the other hand, indifferent to all social norms. And it is the emotion that pushes them to unintended and unpleasant consequences just like in the legendary story of Adam, Eve, and the Serpent.

Coating the background with this idea, the story and screenplay of the series are written by Vicky himself. Nazim Ud-Daula accompanied him in the screenplay. As usual, Mehzabin Chowdhury remains at the center of the story. Her main co-star is Shyamol Mawla, who is now spending a busy time on Bangla web content. And Azizul Hakim and Bijri Barkatullah, popular actors of the 90s, will appear with new surprises.

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Arnab Hasnat for editing, visual effects, and background music, and Rinku for art direction remain unchanged in Vicky's production crew. On the other hand, Saiba Talukdar was the chief sound editor, and the production design was taken care of by Alvira Tasnim.

‘Silence’ is going to premiere on January 29, 2023. Vicky fans will have to wait till Valentine's week of February to watch this six-episode psychological thriller.

In a Nutshell

The posters reveal that Vicky Zahed's first web series 'Silence' is going to be another unorthodox approach to mainstream entertaining dramas, web series, or films. Fans expect that like his previous content, Zahed's upcoming web series 'Silence' will make the audience enthralled, thrilled, and surprised. 

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Keeping pace with the motion of international trends is more important than going back to the golden days of Bengali drama. If this is possible then the promotion of the Bengali web series will go on autopilot, and this is where the Bangla OTT services like Binge come in. These are enough to take the quality content of Bangladesh to the world court.