The prestigious TV9 Bangla Ghorer Bioscope Awards 2023 was held for the first time with unmatched grandeur  in Kolkata.

The event celebrated the exceptional talents and contributions of the Bengali television industry, OTT content creators and YouTubers, showcasing the remarkable growth and creativity in the entertainment space.

The awards ceremony, held on June 17, brought together the crème de la crème of the entertainment industry, creating an unforgettable night of celebration and recognition, TV9 said in a media statement.

The event was graced by the Guest of Honour, Anurag Thakur, Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting. In attendance were renowned stars of Bengali film and entertainment industry like Prosenjit Chatterjee, Dev, Rituparna Sengupta, Subhashree Ganguly, Raima Sen, Srabanti Chatterjee, Soham Chakraborty and many more who graced the red carpet adding a touch of elegance and excitement to the evening.

The award show aimed to acknowledge and applaud the outstanding achievements of individuals and productions in the realm of Bengali serials, online streaming platforms and YouTube.

The winners were selected through a meticulous process that involved a combination of audience voting and expert jury panels comprising industry veterans and experts.

Highlights from the evening included captivating performances by leading artists like Rupam Islam, Nachiketa, Sourendro-Soumyojit and many more. Celebrities and influencers dressed in their glamorous best were met with a flurry of flashbulbs and eager fans. The ceremony was hosted by the charismatic trio of Arpita Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee and Abir Chatterjee, who brought their signature charm and wit to keep the audience entertained throughout the evening.

The award show featured a multitude of categories, encompassing various genres and formats. From Best Bengali Serial and Best Reality Show to Best Web Series and Best YouTuber, every facet of the industry was recognized and appreciated.

The winners were selected by a panel of esteemed industry experts comprising Prabhat Roy, Anriruddha Roy Choudhury, Shankarlal Bhattacherjee, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Moon Moon Sen, Ratul Shankar, Ujjal Chakraborty, Arghakamal Mitra, Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Joy Sarkar, Srijato, Debesh Chattapoadhaya, Dr. Kunal Sarkar, Aniruddha Chakladar and Abonti Chakraborty.

Among the notable winners of the night were renowned actors and actresses, talented directors, promising newcomers, and exceptional content creators. This award show was telecast on TV9 Bangla on June 25.

MD and CEO of TV9 Network, Barun Das, stated in his address, “Art is the only man-made concept that unites people. Language, religion, politics, everything is divisive, only art unites beyond everything. TV set has brought bioscope to the corner of the room. Another aspect of it is that the potential of soft power has increased manifold.

“It is a deadly weapon and with it a society can be steered towards one’s choice. Now I think film and entertainment with this potent combination of soft power and unifying ability can elevate life to what extent. I am an eternal optimist. Always optimistic. Hopefully That day will come, and this Bengal will again guide the country. And through this we will relive the time when again it will be-What Bengal thinks today India thinks tomorrow.”

Minister Thakur said, “I think OTT has emerged as one of the biggest mediums during COVID-19 and it has bridged the gap between geographically disabled areas. I believe soft power doesn’t have any boundary but the content in OTT is being watched by families so the issue of regulation; I am keeping the query before you.

“Streaming content is being watched in other mediums rather than traditional means like TV. Indian content is getting more recognition now like the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ and the documentary‘The Elephant Whisperers’ both have won the Academy Award 2023. I congratulate the recipients in the different categories.

“It is a recognition of your contribution in the fields of art and entertainment. It is my absolute pleasure to stand before you and offer heartfelt congratulations to ‘TV9 Bangla Ghorer Bioscope Awards 2023’ their first-ever Award Show celebrating performances of Bengali TV serial and OTT shows and artistes. It is a one-of-a-kind award show since it is hosted by a Bengali news channel honouring artistes.”