The pandemic-riddled year was a challenging one for the entertainment industry. Since March, all activities had come to a halt, with television and web projects incurring huge losses.

Shoots gradually resumed over the year, maintaining health guidelines as per the government's instructions.

Compared to other years, the number of tele-fictions made were minuscule, with important festivals like Pohela Boishakh, Eid-Ul-Fitr witnessing very few productions.

However, many of the ones that were released stirred excitement among the audience, and gathered accolades for production and storytelling.

In Valentines' season, telefilms that resonated the most with the audience were Ashfaque Nipun's "Mukh O Mukhosher Golpo", Shafayet Mansoor Rana's "Poripurok" and Sanjoy Samaddar's "Shift".

One of the highlights of this year's television industry was the seven-day series titled "Ghor Bondi Shomoyer Golpo", aired on Eid Ul Fitr. The series brought a completely new experience for both artistes and the audience.

Renowned directors Nurul Alam Atique, Giasuddin Selim, Animesh Aich, Sumon Anwar, Shihab Shaheen, Shafayet Mansoor Rana and Goutam Koiri worked on the series, each portraying different stories addressing life during the pandemic.

Jonab Tanvir Ahmed's "Extra Artiste" featuring Fazlur Rahman Babu and Allen Shubhro was a critically acclaimed project.

Vicky Zahed's "Jonmodaag" featured the popular pairing of Afran Nisho and Mehazabien Chowdhury. On the other hand, Ashrafuzzaman's fiction "Hamleter Phirey Asha", featuring Mosharraf Karim and Rownak Hasan, was a memorable flick.

Eid-ul-Adha saw an impressive number of hits. Shafayat Mansoor Rana's short film on the pandemic, "The Last Order" was astoundingly good, while Ashfaque Nipun's "Victim" was the talk of the town for a good while. The director's "Eti Ma", starring Afran Nisho and Rumana Rashid Ishita, was especially lauded because of Ishita's memorable performance.

Other notable projects include Sanjoy Samaddar's "Je Shohore Taka Ore", Rafat Mozumder Rinku's "Bodh", Mohidul Mohim's "Photo Frame", Mizanur Rahman Aryan's "Shohor Chhere Poranpur", Vicky Zahed's "Nirbashon" and Mahmudur Rahman Hime's "Keno".

Although web content is considered to be mandatory consumption all over the world, the Bangladeshi audience had to wait for a long time to experience local web content that is up to the mark. The pandemic somewhat enabled web projects to flourish, and prove that it is possible to create content on par with international projects.

"August 14", based on true events, was exemplary. Shihab Shaheen was highly appreciated along with Tasnuva Tisha for her flawless and bold appearance on screen. "Hares" on Robi TV Plus, directed by Wasim Sitar, featured Iftekhar Ahmed Fahmi and Nazia Haque Orsha. The flick gained praise for its gritty storytelling.

Abrar Athar's web original for ZEE 5, "Mainkar Chipay", kept the audience on the edge of their seats. It was undoubtedly one of the best works of this year. Afran Nisho, Shariful Razz and Shamol Mawla were in this project that earned great response from audiences from both home and abroad.

Syed Ahmed Shawki directorial "Taqdeer" on Hoichoi was the showstopper for 2020, setting a new bar for web series in the country. Chanchal Chowdhury, Manoj Pramanik, Sanjida Preeti and Sohel Mondal gave it their all to make it one of the most memorable projects for years to come.

Overall, even amidst the limitations, directors, actors and entire filming crews are to be lauded for their efforts to keep bringing entertainment to our screens.