The video stories created by renowned journalist Karamot Ullah Biplob, based on his travels around the world, have received an unprecedented response. Biplob launched his YouTube channel, “Duniyar Golpo” (World’s Stories), in December of last year, where he shares these captivating stories of life’s diverse experiences.
Through the use of drones, cranes, and action cameras, Biplob presents extraordinary, yet unknown, stories of ordinary people in a cinematic way. Since launching his channel, Biplob has traveled to Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, creating and sharing nearly two dozen video stories.
His audience across Facebook and YouTube has surpassed 15 million viewers. One particular video story, featuring a lonely woman living in a palatial house in Virginia’s mountainous region, went viral, reaching 13 million people in just 3 days. The story sparked a surprising reaction, with over 13,000 marriage proposals made to the woman! Such a phenomenon is rarely seen in the country’s video blog scene.
Karamot Ullah Biplob, Secretary General of the South Asian Climate Change Journalists Forum, focuses on stories of people and places impacted by climate change, nature, environment, and migration in his video stories. In a statement on his Facebook profile, Biplob explains that people are drawn to stories that reflect their own experiences – the successes and failures, happiness and sadness found in the lives of others. With this in mind, he has developed the concept of video stories as a way to connect with viewers.
Biplob laments that the works of famous writers like Humayun Ahmed, Satyajit Ray, and Samaresh Majumdar, which once captivated readers across all walks of life, no longer hold the same power. He attributes this to the rise of the internet, various devices, and technology, which have led to a significant decline in book reading. In today’s world, dominated by streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Hotstar, audiences are increasingly drawn to fantastical and unreal narratives, leaving little interest in the real-life stories found in books. Biplob expresses his hope that the video story concept will fill this void and prove to be a powerful storytelling medium, one that will be adopted by world-renowned TV channels.
Rejecting sensationalism for genuine stories
Biplob’s video stories are not simply random anecdotes or embellished narratives designed to garner views. They are based on the true stories of everyday people, whose experiences he shares with the world. Initially, Biplob will focus on stories from Bangladeshi expatriates and extraordinary individuals residing in various countries. He welcomes submissions from those who wish to share their stories and preserve them for posterity. If you have a story to tell, Karamot Ullah Biplob encourages you to send a brief description of the subject and its essence to his email address: karamotullah@gmail.com
Official Links:
- YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@karamotullah
- Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/karamot.biplob/videos/1415783589725403
