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Arguably, Bengal has the richest literary heritage in this country. Advantageously, many excellent films have emerged from the captivating crevices of Bangla writing .

We could safely add this ambrosial adaptation to the hall of fame.

Director Suman Mukhopadhyay’s Putulnacher Itikatha (The Puppet’s Tale released on 1 August) is a lush layered luminous look at the wages of patriarchy , the burdens of an “English” education during a time when India was under colonial rule, and it also taps into the taboo subject of female sexuality at a time when women were supposed to show only those emotions that flowed from the eyes.

Significantly the most exploited woman in Mukhopadhyay’s village Gaudia Sendidi (Ananya Chatterjee) goes blind in one eye after a neglected attack of Smallpox: patriarchal arrogance manifested in gender discrimination and decimation.

The novel, and happily its film adaptation is soaked in socio-historical ramifications, though never at the cost of a fluid storytelling.

Parambrata Chatterjee, director of the thriller web series Bhog, spoke to Subhash K Jha about the hit series and why he gravitates towards the supernatural horror space in his projects.

Your web series Bhog is one of the eeriest things I’ve seen. What brought you to this subject?

I’ve always been interested in the supernatural ever since I was a teenager. But somewhere, somehow, this interest was sort of lying dormant until about three or four years ago, when I suddenly realized that there’s a tremendous amount of curiosity and interest amongst consumers, among the watchers, among the viewers, among the readers about supernatural literature; and a lot of that is being converted into audio stories.

So it started with an interest in audio stories?

Yes, I got quite fascinated with the idea of audio stories based on such supernatural literature. And I also realized how much...

Global, April 30 2025: ZEE5 Global is all set to redefine the digital entertainment landscape with the World Digital Premiere of its biggest Bengali blockbuster – Bohurupi, streaming from 9th May. Directed by the acclaimed duo Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, this gripping film is inspired by real-life bank heists that rocked West Bengal between 1998 and 2005. Bohurupi features a powerful ensemble cast including Shiboprosad Mukherjee, Abir Chatterjee, Ritabhari Chakraborty, and Koushani Mukherjee, and unravels the transformative journey of a man scarred by betrayal, imprisonment, and an unforgiving system. Culminating in a thrilling face-off that keeps viewers on edge. The film has won the hearts of critics and audiences alike, earning stellar ratings across platforms. The phenomenal response reflects its captivating storyline, edge-of-the-seat action, and stellar performances, making Bohurupi a must-watch on ZEE5 Global.

Set in the 90s, Bohurupi follows Bikram (Shiboprosad Mukherjee), a commerce graduate whose life is derailed after being wrongfully imprisoned.

Here’s When & Where You Can Watch Bohurupi Online! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy’s acclaimed new Bengali film, Bohurupi, is all set to have its digital premiere next month. Directed by the powerhouse duo, the movie features a powerful ensemble cast including Mukherjee himself, alongside actors Abir Chatterjee, Ritabhari Chakraborty, and Koushani Mukherjee.

Bohurupi is inspired by real-life bank heists that rocked West Bengal between 1998 and 2005. It revolves around the transformative journey of a man scarred by betrayal, imprisonment, and an unforgiving system. The movie offers gripping thrills that keep audiences on the edge of their seats and poses deeper questions of justice, morality, and identity. Bohurupi will be available for streaming on ZEE5 starting May 9, 2025.

The film, set in the 1990s, follows Bikram (Shiboprosad Mukherjee), a commerce graduate whose life is derailed after he is wrongfully imprisoned. In jail, he bonds with a veteran bank...

Eastern India’s dominant entertainment conglomerate Svf and its streaming platform Hoichoi have unveiled an expansive content lineup featuring over 25 new titles spanning series, theatrical releases, and innovative formats. The announcement came during “Golper Parbon 1432,” a showcase event celebrating Svf’s 30-year journey in Bengali-language entertainment.

Leading the theatrical slate are two major star vehicles: Prosenjit Chatterjee’s adventure thriller “Vijaynagar’er Hirey” and Dev’s period fantasy “Raghu Dakat.” In “Vijaynagar’er Hirey,” directed by Chandrasish Ray, Chatterjee reprises his iconic role as the intrepid adventurer Kakababu, who embarks on a perilous quest for a mythical treasure. Meanwhile, “Raghu Dakat,” directed by Dhrubo Banerjee, features Dev alongside Anirban Bhattacharya, Sohini Sarkar, Idhika Paul, and Roopa Ganguly in a fantasy rooted in Bengal’s history, chronicling the rise of an outlaw.

The streaming platform is reaching its milestone 200th original series. Among the most anticipated series are “Anushandhan,” starring Subhashree Ganguly...

Shashi (Abir Chatterjee), a young doctor who has returned to his village upon graduating from the Calcutta Medical School, goes through a deep existential crisis, caught between his wish to help the people he’s known for most of his life and a sense of helplessness; he has, simply said, to unlearn local prejudice and superstition, and the way the problems are dealt with in the village. He is trying to change things for the better and introduce minor reforms, but things don’t go smoothly. To top it all off, Shashi’s father, an unemotional man who is getting richer by the day as a usurer, doesn’t understand that the profession of a medical expert comes with empathy and certain moral codes that collide with the village laws of conduct. Tending to a female patient is one of them, even if she is bedridden due to smallpox. Her...

Indian auteur Suman Mukhopadhyay’s “The Puppet’s Tale” (Putulnacher Itikatha), a period drama centering on a young doctor’s struggle between modern medicine and traditional beliefs in 1930s Bengal, premieres in International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Big Screen Competition on Feb. 6. The film, adapted from Manik Bandyopadhyay’s celebrated 1936 novel, explores how progress and tradition clash through the eyes of an idealistic physician returning to his roots.

“We are witnessing ideological deadlocks across society, with conflicting worldviews pulling us in different directions,” Mukhopadhyay told Variety. “The novel’s central conflict – the doctor’s dilemma in navigating these opposing forces – feels even more urgent when mortality itself looms over the characters.”

The story follows Shashi, a newly graduated doctor whose return to his village becomes a crucible for larger social tensions. “Despite significant progress, we continue to grapple with entrenched value systems and rigid traditions,” Mukhopadhyay explained. “The film explores...

Bohurupi Box Office Collection Day 20: Crosses A Significant Mark ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Bohurupi by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee has overperformed at the box office in West Bengal and across the nation. It has crossed an amazing feat, and with no big Bengali releases in the upcoming weeks, this action thriller is expected to soar. The film features the ever charming and talented Abir Chatterjee in the lead role with an amazing star cast in the supporting roles.

It was released during Durga Puja and clashed with Srijit Mukherji’s film Tekka, which was also a thriller. Although festive releases tend to do well at the box office, this film under the Windows banner is doing better than the rest. According to reports, it was made on a budget of 4 crore and has earned 176% more than that at the box office.

Bohurupi is a period heist action thriller film...

One of the leading news portals introduced a new form of ranking—the “pujo-meter.” It would be a metric comparison by which one can judge which of the three Bengali movies released during Durga Pujo of this year qualifies as a festive movie. It is a different metric from the overall quality of the film. And as it turns out, “Bohurupi” is a smashing success on the Pujo-meter.

It made me wonder while watching the film as to what could be the reason for the pujo-meter to be so high. As I looked around the darkened theatre to find a respectably filled-up crowd at least a week after the festivities, I realized that this crime caper, from the studio that ironically brought forth the wave of family movies that the industry would saturate itself to oblivion, resembles a true blue commercial film that feels rooted in the milieu.

A familiar...

Actress Ritabhari Chakraborty, who predominantly works in Bengali cinema, is set to star in the Bengali upcoming film ‘Bohurupi’ along with Abir Chatterjee. The film, which was announced on Tuesday, is helmed by director duo Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee.

The film also stars Shiboprosad Mukherjee himself and promises to bring a real story to life against the backdrop of the timeline between 1998 and 2005.

Talking about the film’s journey, Shiboprosad said in a statement, “We started planning for the film in 2011; right after ‘Muktodhara’, we wanted to make this film that captures the timeline between 1998 and 2005. ‘Bohurupi’ is based on a chain of events that took place around that time. Through the script, we have tried to chronicle that era.”

He added, “The real characters, who have given their versions, are there and we plan to release a documentary along with the film featuring the real characters. Abir and...

Versatile singer Arijit Singh’s soulful rendition of the track ‘Bhaabo Jodi’ from the movie ‘Kabuliwala’ is not only a melodious, but also an emotionally resonant song, making it a must-listen for the music enthusiasts.

Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty helmed the role of ‘Rahmat’ in ‘Kabuliwala’, a cinematic marvel from the depths of history, penned by the legendary Rabindranath Tagore.

Mithun’s character Rahmat from Tagore’s masterpiece, deeply connects with audiences of all ages. ‘Kabuliwala’ is the timeless tale of Rahmat, a story of a middle-aged Afghan man, whose heart overflows with fatherly love for a little girl, Mini, in the bustling city of Kolkata set in the year of 1965.

The end credit song ‘Bhaabo Jodi’ composed by Indraadip Das Gupta, ‘features actors Mithun, Anumegha Kahali, Abir Chatterjee, and Sohini Sarkar. It beautifully encapsulates the heartwarming tale of Rahmat and the endearing idiosyncrasies shared between Mini and him.

For the unversed,...

The trailer of the upcoming Bengali film ‘Kabuliwala’, which stars veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, has been unveiled, and it presents a rich tapestry of the past penned by Rabindranath Tagore.

Mithun essays the role of Rahmat in the film. The tale of Rahmat, set against the bustling cityscape of Kolkata in 1965, unfolds as an Afghan man’s paternal love overflows for a little girl named Mini — portrayed by the talented child actor Anumegha Kahali.

The film explores the universal themes of love that knows no boundaries, transcending both geographical borders and cultural divides.

Abir Chatterjee and Sohini Sarkar step into the roles of Mini’s parents, enriching the narrative with their compelling performances.

Mithun Chakraborty shared, “In stepping into Rahmat’s shoes in ‘Kabuliwala,’ I find myself traversing the timeless corridors of Tagore’s narrative. It’s not just a role; it’s a profound connection with a story that transcends eras,...

The trailer of the upcoming Bengali film ‘Kabuliwala’, which stars veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, has been unveiled, and it presents a rich tapestry of the past penned by Rabindranath Tagore.

Mithun essays the role of Rahmat in the film. The tale of Rahmat, set against the bustling cityscape of Kolkata in 1965, unfolds as an Afghan man’s paternal love overflows for a little girl named Mini — portrayed by the talented child actor Anumegha Kahali.

The film explores the universal themes of love that knows no boundaries, transcending both geographical borders and cultural divides.

Abir Chatterjee and Sohini Sarkar step into the roles of Mini’s parents, enriching the narrative with their compelling performances.

Mithun Chakraborty shared, “In stepping into Rahmat’s shoes in ‘Kabuliwala,’ I find myself traversing the timeless corridors of Tagore’s narrative. It’s not just a role; it’s a profound connection with a story that transcends eras,...

The first poster of the upcoming film ‘Kabuliwala’, which stars veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, was unveiled on the occasion of Children’s Day on Tuesday. The poster shows the veteran actor in his role of ‘Kabuliwala’ walking down a street as a sweet little girl by his side.

Behind them one can see the old world architecture of a city and banners with Bangla language and a few people sitting in the background. The foreground has handpump out of focus.

The film is based on a short story by Rabindranath Tagore, and 60 per cent of its story unfolds in Kolkata with the rest in Afghanistan.

The cast of the film comprises Mithun Chakraborty in the role of Rahmat, and Anumegha portraying the lovable Mini. Accompanying them are Abir Chatterjee and Sohini Sarkar, depicting the parents of Mini.

This film follows the story of Rahmat, a middle-aged Afghan man, whose paternal...

The first poster of the upcoming film ‘Kabuliwala’, which stars veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty, was unveiled on the occasion of Children’s Day on Tuesday. The poster shows the veteran actor in his role of ‘Kabuliwala’ walking down a street as a sweet little girl by his side.

Behind them one can see the old world architecture of a city and banners with Bangla language and a few people sitting in the background. The foreground has handpump out of focus.

The film is based on a short story by Rabindranath Tagore, and 60 per cent of its story unfolds in Kolkata with the rest in Afghanistan.

The cast of the film comprises Mithun Chakraborty in the role of Rahmat, and Anumegha portraying the lovable Mini. Accompanying them are Abir Chatterjee and Sohini Sarkar, depicting the parents of Mini.

This film follows the story of Rahmat, a middle-aged Afghan man, whose paternal...

Mumbai, Aug 28 (Ians) The teaser of the upcoming Bengali film ‘Raktbeej’, which was unveiled on Monday, promises a compelling thriller. The 1 minute long teaser begins with building the hype around Padma Bhushan and National Film Award recipient, the veteran actor Victor Banerjee as he can be seen signing a document with a fountain pen.

The teaser then goes onto showing the montages from the film in fast cuts thereby maintaining the intrigue and thriller about the plot and the characters.

The film has been directed by the renowned director duo Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, and is inspired by the Burdwan blast in 2014, which shook up Bengal and also the nation, the film is about the homecoming of a man, who holds an important portfolio, and how an accidental blast in a firecracker unit unveils a bigger threat to his life.

On October 2, 2014, which coincided with Mahashtami that year, an...

Amidst the echoes of freedom and the heartbeat of a nation, Independence Day emerges as a time of reflection and celebration. And what better way to honor the spirit of this day than by delving into a collection of web series that stir the soul and ignite the flames of patriotism.

These are not just stories; they are emotional journeys that take us back to the sacrifices, the struggles, and the unyielding love for our homeland.

As the sky adorns itself with the colors of freedom, grab a tissue box, because we are about to embark on a rollercoaster of emotions with these gripping web series that resonate with the essence of India’s Independence Day.

The Family Man Season 1 and 2

‘The Family Man’, a spy thriller series revolves around Srikant Tiwari (Manoj Bajpayee), who works for the National Investigation Agency. He must juggle his secret role as an intelligence officer,...

Bengali actress Ritabhari Chakraborty, who has been getting a lot of positive response to her work in the Bengali film ‘Fatafati’, has shared that she chose the film out of all projects that she had at the time of signing because she wanted to send out a social message surrounding body positivity. The actress also gained weight for her role.

The actress said that she had two surgeries in 2020, after which she gained six kgs, though it’s not a big number but for an actress, it’s quite a lot because there are certain expectations from actresses of her age.

She said, “Aritra Mukherjee (the director of the film) and I have done ‘Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti’ together and when ‘Fatafati’ came to his mind, he wanted me to be part of it, however, the challenge was that I had to go from medium to Xl for it which means gaining 15-20 kilos more.

Parambrata Chattopadhyay is the latest actor to play Oscar-winning Indian master Satyajit Ray’s detective Prodosh Chandra Mitter Aka Feluda in streamer ZEE5 Global’s series “Shabash Feluda.”

Feluda first appeared in the Ray family’s Bengali-language magazine Sandesh in 1965. Ray directed two Feluda films, “The Golden Fortress” (1974) and “The Elephant God” (1978), where the Bengali detective was played by his frequent collaborator Soumitra Chatterjee. Feluda has subsequently been played by a range of Indian actors, including Shashi Kapoor, Abir Chatterjee, Tota Roy Chowdhury, Indraneil Sengupta and Bangladesh’s Ahmed Rubel.

The detective is part of the fabric of growing up in West Bengal and Bangladesh, akin to what Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple used to be for several generations in the west.

Chattopadhyay first interpreted the detective in 2017 for series “Feluda” for Bangladesh’s Bioscopelive which he directed and also played Feluda. “It was a very radical interpretation...

On the joyous occasion of Rakhi and Independence Day week Svf is all set to pent-up excitement to a whole new level by delivering ‘Byomkesh Hotyamancha’ to its audience on 11th August, regionally as well as Internationally this week.

Apart from West Bengal, ‘Byomkesh Hotyamancha’ is releasing in major cinema chains Internationally like Hoyts Carousel, Western Australia, Black Town, New South Wales, provinces of Canada, UAE, USA in this week. Audiences can now go and witness the spectacular tale of ‘Byomkesh Hotyamancha’ in their nearest theatres.

Arindam Sil’s ‘Byomkesh Hotyamancha’ has been released throughout West Bengal in theaters amidst a major audience. Based on Sharadindu Bandopadhyay’s incomplete Byomkesh Bakshi story ‘Bishupal Bodh’, it is set in the tumultuous Naxalite uprising in Bengal in 1971. In a story of vengeance when Byomkesh Bakshi decides to attend a play at the theatre and becomes witness to a crime unfolding on the center stage.

Celebrated Bengali actor Abir Chatterjee who marked his debut in Hindi show with ‘Avrodh 2’ says an actor like him can have a career in the Bengali film industry and simultaneously expand his presence in the Hindi entertainment space because of Ott shows. Admitting that casting plays an important part in an actor’s career, Chatterjee […]...

The trailer of the much-awaited ‘Avrodh 2: The Siege Within’ was released on Tuesday and the show streams from June 24. Directed by Raj Acharya and produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Juggernaut productions the story is helmed by writers Brijesh Jayrajan, and Sudeep Nigam. The show features actors like Abir Chatterjee, Mohan Agashe, […]...

by Rwitta Dutta

The citation of the jury arrived and it declared the reason behind the prestigious award received by the Indian film, Dictionary (Bengali/2021/ 110 minutes) in the recently concluded Nepal International Film Festival, 2021. The illustrious jury members unanimously cited the deliberation before submitting their verdict. They thought Dictionary was the “delicate depiction of a slice of the contemporary Indian society portrayed with warm humour and critique of the substitution of cultural values”.

A short stint with the director Bratya Basu revealed that it was the vulnerability of marital and familial relationships that attracted his attention to make the film. Inspired from two short stories,Baba howa (becoming a father) and Swami howa (becoming a husband) by the renowned Bengali writer Buddhadev Guha, this film germinated in Basu’s mind slowly and quite imperceptibly.Basu felt that institutions were not beyond question but institutions could not always be seen and judged sceptically.

There is something to be said about Bengali cinema's ongoing fascination with Satyajit Ray and yes, you can add Uttam Kumar to that. At one point in this able fable, the film's scholar-hero Subarn Sen (played by the always watchable Abir Chatterjee) says cheekily, "Before and after Partition Bengal was obsessed with 'UK' -- the United Kingdom and then Uttam Kumar.

There is a dash of Uttam in Abir, a fine actor who creates a graph for his character even the script is not of much help. Here, Abir yokes a sense of childlike fun with a somber and not always consistent meditation on the loss of cultural heritage in Bengal brought on by the designs of plunderers and marauders.

Often the screenplay (Dhrubo Banerjee and Subhendu Dasmunshi) seems weighed down by the sprawling onus of conveying a sequence of historical events that underline the fun aspect of the treasure hunt.

The trailer starts with a narration by Anjan Dutt that defines the reality of life comparing it with the algorithm of a winter’s day. A tune of violin flows along the trailer depicting the rhythm of life in an uncanny manner. The movement of camera blends perfectly with the song which portrays the truth of love in this materialistic world. Life has been captured inside the walls of a hotel where co-exist love, pain and betrayal and all define the certitudes of life like ever-existing pole star. Its one of the classiest trailers released in recent times, creating an aura of avidity aesthetically.

National award winning Indian director Srijit Mukherji is back in this winter with his new Bengali movie – “Shah Jahan Regency” – based on famous Bengali novel “Chowringhee” penned by Mani Shankar Mukherjee. The movie stars Abir Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee, Anjan Dutt, Rituparna Sengupta, Swastika Mukherjee and others.

Eros International Media Ltd (Eros International), a leading global film company in the Indian film entertainment industry has announced its grand line up for 2016. The company will release an unparalleled 65 plus films across multiple languages again this year, making it the biggest slate by any Indian studio.

Following 2015’s critically acclaimed and commercial successes like NH10, Badlapur, Tanu Weds Manu Returns and the top grosser of the year, Bajrangi Bhaijaan along with Telugu and Bengali super hits Srimanthudu and Bela Seshe respectively, Eros is all set to announce another impressive pipeline of releases. The company ended a highly successful year with the maximum hits by a studio with the release of one of its most ambitious projects, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani that opened in cinemas globally to fabulous reviews and collections. The film still continues to run successfully in cinemas worldwide and Eros plans to release it in...

Kolkata, April 5: Actor Abir Chatterjee, who played Vidya Balan's husband in "Kahaani", Friday said T20 cricket matches are not his cup of tea.

"Look, to be very honest T20 is not my ballroom. But I don't have any, any, any problem with Ipl (Indian Premier League)," Chatterjee told Ians on the sidelines of an exhibition here.

Asked whether he would go to watch any of the matches, the Kolkata Knight Riders (Kkr) supporter said: "Let's see, I haven't decided anything yet, maybe I'll go."

The Bengali film actor is well-known for playing the title role of detective Byomkesh Bakshi in thrillers "Adim Ripu" and "Abar Bomkesh".

Ians...