Tag: Saswata Chatterjee

  • ZEE5’s ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ to premiere on 15 August

    ZEE5’s ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ to premiere on 15 August

    Mumbai: ZEE5 to deliver a pulse-racing Independence Day treat with the premiere of ZEE5 Original, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ on 15 August. This detective thriller, based on the iconic Narayan Sanyal’s ‘Sonar Kanta,’ promises to keep viewers glued to their screens as they unravel a murderous mystery alongside the brilliant advocate P.K. Basu. Created by the visionary filmmaker and actor Joydeep Mukherjee, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye boasts a stellar cast led by the versatile Saswata Chatterjee as the iconic P.K. Basu, national award-winner Ananya Chatterjee as Rani Basu, and marking his electrifying OTT debut is the charismatic Soham Chakraborty. This powerhouse ensemble breathes life into a story that’s as much about solving crimes as it is about confronting personal demons. Stream the biggest murder mystery of Bengal, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ starting 15 August on ZEE5.

    Embed Link: https://youtu.be/NoQojBnaKbA?feature=shared

    Set against the misty, storm-lashed backdrop of Darjeeling, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ plunges viewers into a world where nothing is as it seems. P.K. Basu [Saswata Chatterjee], haunted by the tragic loss of his daughter, finds himself in a race against time at the ominous Hotel Repose. As a killer stalks the halls, seeking their next victim, a savage storm cuts off all communication with the outside world. Trapped with a cast of suspicious characters, each harboring their own dark secrets, P.K Basu must rely on his razor-sharp intellect and uncanny observational skills to unmask the murderer before they strike again. But this is no ordinary whodunit. As bodies pile up and the tension ratchets to unbearable levels, viewers will be forced to question everything they think they know. Is the killer among the hotel guests? Or could it be someone closer to home? With each twist and turn, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ will keep audiences entertained, making every frame worth watching.

    ZEE5 chief business officer Manish Kalra expressed, “At ZEE5, we’re thrilled to present our latest offering ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’, featuring some of the biggest talents of the Bangla creative ecosystem. Bengal as a market has been a key focus area for us with ZEE5 launching multiple originals in the last one year. Our content strategy has featured quality storytelling and some powerhouse local collaborations. This has led to the diversification of our library and has also resulted in incremental audience engagement and watch-time. We’ve witnessed immense popularity and dedicated fandom for murder mysteries and detective thrillers, especially in the Bengali market. ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ is not just a nod to Bengal’s rich literary tradition, but it is also a modern, high-octane thriller that we believe will captivate audiences across India. The series represents our commitment to delving deeper into regional content and expanding our reach to viewers who crave high-quality, locally resonant storytelling.”

    Director Joydeep Mukherjee remarked, “Bringing ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ to life has been a journey very close to my heart. We’ve taken Narayan Sanyal’s beloved ‘Sonar Kanta’ and reimagined it for today’s audience, creating a thriller that’s as emotionally resonant as it is along with being suspenseful.  Saswata Chatterjee breathing life into P.K. Basu, an advocate haunted by personal loss, and Soham Chakraborty making his OTT debut along with national award winner Ananya Chatterjee playing the role of Rani Basu. we’ve crafted a story that will keep viewers guessing until the final frame. Set against the wondrous backdrop of storm-ravaged Darjeeling, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ is more than a mystery – it’s a psychological rollercoaster that will test your nerves. We’ve poured our hearts into every aspect of this series, from the intricate plot twists to the haunting cinematography, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience the tension, drama, and emotional depth of this uniquely Bengali thriller.”

    Saswata Chatterjee said, “Bringing P.K. Basu to life in ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye has been incredibly rewarding. Basu is a successful lawyer whose world crumbles when he loses his daughter due to a case he took personally. This tragedy transforms him, pushing him to use his keen observational skills to stop a criminal. What drew me to this role was Basu’s struggle to protect his loved ones from a dangerous killer while battling his own grief. It’s a character that requires both intellect and emotion, and I’m eager for viewers to follow Basu’s journey through our suspenseful story.”

    Ananya Chatterjee shared, “Playing Rani Basu in ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ has been a touching experience. Rani is a mother and wife whose world is shattered by the loss of her daughter Mithu. She sees visions of her dead child, which adds an eerie element to her character. Despite her grief, Rani helps her husband with his cases, offering valuable insights. It’s been rewarding to portray this complex woman who balances her sorrow with a desire to be useful. I’m looking forward to viewers seeing how Rani’s story unfolds in this gripping thriller.”

    Soham Chakraborty expressed his excitement, “Debuting on OTT with the role of Subir Roy in ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ has been incredibly thrilling. Portraying a character deeply enmeshed in a gripping and suspenseful storyline alongside P.K. Basu has pushed me to explore new facets of my acting. The series is packed with intensity and unexpected twists, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience this riveting story.”

  • ZEE5 doubles Bengali content viewership, expands in East India

    ZEE5 doubles Bengali content viewership, expands in East India

    Mumbai: ZEE5, India and Bharat’s largest home-grown video streaming platform and multilingual storyteller for multiple entertainment seekers, clocks a two-times surge in viewership on its Bengali slate since December 2022. In line with the brand’s commitment towards regional expansion, ZEE5 has significantly invested in Bengali content bringing blockbuster hits like ‘Abar Proloy’, ‘Shabash Feluda’, ‘Swetkali’, and ‘Shikarpur’, to name a few. Since December 2022, the platform has clocked an impressive 22 per cent increase in the monthly active viewers in the eastern region. The latest original directed by Raj Chakraborty featuring Saswata Chatterjee, and Ritwick Chakraborty, ‘Abar Proloy’, saw an 86 per cent surge in viewership and three times more watch time than any other Bengali original title. The watch time for the same stood at 146 MN minutes.

    Starting January 2023, ZEE5 released a high-octane slate of 10 blockbuster titles featuring the best names of the Bangla creative ecosystem. The platform’s growth in Bengali content viewership can be attributed to its strategic partnerships with top-tier industry talents who have been instrumental in bringing captivating stories from the hinterlands of the East and the Eastern periphery directly to the audiences. This includes gripping original series, blockbuster movies, heartwarming family dramas, and pulse-pounding thrillers like ‘Raktokarabi’, ‘Shikarpur’, ‘Shabash Feluda’, ‘Abar Proloy’, ‘Swetkali’, ‘Seven’ amongst others. Since its inception, ZEE5 has consistently provided an enriching and diverse entertainment experience to its Bengali-speaking audience with its consumer-first approach.

    Speaking on the brand’s expansion in the region, ZEE5 India chief business officer Manish Kalra said, “We are happy to witness such an encouraging response from our viewers in the Eastern market. The Bengal entertainment industry exhibits immense potential and has garnered acclaim for its exceptional storytelling for years We are thankful to our partners and the talent from the region for their dedication and remarkable creativity, which has truly captivated the Bengali diaspora across the globe. We have released successful titles like Abar Proloy in multiple languages owing to their popularity and the demand from consumers., Rest assured, we remain steadfast in our commitment to invest in Bengal, staying committed to bringing real, relatable and authentic stories to our viewers.”

    ZEE5’s journey in the Eastern market has been marked by innovation, collaboration, and a keen understanding of local audiences’ sensibilities. The platform has brought post-theatrical premieres of blockbusters like ‘Boudi Canteen’, ‘Biye Bibhrat’, ‘Shohorer Ushnotomo Din E’, ‘Hatyapuri’, etc. Apart from originals, the platform also has a slew of exclusive titles including the likes of ‘Projapati’, ‘Aparajito’, ‘Bhoy’, ‘Uttaran’, ‘Joy Kali Kolkatawali’. In addition to Bengali blockbusters, the platform offers a host of premium content in Hindi and other languages namely ‘Bandaa’, ‘Tarla’, ‘The Kashmir Files, ‘Haddi’, ‘Mrs Undercover’, ‘Bob Biswas’, ‘Duranga’, ‘Rangbaaz’ and many more.

  • Graphic novel on Bob Biswas in offing

    Graphic novel on Bob Biswas in offing

    MUMBAI: A bunch of young entrepreneurs and film buffs in Kolkata and Mumbai are planning a graphic novel on Bob Biswas, the LIC agent turned hired assassin in the Vidya Balan-starrer Kahaani.

    Confirming the same, director Sujoy Ghosh said, “They had spoken to me about it and I want to help them out.”

    He is flattered by the fan frenzy that the character has generated and admits that unlike other pre-release graphic novels, this is not a franchise spinoff or publicity stunt.
    According to the director, this kind of frenzy is generally reserved for superheroes or iconic characters. “It‘s amazing that people are paying attention to second-rung characters,” he averred.

    Saswata Chatterjee, who played Biswas, added, “I hadn‘t expected that a cold-blooded killer could become so popular. I have played negative characters earlier too but none have brought me this sort of recognition. Bob did not have too many dialogues. It was all about the body language.”

    Chatterjee has worked in films like Aborto, Abar Bomkesh, Nobel Chor and Bhalobasha Off Route-A.