Recently, I have watched the web series “Odrisshyo” on Hoicho. The series released on the OTT platformon 5 October. It is a story of a famous business tycoon and an aspiring politician who gets abducted by a group of unknown people. His life takes an unexpected turn within the intricate maze of uncertainty and mystery. Featuring prominent personalities such as Mahfuz Ahmed, Aupee Karim, Shahadat Hossain, Shampa Reza, Partho Sheikh, Nishat Priom, Shahiduzzaman Selim, Tania Ahmed, Ahmed Rubel, and numerous other talented individuals, “Odrisshyo” becomes a constellation of dazzling stars in the Bangladeshi media industry. The series is produced by Shahriar Shakil and written and directed by Shafayet Mansoor Rana.
“Odrisshyo” has eight episodes of different names, and interestingly all names have “odrisshyo” in them. The subtitles are metaphorically connected to the storyline. In the first episode, “Choltipothe Odrisshyo”, Anis Ahmed is also abducted after his confirmation of receiving a nomination from the opposition party “Bangladesh Protishruti Party”. The investigation officers scrutinize CCTV footage, which seemingly reveals a group of people carrying sacks from a partially constructed building. The transition from the suspected sacks to the second episode “Bostabondi Odrisshyo” is connected. Here, a politician from the ruling party dismisses the kidnapping incident as a mere drama. On the other hand, Amena, the leader of the opposition party blames “ekti bishesh mohol” for the incident. This is a well-known political discourse we have encountered in several previous instances of political abduction cases. However, in the third episode, “Odrisshyo Udjapon”, a positive development unfolds as the investigating officers discover the contents of the sacks. Also, DNA test fails to identify the body as Anis’s. Anis’s business partner, Shahed comes to Rezwana drunk. After a while, he seduces her. She also looks at him seductively. I wonder why this loving wife would look at her husband’s friend seductively. The mystery goes on!
The fourth episode “Gholapanite Odrisshyo” solves the riddle of Rezwana’s seductive gaze when she gets Shahed arrested for his “inappropriate” behavior. Like Shahed, I was also perplexed by Rezwana’s mysterious duality. Episode 5, “Kobitamoy Odrisshyo” introduces a new character Sonia who happens to be a seductress. But when Anis reciprocates, she leaves the scene in distress. In episode 6 “Choradaame Odrissyo”, Sonia blackmails Anis and asks for a huge amount of money. In the end of this episode, Anis finds a door open and attempts to escape. However, in episode 7 “Odrisshyer Apato Drisshyoman”, Anis gets trapped again. Meanwhile, Amena offers Rezwana to replace Anis’s nomination. She wants to “create and buy the public’s emotion” which we commonly refer to as “sympathy vote”. Rezwana accepts her offer and ultimately wins the election. As soon as she wins, Anis is released from his long confinement.
The last episode “Sob Odrisshyo, Odrissyo Noy” reveals the truth. It unmasks two cold-blooded invisible enemies living under the same rooftop. Anis’s poetic expression narrates Rezwana’s distress when she learns that her father’s market is now burnt to ashes! The invisible enemy is visible to both of them now.
I found the script of “Odrisshyo” extremely meaningful and intriguing. Some messages are pretty clear whereas some are intentionally wrapped in double consciousness and metaphors. For example, the cause behind Rakin accusing his parents of being responsible for his current situation is not explicitly stated or investigated, but it is entirely comprehensible. The characters are given standard and colloquial expressions based on their characteristics and social statuses.
The lead roles are performed by two of my most favorite actors Mahfuz Ahmed and Aupee Karim. Mahfuz plays the role of the business magnet Anis, and Aupee beautifully portrays the character of his loving and caring wife Rezwana. The dynamic and mysterious traits of Rezwana’s character are what hold the sensational uncertainty of the story till its end. I could hardly imagine a lady with such an innocent and loving appearance can turn out to be the most venomous invisible culprit.
Rakin, a drug addict and audacious young man played by a young talented actor Partho Sheikh. Shampa Reza gracefully plays the role of Amena whereas Shahiduzzaman Selim is portrayed as Badrul, the leader of the ruling party. Tania and Rubel’s characters are small, but significant to show how selfish and power-mongering person Rezwana becomes after the election. Shahadat Hossain does total justice to Shahed’s role. And Nishat Priom’s character, the seductress Nusrat/ Sonia is brilliantly portrayed and acted out by the beautiful actress.
“Odrisshyo” is such a multilayered and complex web series which is not just merely a political mystery but also a family drama where the complications of relationships like the conjugal relation between an equally qualified and ambitious couple, concerning relation between super-busy parents and their addicted son, and fake relations between business partners and politicians are portrayed with utmost precision.I am keen to see how the aspiring politicians Rezwana and Anis treat each other when they finally know that their enemies are no longer “odrissyo”. Will, by any chance, Shafayet make a sequel to “Odrisshyo”?
Leave a Reply