News

Aamar Boss, starring the legendary Rakhee Gulzar and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, has made its mark as the film crosses the 1 lakh theatre within just 7 days of its release. The emotional mother-son drama, which hit cinemas on May 9, has not only won hearts but also brought audiences back to theatres in large numbers, all without the advantage of a holiday release.

Directed by the celebrated duo Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee, Aamar Boss is being hailed as one of the biggest Bengali theatrical hits of 2025 so far, already claiming the title of the biggest opening and highest Sunday collection of the year for a Bengali film. Its powerful performances, heart-tugging narrative, and universal emotions are striking a chord across generations.

This milestone becomes even more significant in the current climate, where several production houses are opting for direct-to-ott releases due to sensitive market conditions. Windows, however, chose to back the theatrical experience,...

Raakhee Gulzar talks with Subhash K Jha about life, family, and her new hit Bengali film Aamar Boss.

Your first Bengali film in a long time is a work of joy and beauty forever?

You really liked Aamar Boss so much? I am so glad. I know you wouldn’t lie to me. You know when the co-directors (Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy) offered me the film, I wasn’t sure. My last Bengali film is yet to be released. I don’t know what happened to it. But then I saw Shiboprasad and Nandita’s film.

You mean their blockbuster Raktabeej?

No, no, not that one. The earlier film Hami about a child’s upbringing. I was immediately excited about working with Shiboprasad and Nandini.

Their past work apart, they have conceived a role for you in Aamar Boss which not many actresses your age are given?

I agree.

The directorial duo Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy double-handedly rescued Bengali cinema from boxoffice blues with the blockbuster true-life crime thriller Bohurupi in 2024.

It is not short of astonishing how far removed the world of Aamar Boss, the directorial duo’s new heartwarming and, yes, heart-warming work, moves from their previous film.

This time there is more familial frisson, more gloss too, than we normally get to see in Bangla films. A lot of this warmth and sophistication comes from Raakhee Gulzar as the tough-cookie matriarch Shubra Goswami who lights up every frame each time she is on screen. And when she is not, we miss her presence, although the supporting cast is very agreeable, especially Sauraseni Maitra who is elegantly emphatic as Sarbani an employee at a Bangla publishing house helmed by Animesh Goswami (played with admirable empathy by the co-director Shiboprosad Mukherjee) who tries hard to be the...

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...

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...

Veteran actress Raakhee Gulzar, who plays the lead in the Bengali film ‘Aamar Boss’, captivated everyone on set with her unwavering dedication to her craft. One notable instance highlighting her commitment to her character was when the actress chose to wear the bangles of her character even during downtime, ensuring the character’s trajectory remained intact on a subconscious level.

A source within the production shared with Ians: “Rakhee’s dedication to her character went beyond the confines of shooting hours. She was often seen wearing the bangles her character adorned, not just during filming but also during downtime and at the hotel.”

The source further added, “Her commitment to maintaining her character’s essence was unwavering until the very end, as she returned the bangles on the day of the wrap-up, marking the conclusion of her journey with the film.

The film’s motion poster was unveiled on Monday...

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...

Actress Rakhee Gulzar, who is making her return to Bengali cinema with ‘Aamar Boss’, has wrapped up the shooting for the film. The culmination of this cinematic journey was met with heartfelt emotions as the cast and crew bid farewell to the project.

The director of the film, Shiboprosad Mukherjee expressed his gratitude and admiration by kissing Rakhee’s hand.

Rakhee Gulzar, reflecting on the wrap-up, shared, “I had seen their films and liked those. So when they approached me with this script, I found it to be fresh. There are fresh faces, the script is fresh. I really enjoyed working with this team. They gave me the inspiration to begin something new”.

In their joint statement, directors Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee said: “Rakhee di’s unwavering dedication and timeless grace have been the driving force behind ‘Aamar Boss.’ As we bid adieu to this transformative journey, we’re...

Shastry Viruddh Shastry (streaming on Netflix)

Starring Paresh Rawal, Neena Kulkarni, Shiv Pundit, Mimi Chakraborty

Directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee, Nandita Roy

Viacom 18 is fast acquiring the reputation of being producers who kill their own films, for reasons that are more fiscal than creative. They did it to the wonderful Dhak Dhak and now to Shastry Viruddh Shastry, a thoughtful if somewhat sluggish remake of a very successful Bengali film Posto.

The story of an unusual custody battle, Shatry Viruddh Shastry sees a 7-year old boy’s grandparents, played by Paresh Rawal and Neena Kulkarni who are no match to Soumitra Chatterjee and Lily Chakraborty in the original, fighting to keep their grandson with them.

Paresh plays a classical musician Manohar who along with his wife Urmila (Neena Kulkarni) looks after their grandchild Momoji (Kabir Pahwa) in Panchgani (the original film was set in Shantiniketan). When the child’s parents...

Veteran actress Rakhee Gulzar, who is known for films such as ‘Kabhi Kabhie’, ‘Kaala Patthar’, ‘Khal Nayak’, ‘Karan Arjun’ and others is making a comeback in Bengali films after a hiatus. The actress was last seen in Bengali cinema in her theatrical release ‘Shubho Mahurat’ which was helmed by Rituparno Ghosh.

The actress will be soon seen in the upcoming Bengali film ‘Amar Boss’ in which she essays the role of the protagonist.

‘Amar Boss’, which also stars Shiboprosad and Srabanti Chatterjee is helmed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee. The cameras are expected to start rolling on January 3 for the film.

Nandita Roy expressed her excitement about working with Rakhee Gulzar: “I have great regards for Rakhee di and wanted to work with her for a long time. ‘Amar Boss’ was conceived keeping her in mind. We are delighted about getting this opportunity to work with her.”

Shiboprosad added:...

Veteran actress Rakhee Gulzar, who is known for films such as ‘Kabhi Kabhie’, ‘Kaala Patthar’, ‘Khal Nayak’, ‘Karan Arjun’ and others is making a comeback in Bengali films after a hiatus. The actress was last seen in Bengali cinema in her theatrical release ‘Shubho Mahurat’ which was helmed by Rituparno Ghosh.

The actress will be soon seen in the upcoming Bengali film ‘Amar Boss’ in which she essays the role of the protagonist.

‘Amar Boss’, which also stars Shiboprosad and Srabanti Chatterjee is helmed by Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee. The cameras are expected to start rolling on January 3 for the film.

Nandita Roy expressed her excitement about working with Rakhee Gulzar: “I have great regards for Rakhee di and wanted to work with her for a long time. ‘Amar Boss’ was conceived keeping her in mind. We are delighted about getting this opportunity to work with her.”

Shiboprosad added:...

‘Shastry Virudh Shastry’ is the Hindi remake of the 2017 hit Bengali film ‘Posto’, also directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy. A very contemporary and relevant story that checks all the right boxes about raising children, parents versus grandparents, the taboo of drinking, tradition versus modernity et al.

‘Shastry Virudh Shastry’ is about Malhaar Shastry (Shiv Panditt) and Mallika Shastry (Mimi Chakraborty), a hard working couple, chasing their dreams who get into a situation that unsettles their life. Soon, Malhaar gets a lucrative dream-come-true opportunity in the USA. The couple make up their mind to take the leap of faith and move abroad. So, what’s the fuss?

Their 7 year old son Yaman Shastry aka Momoji (Kabir Pahwa) has been living with his loving & caring grandparents Manohar Shastry (Paresh Rawal) & Urmila Shastry (Neena Kulkarni) since he was 3 months old. Malhaar’s father Manohar has reservations about allowing his grandson to move with his parents.

‘Shastry Virudh Shastry’ is the Hindi remake of the 2017 hit Bengali film ‘Posto’, also directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy. A very contemporary and relevant story that checks all the right boxes about raising children, parents versus grandparents, the taboo of drinking, tradition versus modernity et al.

‘Shastry Virudh Shastry’ is about Malhaar Shastry (Shiv Panditt) and Mallika Shastry (Mimi Chakraborty), a hard working couple, chasing their dreams who get into a situation that unsettles their life. Soon, Malhaar gets a lucrative dream-come-true opportunity in the USA. The couple make up their mind to take the leap of faith and move abroad. So, what’s the fuss?

Their 7 year old son Yaman Shastry aka Momoji (Kabir Pahwa) has been living with his loving & caring grandparents Manohar Shastry (Paresh Rawal) & Urmila Shastry (Neena Kulkarni) since he was 3 months old. Malhaar’s father Manohar has reservations about allowing his grandson to move with his parents.

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...

Distribution

Germany’s Zdf Studios has secured worldwide distribution rights for documentary series “Hitler’s Power” (3 x 50’), an exploration of how and why Hitler rose to power and the terrible events that followed.

On Jan. 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. The series examines why the Nazi leader was confident of the approval of most Germans, even when the war was clearly lost, and what led Germans to support the Holocaust.

Eco Media, History Media and Zdf Digital, a Zdf Studios subsidiary, teamed to co-produce “Hitler’s Power” in association with Zdf Studios.

Ralf Rückauer, VP, unscripted, Zdf Studios, said: “’Hitler’s Power’ is very much a modern look at this period of German history, designed for a young audience that is disconnected from the generation who experienced the war or its aftermath. With the extensive research undertaken and its high production values, the series offers a distinctive and...

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.

When you type “zany synonyms” in Google, you find words like avant-garde, eccentric, quirky, and so on. But Netflix’s latest rom-com, The Wonder Weeks, directed by Appie Boudellahis and Aram van de Rest, is none of that, despite Netflix projecting it as a “Zany” comedy on the website. Of course, not everything Netflix says has to be true, and ninety percent of their original movies are forgettable, but this movie is god-awful. I wish I had a less harsh word to describe it, but this is just how it is.

I don’t mind the romantic comedy or family comedy genres. If things are done well, films of these genres can turn out to be as satisfactory as eating a bag full of potato chips when you have no other snacks available. But the problem with Netflix is that they have this exasperating tendency to apply an equivalent of TikTok filter to everything,...

Jisshu Sengupta has had good run in Hindi films this year, with roles in Shakuntala Devi, Durgamati and Sadak 2. The actor is currently focussed on home turf of Bengali cinema. Jisshu Sengupta’s next will also mark the reunion of the successful team of 'Brahma Janen Gopon Kommoti' as 'Baba Baby O…' is also directed by Aritra Mukherjee with story and screenplay by Zinia Sen and dialogues by Samragnee Bandyopadhyay.

On the occasion of Christmas, Windows Productions announces their upcoming film 'Baba Baby O…'. Nandita Roy and Shiboprosad Mukherjee's Windows Productions ends 2020 on a high note with a blockbuster collaboration for two films with Jisshu Sengupta. Announcing the same, the makers reveal the title and poster of 'Baba Baby O…'

The poster features two kids and a Baba. Inclining towards a single father of two kids, the poster however puzzles everyone about the mysterious other.

Talking about the film,...

By Ahana Bhattacharya

Kolkata, Nov 20 (Ians) Belashuru, the last film of Bangla cinema legend Soumitra Chattopadhyay, could release on his birthday, January 19, if things normalise in the wake of the ongoing pandemic.

The film is directed by the acclaimed duo of Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy. On Friday, speaking to Ians, Mukherjee spoke of release plans of the film.

"Belashuru is the sequel to Bela Seshe (2015) and it is also Soumitra Da's last film, which makes it really close to our heart. The film was ready to be released on the 5th of June this year, but the pandemic had other plans and we had to postpone release. We are waiting for things to normalise and once 100 per cent audience is allowed in the theatres, we will release the film. Now we are planning to release the film on January 19, 2021, on Soumitra Da's birthday. If that doesn't work out then,...

By Vinayak Chakravorty

He was the alt superstar of Bangla cinema in its glory years, the affable Bhadralok icon who crafted a towering stature ironically banking on down-to-earth, believable characters that represented middle-class Bengal. The brand of stardom was in stark contrast to the other shining luminary of contemporary cinema in the state -- Uttam Kumar -- whose position as Mahanayak in the Bengali psyche was primarily cemented in idol worship and mass hysteria.

Soumitra Chattopadhyay -- Chatterjee to anglicised India -- answers to the term ‘phenomenon' as absolutely as few actors do, for the sheer ease with which he defied the cliches of image. His stardom was sensational, and yet born out of realism. He was the mascot of the peerless Satyajit Ray's oeuvre, having worked with the maestro in 14 films, and yet he scored with the same assuredness in works of contemporary commercial powerhouses as Ajoy Kar and Tarun Mazumdar.

The director duo Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy has become a household name in Bengal after their back-to-back hits “Belasheshe” and “Prakton”. But unfortunately, I didn’t get any chance to watch either of those movies and “Posto” was my first interaction with their directorial skills, and sadly, I am hugely disappointed with the treatment of this film. “Posto” has a powerful story line with a strong message that deals with an acute social problem. But with a poor narrative and theatrical directorial approach it ends up as a loud and melodramatic movie with a predictable climax and too many slippages from the directorial perspective.

Arnab (Jisshu Sengupta) and Sushmita (Mimi Chakraborty) are a working couple residing in Kolkata who decide to leave their only son Posto, with his grandparents Dinen (Soumitra Chatterjee) and Gauri (Lily Chakraborty) in Shantiniketan, as they could not give much time to...