Athhoi, Bengali adaptation of Shakespeare's Othello, gets a release date

The makers- Jio Studios and SVF- have locked June 14 as the release date.

The release date has been announced by paying admiration to the Elizabethan Era, and introducing the audience to the talented cast and creative minds behind the project.

Actor-director Anirban Bhattacharya, who had earlier made web show 'Mandaar' which was loosely based on Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', will oversee the project as a creative director.

Sohini Sarkar and Arna Mukhopadhyay will play the characters of Diya and Dr. Athhoi Lodha, representing Desdemona and Othello, respectively.

Anirban Bhattacharya takes on the role of Gogo (Iago in the play).

Anirban Bhattacharya shares, "Our aim with 'Athhoi' is to offer audiences a fresh perspective on a classic tale. It's a thrilling journey of unravelling the complexities of the human psyche, set against a backdrop of intrigue and deception. Since we have been a part of the play and doing the theatre together, the three of us were in complete sync from Day 1."

Sohini Sarkar says, "Playing Diya has been an exhilarating experience. She is a character of strength and vulnerability, and I believe audiences will connect with her journey on a deeply emotional level."

Director Arna Mukhopadhyay expresses his excitement, stating, "Bringing 'Athhoi' to life has been a labour of love. It's a story that resonates across generations, and we've endeavoured to infuse it with contemporary relevance while staying true to the essence of Shakespeare's vision."

'Othello' was earlier adapted by Vishal Bharadwaj in a Hindi language film, 'Omkara', which was released in 2006.

In Bengali cinema, filmmaker Ranjan Ghosh was the first to make a film based on 'Othello', titled as 'Hrid Majharey' starring Abir Chatterjee and Raima Sen in the lead.

Acting legend Uttar Kumar had featured in a famous 'Othello' scene in popular film 'Saptapadi'.