Akash Nagar Prison has had cell number 145 locked for the last fifty years. No prisoner could survive the night in that cell; they would be found dead hanging the next morning.
And one night, suddenly, the jail guards discover a prisoner inside. Who is he? How could he enter the locked cell? Most importantly, what does he want?
With this ludicrous premise begins the recent web series 'Karagar', directed by Syed Ahmed Shawki in his second directorial work after 'Taqdeer.' The series boasts a stellar cast, including Chanchal Chowdhury, Intekhab Dinar, Tasnia Fareen, FS Nayeem, Bijori Barkatullah, and Afzal Hossain.
The series has been streamed in Hoichoi and has seven episodes, each with a run time of thirty minutes. The series is the brainchild of Neamoth Ullah Masum, the lead screenwriter.
Karagar ties many elements together with various sub-plots and threads; at first, it all feels a little jumbled up. However, as the plot progresses, it picks up the pace and convolutes. There are a lot of plot elements, and all of them seem to be important. Many minute details are quite easy to ignore or forget, yet they are important in a wildly connected web.
Herein lies the brilliance of the plot, courtesy of the screenwriting panel consisting of Neamoth Ullah Masum, Suhan Rizwan, Rasheduzzaman Rakib, Siddique Ahmed, and Syed Ahmed Shawki. They have done a fabulous job, pulling off such an absurd theme with such excellence.
The strongest suit of the series is its brilliant screenplay, followed by an amazing performance of its cast. The main plot is so absurd that unless the screenplay keeps the audience glued to the screen, the series would have been a complete disaster. Another important part is the attention to detail. The way every minor but meticulous detail has been shown is subtle and engaging.
Every character has his agenda and own conflicts - which shows the intricate social interactions in society. The characters have been given their motives and defining traits, which made them feel relatable and engaging.
Chanchal Chowdhury has mesmerised the audience with his performance. It has been so refreshing to see Intekhab Dinar and Bijori Barkatullah on screen after a long time. Both of them have done justice to their names.
And most importantly, the way Afzal Hossain, the veteran actor, has reinvented himself as the head hangman of the jail is breathtaking. Tasnia Fareen and F S Nayeem have performed well too.
Karagar is the beginning of a brilliant web series, and the audience has been kept on the edge by the final cliffhanger. It is an absolute mind-boggler. This series has elevated the Bangladeshi web series industry to a new height.
