The trailer for Arna Mukhopadhyay’s maiden directorial venture Athhoi, based on William Shakespeare’s Othello, was released by the makers on Thursday. Bankrolled by Jio Studios and SVF, the movie will hit theatres on June 14.
“Tomakeo thokte hobe Athhoi… #Athhoi : Official Trailer | Coming to the big screen on June 14 । Film directed by #ArnaMukhopadhyay, creative director @AnirbanSpeaketh,” SVF wrote on X alongside the two-and-a-half-minute long trailer.
While Arna himself plays the titular role, Anirban Bhattacharya takes on the role of Gogo, modelled after Iago from the original play. Sohini Sarkar steps into the shoes of Diya, a character based on Desdemona.
Set in the imaginary village of Virasuna, the trailer encapsulates Shakespeare’s deep dive into human emotions, showcasing themes of love, deception and rivalry set against a modern backdrop. The trailer opens with Gogo trying to provoke Athhoi, who belongs to the marginalised community, by highlighting the atrocities committed against Dalits historically and the ongoing humiliation they endure in everyday life.
The trailer then introduces Diya, Athhoi’s wife. Gogo tries to sow seeds of distrust in Athhoi’s mind, insinuating an affair between Diya and Athhoi’s trusted friend Mukul (Arpan Ghoshal). The trailer ends with an otherwise principled and morally-upright Athhoi being consumed by rage.
Sharing his thoughts on the trailer, Arna said, “Athhoi is a labour of love that has taken years to bring to fruition. Our aim is to delve deep into the complexities of human emotions and present a modern interpretation of Shakespeare's timeless tale.”
“We were clear from the beginning on how to create this Shakespearean world. Every shot division was meticulously planned, and our team worked tirelessly from pre-production to post-production,” shared Anirban Bhattacharya, who is also the creative director of the project.
Playing Diya was a transformative experience for Sohini Sarkar. “This role allowed me to explore the depths of human resilience and vulnerability. 'Athhoi' invites audiences to question and feel, making it a truly immersive journey,” she said.
The ensemble cast of Athhoi also includes Ditipriya Roy, Koushik Banerjee, Mimi Dutta and Sumit Panja. Amit Chatterjee has composed the music for Athhoi with background score by Subhadeep Guha. Soumik Haldar serves as the cinematographer of the film.
