Bangladeshi web series Bodh is Amitabh Reza Chowdhury’s second directorial venture available on the Bengali OTT platform Hoichoi after his critically acclaimed Dhaka Metro. Frontlined by Afzal Hossain, Runa Khan, Sarah Alam, Khairul Basar, Orchita Sporshia, Shahjahan Shamrat and Rawnak Hasan, the gripping drama is about a retired judge having second thoughts about the verdicts he delivered.
Here’s why we find Bodh a binge-worthy thriller.
There is a judge with a guilty conscience
Retired judge Alamgir Hossain (Afzal Hossain) is having sleepless nights because of disturbing nightmares. Two faces haunt him in his nightmares — his wife Dipti (Runa Khan), who was killed in an incident of road rage, and Suman (Khairul Basar), who is serving his nine-year-sentence in jail. Alamgir’s daughter, Srabonti (Sarah Alam), seeks the help of an eccentric police officer, Ehsan (Shahjahan Shamrat), to reopen the old cases in order to help her father. But the duo face the brutality of a crippling legal system.
A cliffhanger ending leaves you in suspense
The series shuttles between past and present as skeletons keep tumbling out of the closet. Led by his guilty conscience, Alamgir and his daughter seek answers for the events that happened 5 years ago, leading to the incarceration of an innocent man. They uncover a secret underbelly of crime over the course of eight episodes before the season ends on a cliffhanger that sees a murder attempt on a key character.
The simple storytelling reaches the heart
With a solid setting and a pacy narrative, Bodh delivers a knock-out climax that will force you to sit back and ponder. The director’s brilliance is reflected in the simplicity of storytelling. His characters are fleshed out and relatable; the writing desists from any unwarranted melodrama. This thriller also holds a mirror to society, serving us a warning about the repercussions of our actions.
Afzal Hossain, Sarah Alam shine as father & daughter
Afzal Hossain hits the ball out of the park as Alamgir with his nuanced portrayal of a judge on a guilt trip. Sarah Alam deserves special mention for justifying the role of a spirited daughter who is willing to take risks for her father, without going over the top. Shahjahan Samrat is impressive as the quirky cop.
Praiseworthy supporting cast
Khairul Basar exudes innocence as the wronged guy. He carries an air of melancholic helplessness, which makes you instantly empathise with his character. Orchita Sporshia is sweet in her portrayal of Parvin — her budding romance with Suman is like a breath of fresh air in this saga of crime and justice. Orchita’s restrained portrayal of Parvin perfectly brings out the character’s inner strength. Rawnak Hasan also lives up to the character of the unscrupulous Rana, who we must watch out for in the second season.
