Dhiman Dutta (played by Saswata Chatterjee) is a middle-class, middle-aged, Bengali family man with a wife, Anushila (played by Sreelekha Mitra) and daughter. Technologically challenged, Dhiman does not use the Internet, neither does he have a smartphone. Things take a turn when an office circular informs everyone of a digital upgrade and that they will have to use a smartphone to do all office work.
Dhiman’s co-worker (played by Kharaj Mukherjee) comes to his rescue and gets him a smartphone, and life is never the same again. How? For that you will have to wait for the 10-episode web series Dhimaner Dinkaal, produced by Chhayabani Balaji Entertainment, which streams on December 11 on Ekta Kapoor’s AltBalaji app.
Of course, the similarity between Dhiman Dutta and Saswata Chatterjee is not lost on anyone. “Apuda (Saswata) himself doesn’t use a mobile phone. He has promised that he won’t upgrade to a mobile phone, even after doing the show,” said Saugata Nandi, senior director, Chhayabani. Ekta’s Balaji Entertainment had teamed up with Chhayabani three years ago to produce films, TV shows and web series. Saswata has his own take on his mobile-free life. “I am not having trouble without a mobile phone. Our fathers went about their work without mobile phones. It is not that important to me. I know everything about the phone but I don’t use it. I don’t want to be available to everybody anytime they want me,” said Saswata.
Ekta, though, is exactly opposite to Saswata when it comes to the mobile phone. “I cannot be without my mobile. I need it constantly. I would like to get a mobile detox but I don’t think that’s gonna happen!” she said. And how will Saswata watch Dhimaner Dinkaal? “On my wife’s (Mohua) mobile,” he smiled.
The first three episodes are free on the app and will also be available on YouTube. “Dhimaner Dinkaal is a very sweet show. I think the celebrated middle-class of our country, especially in Bengal, will find an instant connect,” said Ekta. A web series, felt Sreelekha, provides a platform to go beyond borders. “We live in a global village and we have this mobile phone in our hand, and so we can expand and explore,” said Sreelekha.
