The investigative thriller Shikarpur is produced by Shyam Sunder Dey and directed by Nirjhar Mitra. The series stars Ankush Hazra, Koushik Ganguly, Sandipta Sen, Debashish Mondol, Debesh Roychoudhury, Korak Samanta, Krishnendu Dewanji, Sayan Ghosh, Biswajit Das, Anirban Bhattacharya, in pivotal roles.

The Kolkata Mail correspondent Priyanka Dutta caught up with the director and the cast in an exclusive chat before the release of the series on ZEE5.

The main character in “Shikarpur,” played by Ankush Hazra, is Keshto, a dimly lit photographic studio owner who wants to become a renowned village detective like his mentor, Koushik Ganguly. His transformation from a loser to a rookie detective is followed in this 9-episode web series. Shikarpur is a peaceful tiny town in the Northern hills, as seen in the trailer. However, the locals have recently been witnesses to a number of killings, and there is also this pervasive fear of a ghost prowling in the darkness. Keshto discovers that the rabbit hole is wider than he initially believed when he begins his investigation. The show keeps the spectator on the edge of their seat while showcasing his struggles and setbacks. Will Keshto be able to identify the murderer?

“I had not just one, but several reasons to accept Shikarpur. Making my web series debut with Shikarpur will always hold a particular place in my heart. This series will be popular with viewers and have a compelling plot. This is undoubtedly one of the hardest roles that I have played and I have always enjoyed doing such roles. Shikarpur’s tale is the perfect blend of suspense and terror. Sharing the screen with such talented actors was a wonderful experience, and getting inside Kesto was quite surreal” said Ankush.

The actor also added that Kesto is a character that will be loved by the audience. “No audience can think that Eken Babu will be portrayed by someone other than Anirban Chakrabarti. Likewise, they will think that I can only play Kesto” said Ankush.

Director Nirjhar Mitra said “Shikarpur as is evident from the name is the name of a place. The place does not have any connection to places with a similar name. I hail from North Bengal. Whatever we have seen or observed consciously or unconsciously has become part of the writing. Kesto is a wannabe detective. He is a boy-next-door and not like Feluda or Byomkesh. He is an aspiring detective. He is a bit different from the other detectives”.

The series have been shot in North Bengal and Kolkata.

The director added that if the series is successful and if the channel and audiences want a sequel, he will surely make it.

Kaushik Ganguly said “Shikarpur takes us on the journey of a rookie detective vying for the title of Shikarpur’s top investigator. Being a part of Shikarpur has been an amazing experience. Each role is extremely complex, giving each actor a plethora of material to work with. The public will soon be able to experience the luxury and excitement of Shikarpur, and we are eagerly anticipating its release”.

Sandipta plays a small-town girl in the series. Her emotional quotient is high and she is the lady love of Kesto. “The work experience was great. The director was clear about what he wanted from us. And hence it was easy to portray my role. Working with Kaushik da was a lifetime learning experience. He is an actor who works so easily. I liked working with Ankush and we shared a great comfort level” said the actress.

The actress added that given a chance, she would like to portray a female detective.

Debasish Mondol said “The role of the police officer that I am playing is different from the other roles that I have played till now. It is set in a different locality; hence, the police officer is also different. There are many stories in the series that are inspired by real-life incidents. There is humor in the character that the audience will like. I have enjoyed the nuances in the series. I have worked with such a big team for the first team and I enjoyed them”.

The actor said that he wanted to explore many other roles as an actor. He does not want to limit himself to one type of character.

‘Shikarpur’ is all set to premiere exclusively on ZEE5 on 06^th January 2023.

Video link of the interview- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of4xnwBurLc

Priyanka Dutta