The value of `Mohanagar` stretches far beyond social media hype

Ashfaque Nipun's Mohanagar has rightfully become a hot topic on Bangladeshi social media. But Mohanagar's value stretches far beyond that.

One can view a political thriller while having one of two perspectives – either as a thriller enthusiast or as someone who is familiar with the political actors and events of the filmed context.

I started watching Mohanagar as a thriller enthusiast who had heard good reviews about the show. But it did not take much time to convince me to switch my perspective. I watched in awe as Nipun masterfully weaved composite characters inspired by Bangladesh's contemporary political and economic landscape over the last decade.

The web series sheds light on the grey area where the dichotomy between the executive and political authorities collapses in Bangladesh. Mohanagar does not tell us anything we don't already know: crony capitalists receive special treatment for their unlawful acts, law enforcement agencies operate at their discretion and under pressure from the "upor mohol," citizens present in the wrong place at the wrong time become pawns, and there exists selective surveillance of city-dwellers. Mohanagar also offers nothing new about the popular ideology that the protagonist must get their hands dirty to fight against a corrupt system.

But Mohanagar does lend a voice to stories that other contemporary directors and filmmakers chose to avoid. It pushes us against political forgetfulness, bringing back attention to harmful practices that are being normalised in Bangladesh.

While retelling the political narrative of Bangladesh, Nipun did miss a few opportunities. The treatment of female characters displays the traditional male gaze while missing nuances. The assistant commissioner had little command over the police station in the first season of the show. While she attempted to figure out what OC Harun was up to, her character was primarily clueless in connecting the dots. Her role betrayed a lack of attention from the director in developing a female character in a position of power. Mayor Rasheda Khanom did have access to the minister to turn the table in the last episode of the second season. But Rasheda neither had much screen time, nor could she embody the journey of a female politician becoming central to the politics of power in Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Mitu portrays the role of an elder sister in Bangladeshi families predictably – being caring and emotional yet persistent, and responsible for the family's well-being in the absence of a brother.

Mohanagar checks most boxes to be acclaimed as a top-notch political thriller. Dark humour, puns, unexpected moves from supporting actors, plot twists, and parallel stories lead to the climax. Music director Jahid Nirob deserves a huge shoutout for the background score that creates the ambiance for tense, suspenseful, and dramatic scenes. And Nipun promises to retain viewers' attention for at least another season, given the glimpse of Anirban and a nail-biting cliffhanger.

Sharif Wahab is a PhD candidate at Indiana University in Bloomington, US.

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