Mostofa Sarwar Farooki unveiled the trailer for debut web series “Ladies and Gentlemen” in a virtual press conference on June 14, at 4pm.
The eight-episode series will globally premiere on the OTT platform ZEE5 on July 9.
The ensemble cast includes Maria Nur, Pavel Areen, Tanvir Hossain, Mamunur Rashid, Tasnia Farin, Hasan Masood, Partha Barua, Alexey Kosoruko and Iresh Zaker among others.
Produced by Nusrat Imrose Tisha, the web series aspires to tackle a few timely social themes, including gender inequality, rape culture, patriarchy and others. The lead character of Sabila, played by Tasnia Farin, embodies the struggle of working women in Bangladesh.
Director Farooki said, “This is not a #metoo drama. I made ‘Third Person Singular Number’ more than a decade ago when there were no such movements. That being said, movements are not very dramatic. Our job as filmmakers is to find the nuances in any and all stories and not resort to a black and white narrative.”
The 2 minutes and 21-second trailer was unveiled during the press conference, in presence of all the cast and crew.
“Entertainment consumption has taken a difference shape in recent years, particularly due to the pandemic. But for the last ten years or so, all of us could see it coming. The fact that OTTs would take over theatres was only a matter of time.” Farooki, who has time after time expressed his frustration with the state's censor board, continued, “I am glad as an independent filmmaker because an OTT platform like ZEE5 has given me tremendous autonomy that I did not have before.”
Bangladeshi audiences will be able to stream the new web series on ZEE5 for free.