All we need is a ‘Priyo Protibeshi’

Over the past few years, Eid dramas have shown more fizzle than sizzle. This year, very few dramas stood out, proving that over everything else, it is simplicity that attracts audience. One drama that caught our attention this year was Priyo Protibeshi. The story starts with a middle-aged landlady who is obnoxiously paranoid and curious about her neighbours. Before renting her flat out, she almost conducts an exam on each of potential tenant. One day, her husband finds a new family of two members, mother and son, for one of their flats without her approval and that's where the story begins. That landlady begins her interrogation, trying to find out if her new neighbour is perfect or not. Believing in the idea that one should be close to and share their lives with their neighbours, she brings forth an old concept that is lost in today's age. Eventually, the new neighbour gets irritated with her approach. For him it is unnecessary to interfere as a neighbour because he believes that culture is long gone. The drama is filled with funny incidents and light dialogues which keep the audience connected to the story. After a while, the neighbours are thoroughly frustrated with the landlady's habit of meddling in all of their business. All the tenants decide that they need to do something about this. After much thought, they decide to hold an election between the young man and the landlady, to figure out who is right. The lady knew that if it came down to an election, even her husband wouldn't vote for her because even he didn't approve of her ways. She then approaches the young man, but their conversation ends in a quarrel. As she leaves the house, suddenly, she tumbles down the stairs, injuring herself. Despite the tense situation between the man and the landlady, the first one to come to her rescue is none other than her opponent, her neighbour, the young man. Taking her to the doctor and giving her first aid, the scene brings out the essence of the drama - that it really is your neighbour who is there in times of need. In times of distress, the first one that can and should help you, is, your neighbour. It's a great story, urging viewers to look at living with neighbours through a new lense. It takes viewers back to the old golden days where neighbours were our friends, they were friends that stood by us in times of need. Nowadays, that concept is lost, with people giving priority to individuality and living alone - but is it worth it? This drama raises these questions. There's one dialogue that by the landlady that really hit home: “We are human, we are not islands, and we need to stay connected!” Not only did the story bring back old memories of times when neighbours used to be friends, it also showed another happier, positive side of the "aunty" figures in our lives. There was humour and great acting involved in the drama. Moreover, the old “aunty” landlord figure was beautifully portrayed by Shuborna Mustafa. The young mans character was being played by Badrul Anam Soud, Shuborna Mustafa’s real life husband with both of them doing justice to the script.Priyo Protibeshi is a complete package as far as entertainment is concerned. A simple play, it delivers on every level, with the play having no unnecessary frills or glamour. The director and actors focused on acting giving the drama a complete feel.Priyo Protibeshi aired on RTV. The script is written by Masum Shahriar while Golam Muktadir directed the film. Other actors were Zahid Hasan Shovon as Shubarna’s husband and Wahida Mallic Jolly as Soud’s mother.