Jio Studios and SVF Entertainment Unveil Trailer for "Athhoi," A Modern Interpretation of Shakespearean Drama- Othello The film is slated to grace the silver screen on June 14th! “Truths are illusions of which we have forgotten that they are illusions” --- Nietzsche Kolkata, June 06th, 2024 – Jio Studios and SVF Entertainment have released the highly anticipated Trailer for "Athhoi," just one week ahead of the film's premiere. The trailer offers an enigmatic glimpse into the human heart and society, promising a captivating cinematic experience. "Athhoi" captures the essence of Shakespeare's exploration of human emotions, portraying love, deception, and rivalry in a contemporary setting. It begins with a powerful depiction of the human existential crisis, examining the dichotomy of good and bad, and how society provokes these internal conflicts. The trailer sparks conversations about love, jealousy, and ambition in today's world, delivering a profound message on the concept of truth and challenging our conventional understanding. The film features a stellar cast including Arna Mukhopadhyay, Anirban Bhattacharya, Sohini Sarkar, Ditipriya Roy, Mimi Dutta, Arpan Ghoshal, Kaushik Banerjee, and other important cast – crew members. Arna Mukhopadhyay, the Director and the Actor breathing life into Dr. Athhoi Lodha (Othello), shared his thoughts, "'Athhoi' is a labour of love that has taken years to bring to fruition. With this trailer, our aim is to delve deep into the complexities of human emotions and present a modern interpretation of Shakespeare's timeless tale. Through this film, we hope to evoke profound emotions and reflections." Anirban Bhattacharya, who plays Gogo (echoing Iago from Shakespeare's original work) and serves as the Creative Director, expressed his sentiments, "We were clear from the beginning on how to create this Shakespearean world. Every shot division was meticulously planned, and our team worked tirelessly from pre-production to post-production. As the release date approaches, there is a mix of excitement and nervousness. We hope for the best." Sohini Sarkar, who brings to life the spirited and intelligent character of Diya, reminiscent of Desdemona, remarked, "Playing Diya was a transformative experience. This role allowed me to explore the depths of human resilience and vulnerability. 'Athhoi' invites audiences to question and feel, making it a truly immersive journey." Set for release on June 14th, "Athhoi" is poised to be a cinematic milestone, eagerly awaited by audiences worldwide. Through its innovative interpretation, the film promises to offer a thought-provoking exploration of jealousy, ambition, and love today.

SVF Entertainment: Breaking New Ground in the Bangladeshi Film Industry 

SVF Entertainment, a cornerstone of the Bengali entertainment sector, is now taking a significant leap into the Bangladeshi film market. This expansion is marked by the collaboration with Dhaka-based Alpha-I Studios and the OTT platform Chorki to produce two major Bangladeshi films, “Toofan” and “Domm”, both poised to redefine the cinematic landscape. 

“Toofan”, directed by Raihan Rafi and starring Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan, represents a groundbreaking collaboration in Bangla cinema, and is set to redefine the scale of storytelling and elevate Bengali cinema to global prominence. 

The second film, “Domm”, directed by Redoan Rony and starring National Award-winning actor Chanchal Chowdhury, is based on a true story. This collaboration between SVF, Chorki, and Alpha-i aims to deliver high-quality content to a global audience. 

While SVF’s recent foray into the Bangladeshi market is a focal point, the studio also briefly highlighted its initiatives in other markets, including the production of two Telugu shows for Disney+ hotstar, which is Dayaa and Vadhuvu. This reflects SVF’s versatile approach and commitment to delivering diverse and high-quality entertainment across regional boundaries. 

SVF’s expansion into Bangladesh is not just about producing films but creating an ecosystem that fosters creativity and innovation in the Bengali film industry. With a rich history of producing iconic films and a vision for a robust infrastructure including theatres and digital cinema networks, SVF is poised to make a significant impact on the global entertainment scene for the 6th largest spoken language in the world – Bengali. 

Mahendra Soni, Co- Founder-Director, SVF Entertainment & Hoichoi, expressed the commitment saying, “We at SVF are taking another significant step to deepen our relationship with the entertainment industry of Bangladesh by venturing into local movie production. We are not just creating films; we are fostering a community and a culture that celebrates Bengali cinema. Our goal is to ensure that Bengali language films reach every corner of the globe, and to continue delivering projects that stand tall on international standards.” 

In addition to SVF’s cinematic endeavours, SVF has notably launched the most successful local language OTT platform, Hoichoi Bangladesh, which has successfully completed over 3 years of producing compelling content such as “Taqdeer,” “Karagar,” “Mohanagar,” “Kaiser” and many others for Bangladesh. Notably, the first season of “Karagar” achieved acclaim and recognition, earning the prestigious Asian Academy Creative Award in 2023. During this time, hoichoi has even collaborated with some of the best creative talents in Bangladesh, further solidifying SVF as a dynamic force not only in film production but also in the digital entertainment space. This achievement underscores their commitment to fostering creativity and innovation in the Bengali entertainment industry.