Mandaar | মন্দার [Bengali Web Series]

Title: Mandaar Director: Anirban Bhattacharya Language: Bengali Genre: Crime, Thriller, Political Drama Platform: Hoichoi Release Year: 2021 Episodes: 5 Based on: William Shakespeare's Macbeth --- Introduction "Mandaar" is a Bengali-language web series that boldly reimagines William Shakespeare's Macbeth in the setting of a grimy, rural fishing village in West Bengal. Helmed by the versatile Bengali actor-director Anirban Bhattacharya, this adaptation translates the dark themes of ambition, guilt, fate, and betrayal from a medieval Scottish court to the muddy, salt-infused coasts of a fictitious fishing village called Geilpur. With powerful performances, brooding visuals, and poetic brutality, "Mandaar" is both an artistic triumph and a raw exploration of human corruption. Let’s explore the plot, characters, themes, cinematography, performances, and symbolism in this detailed 2000-word analysis. --- Plot Summary The story of Mandaar closely follows the arc of Macbeth, recontextualized in the world of coastal fishermen and local political power struggles. Geilpur: The New Scotland The fictional fishing hamlet of Geilpur serves as the backdrop for this tragedy. A tightly knit community, Geilpur is rife with political manipulation, corruption, and an undercurrent of violence. At the center of this setting is Dablu Bhai, the dominant leader of the local fish mafia, analogous to King Duncan from Macbeth. Mandaar: The Anti-Hero Mandaar, played by Debasish Mondal, is the protagonist who mirrors Macbeth. A trusted lieutenant of Dablu Bhai, Mandaar is known for his brute strength and loyalty. However, underneath this loyalty simmers ambition. His transformation from a quiet enforcer to a paranoid tyrant forms the spine of the story. Mandaar’s life takes a pivotal turn after he meets a mysterious woman named Moina, whose cryptic predictions and goading encouragement (a parallel to the witches and Lady Macbeth) light the fire of power-hunger in him.