Filmmaker and actor Arindam Sil returns to television with his upcoming series Bhoomikanya. Based on Rupak Saha’s popular novel Tarita Puran, Bhoomikanya promises an intriguing journey on the rampant injustice against women in society.
Sil has picked prominent actors from the film industry to essay different roles in the series. Actress Sohini Sarkar will play the lead role of Tarita, actor Anirban Bhattacharya will play her accomplice Ankush, while Kaushik Sen and Chiranjeet Chakraborty will feature as the two villains Chandrabhanu and Maheswar.
Saha’s Tarita Puran narrates the revolt of female deities against the male gods in Devlok. They eventually give birth to Dash Mahavidya (10 Mahavidyas) with their concentrated energy and souls to stand against male domination. Tarita is one of the Mahavidyas.
In Bhumikanya, Tarita is a reptile specialist who returns to her village after completing her studies from abroad. Back in her homeland, she comes across all the injustice inflicted on women. As she stands up to fight the heinous crimes, including trafficking of women, she faces opposition from Chandrabhanu and Maheswar.
The director has also taken inspiration from Manasamangal Kavya, another mythological story of a snake goddess, and has drawn a parallel connection between Tarita and Chandrabhanu, and Behula and Chand Saudagar from Manasamangal Kavya. The character of Sanaka (Chand Saudagar’s wife) will also be seen in Bhumikanya and will be essayed by Rupanjana Mitra.
“Bengali telvision is where I began my journey. It is my starting point, and for me, this show is coming back to my roots. I was told by the channel officials to give the series a filmi touch, I think, it has turned out well and will give the audience a filmi flavour,” stated the director in an interview with the Tollyplanetbangla.com, an entertainment website.
Bhoomikanya will be aired from 30 July on Star Jalsa.