iWorld
ZEE5’s ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ to premiere on 15 August
Mumbai: ZEE5 to deliver a pulse-racing Independence Day treat with the premiere of ZEE5 Original, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ on 15 August. This detective thriller, based on the iconic Narayan Sanyal’s ‘Sonar Kanta,’ promises to keep viewers glued to their screens as they unravel a murderous mystery alongside the brilliant advocate P.K. Basu. Created by the visionary filmmaker and actor Joydeep Mukherjee, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye boasts a stellar cast led by the versatile Saswata Chatterjee as the iconic P.K. Basu, national award-winner Ananya Chatterjee as Rani Basu, and marking his electrifying OTT debut is the charismatic Soham Chakraborty. This powerhouse ensemble breathes life into a story that’s as much about solving crimes as it is about confronting personal demons. Stream the biggest murder mystery of Bengal, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ starting 15 August on ZEE5.
Embed Link: https://youtu.be/NoQojBnaKbA?feature=shared
Set against the misty, storm-lashed backdrop of Darjeeling, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ plunges viewers into a world where nothing is as it seems. P.K. Basu [Saswata Chatterjee], haunted by the tragic loss of his daughter, finds himself in a race against time at the ominous Hotel Repose. As a killer stalks the halls, seeking their next victim, a savage storm cuts off all communication with the outside world. Trapped with a cast of suspicious characters, each harboring their own dark secrets, P.K Basu must rely on his razor-sharp intellect and uncanny observational skills to unmask the murderer before they strike again. But this is no ordinary whodunit. As bodies pile up and the tension ratchets to unbearable levels, viewers will be forced to question everything they think they know. Is the killer among the hotel guests? Or could it be someone closer to home? With each twist and turn, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ will keep audiences entertained, making every frame worth watching.
ZEE5 chief business officer Manish Kalra expressed, “At ZEE5, we’re thrilled to present our latest offering ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’, featuring some of the biggest talents of the Bangla creative ecosystem. Bengal as a market has been a key focus area for us with ZEE5 launching multiple originals in the last one year. Our content strategy has featured quality storytelling and some powerhouse local collaborations. This has led to the diversification of our library and has also resulted in incremental audience engagement and watch-time. We’ve witnessed immense popularity and dedicated fandom for murder mysteries and detective thrillers, especially in the Bengali market. ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ is not just a nod to Bengal’s rich literary tradition, but it is also a modern, high-octane thriller that we believe will captivate audiences across India. The series represents our commitment to delving deeper into regional content and expanding our reach to viewers who crave high-quality, locally resonant storytelling.”
Director Joydeep Mukherjee remarked, “Bringing ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ to life has been a journey very close to my heart. We’ve taken Narayan Sanyal’s beloved ‘Sonar Kanta’ and reimagined it for today’s audience, creating a thriller that’s as emotionally resonant as it is along with being suspenseful. Saswata Chatterjee breathing life into P.K. Basu, an advocate haunted by personal loss, and Soham Chakraborty making his OTT debut along with national award winner Ananya Chatterjee playing the role of Rani Basu. we’ve crafted a story that will keep viewers guessing until the final frame. Set against the wondrous backdrop of storm-ravaged Darjeeling, ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ is more than a mystery – it’s a psychological rollercoaster that will test your nerves. We’ve poured our hearts into every aspect of this series, from the intricate plot twists to the haunting cinematography, and we can’t wait for audiences to experience the tension, drama, and emotional depth of this uniquely Bengali thriller.”
Saswata Chatterjee said, “Bringing P.K. Basu to life in ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye has been incredibly rewarding. Basu is a successful lawyer whose world crumbles when he loses his daughter due to a case he took personally. This tragedy transforms him, pushing him to use his keen observational skills to stop a criminal. What drew me to this role was Basu’s struggle to protect his loved ones from a dangerous killer while battling his own grief. It’s a character that requires both intellect and emotion, and I’m eager for viewers to follow Basu’s journey through our suspenseful story.”
Ananya Chatterjee shared, “Playing Rani Basu in ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ has been a touching experience. Rani is a mother and wife whose world is shattered by the loss of her daughter Mithu. She sees visions of her dead child, which adds an eerie element to her character. Despite her grief, Rani helps her husband with his cases, offering valuable insights. It’s been rewarding to portray this complex woman who balances her sorrow with a desire to be useful. I’m looking forward to viewers seeing how Rani’s story unfolds in this gripping thriller.”
Soham Chakraborty expressed his excitement, “Debuting on OTT with the role of Subir Roy in ‘Kaantaye Kaantaye’ has been incredibly thrilling. Portraying a character deeply enmeshed in a gripping and suspenseful storyline alongside P.K. Basu has pushed me to explore new facets of my acting. The series is packed with intensity and unexpected twists, and I can’t wait for audiences to experience this riveting story.”
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
