Director Leesa Gazi is set to bring a contemporary screen adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s short story ‘Shasti’ to the screen through an international co-production that unites talent and producers from seven countries.
The film stars Chanchal Chowdhury and Pori Moni alongside Aanon Siddiqua and Orko Das in the four lead roles. The team officially announced the project at a press conference in Dhaka on January 19, where Gazi unveiled the title and cast in the presence of producers and members of the media.
Instead of directly retelling Tagore’s original narrative, the film reframes its central themes within a modern context. The story follows the death of Lucky, a prominent Dhaka-based social media influencer, whose sudden demise sparks outrage across online platforms and news outlets. When suspicion turns towards her sister-in-law Meera, the film probes questions of guilt, public judgement and the fractures within a family under intense digital scrutiny.
Gazi, whose earlier film ‘Barir Naam Shahana’ earned critical praise, said the project examines contemporary social behaviour and the tension between virtual personas and real lives. Although the film draws inspiration from Tagore, she positions Shasti as a psychological drama grounded in present-day realities.
Chanchal Chowdhury described the role as a rare chance to engage with a modern interpretation of a literary classic. Pori Moni said the script attracted her with its layered and complex portrayal of female characters.
Aanon Siddiqua said the film demands more from her than any previous project, while Orko Das confirmed that Shasti marks his feature film debut in Bangladesh.
Producers have mounted Shasti as an international collaboration involving Komola Collective, Sanat Initiative, Awedacious Originals, Goopy Bagha Productions, Screenxcope and Black and White Workshop Incorporated.
The production team plans to begin filming in Dhaka in October and November this year.
