Durga Puja – Bengali’s biggest festival across the world – is a little more than 90 days away. The countdown has already started. Traditionally, Devi Paksha – the fortnight of Maa Durga – starts with the cultural milestone Mahishasurmardini which has been broadcasting since 1931 on All India Radio (AIR). It was later reconstructed for televisions. In today’s time, every Bengali channel now produces its own version of the show. Popular stars of the TV and film industry act in those shows in the characters of Durga and Mahishasura on different channels. 

Now, for the first time, Mahalaya will be presented as a web show on OTT. Produced by Shibaji Panja, the show will feature young actress and accomplished dancer Rajnandini Paul as Maa Durga. The working title of the show is Mahamaya and it will capture the essence of Okal Bodhon (the chronicle of the Autumn festival). As per sources, Rajnandini will play all the avatars of Maa Durga. Arkadeep Nath Mullick, who directed Kumudini Bhaban, is the creative director of the show while Sayantan Mukherjee is scheduled to direct the show. The shooting is scheduled to begin by the end of July.    

Traditionally, Mahishasurmardini is presented as a choreographed musical dotted with Agamani Gaan (songs dedicated to welcoming Maa Durga) and Sanskrit stotras. Mahamaya, on the other hand, will have a script to work on. The other casts are yet to be finalised. According to sources, a number of actors and actresses from the Bengali theatre circuit are expected to be part of the show. 

Rajnandini was last seen in Hoichoi’s Sampurna 2. In the first season of Sampurna, she is seen as a victim of marital rape. Directed by Sayantan Ghosal, the show also features Sohini Sarkar, Anubhav Kanjilal, and others in the lead. Her performance was widely lauded not just by viewers but also the critics. 

Read Also: kalki 2898 ad worldwide box office day 11 - amitabh bachchan-prabhas' film to shatter animal's record, crosses rs 900-crore mark