Making a memorable, compassionate character

"It takes a writer or a filmmaker nearly a lifetime or so—to create an iconic character," says Ashfaque Nipun, creator of the excellent cop crime thriller web series "Mohanagar."

OC Harun's character has undoubtedly become one of the most iconic in Bangla OTT, especially since the show's second season.

While discussing his experience working on the second season with The Daily Star, the director stated that it was the most difficult project of his career. "I could have continued the second season as an explainer to the previous one," Nipun says, "but I took the risk and propelled the entire story to another tangent, which could have failed significantly." I had no choice but to take the risk."

The bold and honest portrayal of the contemporary political and social scenario definitely took a lot of courage. The metaphors used in the show convey some strong messages against oppression.

"From the sense of moral duty and as an artiste, I am liable to society to capture the time I am living in. Although it is extremely challenging, yet, it will remain as a reflection of contemporary times, be it in the form of fiction," says Nipun.

Even though the first season's ending hinted at another, Nipun mentioned that it was actually the audience whose reaction and demands brought OC Harun back. "I am blessed to have been able to create such a character and at the same time, to have Mosharraf Karim, one of the finest actors of our time, play it."

How did the character come to his mind? "All of us share a lot of similarities and qualities with him," explains Nipun.

OC Harun's character is ambiguous; he is both humane and corrupted. "We can think of him as the sum total of everyone around us. He has both strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, he possesses the unique trait that we as a nation possess—being both kind and tough at the same time."

Harun's vulnerable nature has won over the hearts of the audience, who are eager to see the full ramifications of his actions. How far can the protagonist go? "Well, only 5% of the OC's persona has been explored; the other 95% remains unexplored, so there is a lot of room for experimenting with this character further."

It begs the question, will "Mohanagar" return for a third season? "The beauty of most web-series is that they are character-driven, rather than plot-driven," the director responds with a mysterious smile. Any character can reappear at any time. There is that option. No character is ever truly gone. The door is always open for them to come back in. Let us hope that the "Mohanagar" story continues."
Nipun also confirmed that he is preparing for his big screen debut. "I'm planning for it, and I'd love to make something lighthearted for the big screen," he adds.

Despite widespread criticism, "Mohanagar" proved to be a watershed moment in the OTT industry, with long-term ramifications. "If we can open the door to liberal debate and constructive criticism, particularly in the visual mediums," he concludes, "it will be essentially good for our own culture, and the world will know us as open-minded and adaptable."