Exclusive! Sourav Chakraborty of Chemistry Mashi: It is also a family drama sans a hideous plot

After the success of Rajneeti, Sourav Chakraborty is back in business with Chemistry Mashi. The show that is scheduled to be dropped on Hoichoi will also mark Debashree Roy’s debut on OTT. The trailer of Chemistry Mashi dropped on January 24 and already garnered positive reviews. Debashree plays the character of an aspirant vlogger who started teaching chemistry through her videos. Her popularity threatened the local tutorial heads and that’s how the drama unfolds. In a chat, Sourav explains how the story was introduced and how Debashree joined the show. 

Also read: Chemistry Mashi trailer review: Debashree Roy sets to make a comeback with a refreshing vibe 

Sourav said that the postproduction is at its last leg. “After Rajneeti, we wanted to do something something that is not a thriller. We wanted to make something that is relatable, something that regular people can connect and yet it is not something tacky. Ishita (Sarkar, co-worker) came u with the idea that a woman in her 50s wants to try her luck as a vlogger. We started brainstorming and writing and it shaped up. Finally, Chemistry Mashi became a lot more than a story of a vlogger,” he said. 

Sourav also admitted that the show is also about a family and they tried to make each character important. “We have a lot of characters and those characters are equally important in the series. And everyone has put forward a brilliant performance,” said the director. 

Also read: Bengali web series to look forward to in 2024 and where to watch them 

While developing the story, the team thought about Debashree Roy. “Initially, we were apprehensive. We are thankful that the producers immediately liked the idea. But we were scared that Debashree Roy would like it. What if she did not want to explore OTT? But when we narrated the story, she heard it out completely. In fact, she asked us more than we expected. Finally, she said that she would like to be a part of the project,” he said. 

Even during the shooting, there were apprehensions. “I was unsure how she would react if I asked her to repeat a shot. “However, to our surprise, she instantly became a part of the project. Not for once she reminded us of the stardom she carries,” said the director.   

Sourav and his team shot at different locations over two months – a rare event in the Bengali OTT space. Due to the limited budget, most of the series are shot in haste. But Sourav took his time. “We take care of the production and hence, the shooting gets spread out. Finally, everything is here. The show promises intense drama and you just saw 20% of it in the trailer. I am hopeful that people would love it,” he said.