Bodh review: Afzal Hossain’s thriller is a good story that lacks warmth

3/5

Story: Retired judge Alamgir Hossain (Afzal Hossain) can’t sleep because of disturbing dreams. Two faces – his wife Dipti (Runa Khan), who is killed in a road accident, and Suman (Khairul Basar), who is serving his nine-year-sentence in jail for being a member of a local goon gang and trying to poison a government land official. Alamgir’s daughter Srabonti (Sarah Alam) takes the help of slightly eccentric police officer Ehsan (Shahjahan Shamrat) to find out the case files of Sumon. And of course, it leads to a bigger scheme and conspiracy. There is a cliffhanger ending to the first season. 

Review: Bodh is definitely a watchable web series. However, there is nothing that amazes you. It is fast and gripping but you already have an idea of what's going to happen next. The characters are very familiar without any surprise elements stored in them. And hence, the series lacks warmth and heart.  

The universe of Bodh is divided into two worlds – good and bad. There are barely any shades in between. It is only the character of Tamal, who resurrects from this monotony but a tad too late. Ehsan tries too hard to be cool and Srabonti is too perfect to be real. Their chemistry lacks crisis to make it believable. Meanwhile, the innocent charm in Sumon and Parvin’s (Orchita Sporshia) love story is heartwarming. In fact, Orchita Sporshia’s melancholy yet resilient presence in the character makes Parvin real. Khairul Basar also does a good job of establishing the helplessness of Suman. Despite the weak outline of the character, Shahjahan Shamrat handsomely presents Ehsan to us. On the other hand, Sarah Alam sometimes goes over the top as Srabonti. the character's conflict regarding her marital life and concern over her father's ailment is often overpowered by her smartness.   

Also read: Bodh trailer: Amitabh Reza Chowdhury meets Afzal Hossain in yet another riveting thriller from Bangladesh 

However, the series is still watchable because of the maker. The accomplished filmmaker that he is, Amitabh Reza Chowdhury manages to tell the story lucidly. Despite the lack of surprising elements, you enjoy the flow. Afzal Hossain is also seamless. He has been impressing us with his constant presence in Hoichoi. Syed Ahmed Shawki’s Karagar season two will surely bring more of Afzal Hossain to us. 

Verdict: Is Bangladeshi content the backbone of Hoichoi? The debate will continue. Bodh is surely not the best from the imported content pool. However, it is fuss-free and gripping. Despite its lacunas and predictability, it offers a seamless and engaging drama to keep your weekly dose of binge-watch alive.