ZEE5 Bangla to Premiere Crime Anthology Ganoshotru on October 31

ZEE5 Bangla has announced the release of its upcoming original crime series Ganoshotru, which will premiere on the platform on 31 October 2025. The trailer was officially launched on Thursday at a press event held at Taj Vivanta, Kolkata, in the presence of the lead cast, crew and Ms. Rusa Banerjee, Business Head, ZEE5 Bangla.

The five-episode anthology explores the rise and downfall of some of Bengal’s most notorious criminals. Inspired by true incidents, the stories combine fact with fictional retelling to depict individuals who rose from modest beginnings but turned into feared names in Bengal’s underworld.

The cast includes Paoli Dam, Rudranil Ghosh, Ayush Das, Debopriyo Mukherjee and Subrata Dutta, each portraying characters based on real figures. Paoli Dam plays Troilokya Devi, regarded as India’s first female serial killer, who transformed from a widowed Brahmin into a ruthless extortionist. Rudranil Ghosh appears as Hubba Shyamal, a politically connected gangster who controlled Kolkata’s crime scene for years. Ayush Das portrays Sajal Barui, a teenage fugitive whose intelligence and crimes shocked the state, while Debopriyo Mukherjee plays The Chainman, a killer who strangled women. Subrata Dutta essays the role of Rashid Khan, linked to the 1993 Bowbazar blast.

Each episode is directed by a different filmmaker, offering distinct perspectives. Madhura Palit, who is also the cinematographer, makes her directorial debut with the Troilokya Devi story. Other episodes are directed by Abhirup Ghosh (The Chainman), Sayan Dasgupta (Rashid Khan), Samik Roy Chowdhury (Sajal Barui) and Srimanta Senguptta (Hubba Shyamal). The series is produced by Bangla Talkies.

Speaking at the launch, Ms. Rusa Banerjee said, “Ganoshotru is one of our most ambitious Bengali originals, blending truth and fiction to revisit Bengal’s crime history in a raw and cinematic manner. With a strong cast and an accomplished directorial team, we believe the show will spark wide conversations.”

The actors also described their experiences of portraying real characters. Paoli Dam said her role was “both powerful and challenging,” while Rudranil Ghosh noted that his character “escaped justice despite his crimes,” making the portrayal intense.

Ganoshotru will stream exclusively on ZEE5 Bangla from 31 October 2025.