Stage enters Bengali OTT with psychological thriller Dahan set in a haunted North Kolkata mansion

Archisman Sinha, co-founder of Stage Bengali, said, "Stage (OTT) have always aimed to work with the local artists, creators and writers, to encourage them and keep the audience entertained and hence with this philosophy we're here with our official launch in bengali language".

The move is more than the launch of another web series. It reflects a growing belief within India's streaming landscape that audiences are increasingly seeking stories rooted in their own language, culture and lived experiences, rather than narratives shaped for a broader, uniform audience.

The leading cast of the series Dahan (actress Annmary Tom on the left, actor Siddharth Sen in the middle with child actor Subhasree Chakraborty and actress Pooja Sarkar on the right). Photo: Avishek Mitra

Nairwita Chakraborty, writer and creative producer of Dahan, said, "Dahan has been a deeply personal journey. We wanted to explore how the past never truly leaves us and how buried truths eventually find their way back. It's a story driven by emotion, layered with suspense and built around characters who feel real and vulnerable."

Since its inception, Stage has built its identity around regional storytelling, bringing together content in Haryanvi, Rajasthani, Bhojpuri, Marathi and Gujarati. With the addition of Bengali, the platform continues its vision of creating an entertainment ecosystem where stories are told in the dialects people grow up speaking, dreaming and remembering.

Actress Pooja Sarkar said, "This role was challenging for me but even more challenging for Subhasree (lead child actor). She has outdone herself and I think she's done the best work among all of us."

Its first Bengali offering carries that philosophy into a familiar yet haunting setting. Nestled within the ageing corridors of a North Kolkata mansion, Dahan follows a young woman whose mysterious connection to a decade-old tragedy gradually unearths long-buried family secrets. What begins as an unsettling mystery slowly unfolds into a story about memory, relationships and the emotional weight of the past.

Candid moment of actress Annmary Tom on the left and actress Pooja Sarkar on the right, at the launch event. Photo: Avishek Mitra

Child actor Subhasree Chakraborty said, "Subhendu uncle was my very first director, so working with him came quite naturally and smoothly. There were very fun scenes and I particularly enjoyed them."

The series brings together an ensemble cast featuring Siddharth Sen, Annmary Tom, Subhasree Chakraborty and Pooja Sarkar, among others, while marking the feature debut of director Subhendu Chakravarti.

Actress Annmary Tom (in the middle) speaking at the official unveil of Stage Bengali and announcement of webseries Dahan, along with actor Siddharth Sen on the left and actress Pooja Sarkar on the right. Photo: Avishek Mitra

Although built around psychological suspense, Dahan reaches beyond the conventions of a supernatural thriller. It weaves together themes of love, loss, guilt, betrayal and redemption, suggesting that its deepest mysteries lie not in the unknown, but within the people who carry them. It is set to premiere on July 16.

(Reporting by Aaheli Chakraborty, Photos by Avishek Mitra)