(From left) Musafir Syed, director Ashfaque Nipun and Zahidul Haque Apu.

Popular TV serial “Mukim Brothers” is currently running on Channel i. Based on Mostafa Sarwar Farooki's story, the serial has been written and directed by Ashfaque Nipun. The 50th episode of the 52-episode serial was aired last week, much to the delight of the audience. Director Ashfaque Nipun along with Zahidul Haque Apu and Musafir Syed who don the roles of brothers Badrul Mukim and Anwar Mukim in the serial, recently shared their behind-the-camera experiences with The Daily Star.
“This serial has been mostly about improvised shooting. No written script was provided to the actors. Actually, to generate new ideas, I would conduct several brainstorming sessions with the actors,” says Nipun.
Though the audiences find it amusing to see both the brothers concocting ways to get each other into trouble all the time, the relationship between the respective actors is entirely different behind the scenes. “Both of them are very close off-screen. The actors are new but the kind of rapport they maintain on screen comes from extensive experience,” says the director.
“I am an amateur actor and this is my first serial. The fact that I was familiar with Nipun and his ways, helped me understand my character and play the part accordingly,” says Zahidul Haque Apu.
Funnyman Musafir Syed says that he finds a lot of similarities between the brothers' relationship in the serial and the one he shares with this elder brother in real life. “Now, I realise that I have done injustice to my brother though that experience has helped me in donning the character!” asserts Syed.
At present, the storyline of the serial stands at a suspenseful point: Taking advantage of the animosity between the two brothers, baddie Pinak Chowdhury and his PS Masud Moinuddin play dirty tricks to evict the Mukim family from their home.
What happens next? Audiences are left at the edge of their seats: will one brother be deprived of his father's property? Or will both the brothers jointly fight against the conspirators? If the second option occurs, will the hostility between the two brothers surface again?
Actor Tisha plays Badrul Mukim's wife in the serial, and was a friend to Anwar Mukim at one time. Lux-Channel i Superstar (2008) Israt Jahan Chaity plays Anwar Mukim's girlfriend whom he marries in a half an hour's ultimatum.
The serial also features Rasheda Chowdhury popularly known as 'Disco Amma'; singer Elita Karim's presence in the serial, as a guest character, provisionally produces a temporary détente between the two brothers and Hasan Azad personifies the ex-boyfriend of Chaity. The serial has many moments of humour. Not surprisingly the director and performers have received many compliments from the audience.
Shohag Chowdhury is the cinematographer for the serial.
“Though it is my debut work, I think it has already created an impression among the TV serial lovers. This was possible because of concerted efforts by all the performers and technicians. Everyone was on the move,” says Nipun.