“Mr. Johny”: A remarkable tale of friendship

Every Eid brings along a torrential wave of TV plays as families gather together and flick through channels to spend leisurely time, and this Eid has been no different. What is even better is that with the advent of YouTube, TV channels are partnering with entertainment channels on the video streaming platform to upload their plays for anyone to enjoy on their own time. The Chabial Eid Reunion that is taking place on Ekushey TV this Eid, brings together seven single-episode plays by seven directors of the Chabial collective. The first of them, aired on Eid day, was Redoan Rony's “Mr. Johny”, and it's safe to label it a landmark production on Bangladeshi television in terms of its cast. 

Mr. Johny, a dog who is a constant companion of rickshaw van puller named Mr. Doyal in the capital's Mohakhali area, became well-known to social media users of the country a few months ago after a video report on him went viral. “Mr. Johny” is a fictionalized story of these real characters, told with finesse and emotions. 

The play is set in a slum where Doyal (played by Mostofa Monwar) lives with his dog, and their friendship brings trouble in his life. His landlord, an elderly, religious Muslim man vehemently opposed to the friendship as he believes dogs are 'unclean' animals and are disrupting his religious practices. His wife (played by Joyeeta Mahalanabish) also leaves the house because of the dog staying in the house. A conflicted Doyal has an outburst with Mr. Johny, and a heavy-hearted Johny walks away from their lives. 

Without giving further spoilers, here are what makes the play great: the first thing is Mr. Johny's screen presence. Kudos to Redoan Rony for having the confidence to make a dog the hero of his play -- and Mr. Johny, like any faithful friend, delivers an incredible performance. His screen presence and mannerisms are fantastically natural and believable, probably better than half of the actors who frequent the small screen. Mostofa Monwar may not be an instantly-recognisable name or face, but he did win Best Actor at the prestigious Singapore International Film Festival last year for the film “Live From Dhaka”, and his performance here shows that was no fluke. The narrative is also built expertly, from the opening shot that swiftly sets the scene for the play, to the initial mystery of who Johny is that a man living with him in his house upsets the entire society – drawing a not-so-subtle entendre of homosexuality. The cinematography, screenplay and music is also done very well, culminating in an intimate, heart-wrenching relationship of a man and his canine best friend. If there is any criticism, it is that the ending feels a little undercooked. 

Overall, the play is brave in its decision to tread new territories, and mostly successful in its execution. Stories of people and their relationship with their dogs have made for some amazing cinema worldwide over the years -- from yesteryear classics like “Old Yeller” to the more recent “Hachi: A Dog's Tale” and “Megan Leavey” that came out only this month, but to attempt that in Bangladesh and pull it off is remarkable. 

The play is available, like all other episodes of the Chabial Eid Reunion, on the YouTube channel of Rabbitholebd Entertainment, and is a must-watch.