Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! is worthy to watch once for experiencing the great Indian detective story !!

Rajit Kapur’s famous TV show of the '90s set a benchmark for all those who wished to weave a story around detective Byomkesh Bakshi’s adventures, without doubt one of Indian literature's most recognizable figures. Reasonably, many didn't give director Dibakar Banerjee much of a chance when he announced last year that he's planning a movie around this cult figure. Even Sushant Singh Rajput, as the detective, didn't inspire much confidence either but we must say that Dibakar Banerjee doesn’t disappoint you in his new venture.

 

Set in war-torn Calcutta of 1940s, the movie revolves around the adventures of Byomkesh Bakshy, a college graduate and an amateur detective, who is approached by a young man Ajit (Anand Tiwari) to seek help in tracing his missing father Bhuvan.

 

At first hesitant Bakshy agrees to take on the case, but it soon becomes clear that the courageous man might have bitten off more than he can chew. Soon, Bakshy finds himself neck-deep in Chinese gangsters, secret operatives of the Japanese Army, a femme fatale, drug dealers and Indian nationalists, a regular UNO of suspects.

 

Sushant Singh Rajput pulls off the role with self-confidence and becomes the character rather than a hero, who must be unbeatable because of his status in the movie. Sushant’s Bakshy is more of Tintin than Sherlock and the actor is careful to not let the sleuth become larger-than-life. With his slicked hair, a cigarette dangling from his lips and an charming smile, Sushant simply wins your heart with his act. Anand Tiwari, who has been mostly seen playing comic characters, makes you sit up and take notice of his character, an Indian Watson, who might seem geeky with his glasses and diminutive stature, but who is quick with his fists when the situation calls for it even as Byomkesh timidly implores him to not engage in fisticuffs. Swastika Mukherjee, who plays the mysterious Angoori Devi, plays her part well and other actors like Meiyang Chang, Neeraj Kabi, Divya Menon and others, too do justice to their roles.

 

The admirable part about the film is the way Bakshy’s character has been shaped up and his transformation from a clumsy but passionate man, who is still unsure of himself at times to the confident detective that he eventually turns into, is subtle, believable and bang-on. Dibakar’s Bakshy is not a super-slick sleuth like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, but a common man, who is just a bit brighter than others around him and we thank Banerjee for making the character so real and authentic.

 

Another thing worth mentioning about the movie is the way has been shot. Charming and yet sinister by turns, the city itself becomes a character in the movie with its coffee-houses, narrow alleys and dark, mean streets, where dope and death can be dealt out in the blink of an eye.

 

Dibakar takes his own sweet time unraveling the enigma, but if you want to soak in the experience of an old-school noir, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! is unquestionably your cup of tea.

 

The suspense is noble, but the movie is more like a thriller in its structure. The background score seems bizarre as it’s hard to imagine hard rock in Calcutta of those times, but trust me, it unquestionably fits into the scheme of things. In fact, it may ring in your head every time somebody mentions detective Byomkesh Bakshy.

One more thing that undoubtedly stands out is Nikos Andritsakis' cinematography. His frames have brilliantly captured the colonial City of Joy in different colours and many moods.

 

Overall, it is worthy to watch once for experiencing the great Indian detective story with Sushant Singh Rajput’s powerful performance.