DETECTIVE BYOMKESH BAKSHY MOVIE REVIEW

While every genre of a film gives you a specific feel, a detective story will always make you want to think about minuscule things and observe small details that you wouldn't have noticed otherwise. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is one such film that is impactful and will make you start thinking like a detective while you watch the film. This brilliant piece of fiction taken in the 1940s will make you get immersed in the silver screen and you may not want to come out of it.

Directed by Dibakar Banerjee and with story inspired by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay's fictions, ‘Satyanveshi’ and ‘Pother Kanta’, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy makes you sit at the edge of your seat from the starting to the end credits. Byomkesh played by Sushanth is a detective who goes about solving a murder mystery. This film is one of the best performances of Sushanth as he has convincingly played a detective and has submerged himself into the character. The character’s look, with the trim mustache and the authentic Bengali attire, deserves a special mention.

Adaptation to excellence

This film is a fictional adaptation of Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay who has written about 32 Byomkesh Bakshi stories between 1932 and 1970 with one incomplete story at the time of his death. During that time the character Byomkesh received popular recognition through TV serials, films, radio series and comic strips.

Be it showcasing the time period very precisely, delivering the dialogues in an extremely convincing manner or maintaining the costumes and make-up to utmost reality, the film has given nothing less than top-notch. Speaking of the time period, we usually relate the 1940s era to Indian freedom struggle, but Dibakar Banerjee has smartly incorporated the impact of World War 2 in West Bengal in this film.   

A complete surrender to the script

The production designer of this movie has quite literally surrendered to the script while showcasing scenes in the streets of Calcutta, the set designs for each sequence, the properties used in the background and more. From the little detailing of the cigarette brand, properties in a house like chair, table and cot, vintage cars, subtle yet bright colors used in the backdrops to the old radio sets and ancient newspapers, the production value was something to be highly appreciated. Even from the cinematography standpoint, the visuals were impeccable complementing the production design work, thanks to Nikos Andritsakis. Being a complete two and half hours film, editors Manas Mittal and Namrata Rao have been very precise and taut. 

Dibakar's visual magic

Post films like Shanghai and Bombay Talkies, Dibakar Banerjee is set to give an out and out entertaining and gripping story with a keen eye for detailing. The screenplay of the movie is so tight and stiff that, all the knots will be knitted fully before you come out of the theater. With versatile characters and many performers, this film is one complete package catering to all center audience. The performances of Neeraj Kabi as Dr. Anukul Guha, Swastika Mukherjee as Anguri Devi, Anand Tiwari as Ajit Bandyopadhyay, Meiyang Chang as Kanai Dao and other cast have been spaced out so well that, they will deviate your thoughts for the right reasons. They have all been directors’ actors who have delivered excellent performances.

While the story unfolds to more characters and clues, the scenes were tied together with complete continuity. Case in point, the scene where Byomkesh leaves the house while shaving half-way through, and a few scenes later where he appears shaven one-sided. Such intricate detailing has to be appreciated.

BGM -  A surprise treat

In a serious detective story that makes your conscience very focussed and non deviant, the music score is the only element that gives you a relief from listening to continuous dialogues. The BGM of Detective Byomkesh Bakshy will swing you to different moods and genres of music. You can expect tracks swaying you through various emotions. The music tracks are composed by artists from different backgrounds. While some tracks are remade, some retain the novelty. Kudos to everyone who worked for the sound designing.  

The long, interesting table sequence in the end explains the film in one go and it demands complete devotion to the screen. The Western influences in the end credits roll and while showcasing bloodshed add to the style and impact of the film. 

The film ends in a bloody brilliant, adrenaline pumping manner and all eyes would be on the sequel now.