Bomkesh Bakshi, a Bengali detective created by Saradindu Bandopadhyaya, is a rarity. For starters, he is perhaps the only married detective in the world. But, perhaps, that is a sign of the times. His time span was the 1940s-1960s, a time when Bengali gentlemen, irrespective of their profession, were supposed to "bhodrolok" who came back home to their wives, were dressed in "dhoti and kurta", smoke filtered cigarettes, read "Time" and admired Humphrey Bogart when they were not fighting the British or shouting at Nehru's "capitalism" policies (yes, Bengalis being the ultra-left kinds, found the centrist JL Nehru to be a "right-winger" who believed in "unfair free market policies"
But then Bomkesh is not alone. Most other detectives have been a sign of their times. Father Brown, the gentle priest, Hercule Poirot, the vain Belgian and Sherlock Holmes, the upright Brit have all been a man who was in sync with the era, only with a IQ higher than other common men
Now coming to the movie review. Bomkesh Bakshi has been played in - movies, plays and TV serials by several actors. Uttam Kumar, perhaps the greatest and the most popular Bengali actor of all time has played him amongst others, that too, in a Satyajit Ray film (one of only 2 occasions where Ray and Kumar worked together). However, the most popular and most enduring image of Bomkesh on screen is that of Rajit Kapur in the TV serial directed by the late Basu Chatterjee
Thus, when National award winning director Anjan Dutta, who himself is known more for his singing, or directing movies for the urban audience, chose Abir Chatterjee, a little known TV and Film actor for the role, eyebrows were raised. Especially when talks were going on that Rituporno Ghosh, the director of acclaimed movies like 19-she April and Chokher Bali was in talks with senior Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee to direct a Bomkesh movie
However doubts were dispelled when the first movie of the franchise, based in the time of partition on a story Adim Ripu became a huge hit. The second movie is based on Chitrachor. Now, Chitrachor is not exactly a top Bomkesh story. I dont know anyone who has ever rated it in their top-5 Bomkesh story picks. But, it has a different side to it. Satyabati, Bomkesh's wife, has a huge role to play in the story. Though Saradindu got Bomkesh married (they married during a Bomkesh case involving Satyabati's family - Arthamnartham), he rarely brought Satyabati to the forefront
Even in the first movie, Ushoshie, who played Bomkesh's wife, was present in just one scene. So, to draw in some of the family audiences, not to bore them with a linear detective story, to bring in the romantic side of a tough sleuth, this story was chosen, pretty low on detection content (I have a feeling the next story in the franchise would be Banhi Patanga). Now, another aspect of Bomkesh's stories is that they are not staple diet for children - high adultery content. This story is no different
Also, the setting of the story has been changed a little to make it visually appealing to the cine going crowds. Saswata Chatterjee (of the now-Legendary Bob Biswas fame) is back as Ajit, Bomkesh's sidekick. a coterie of TV actors, most of whom were present in the first movie of the franchise - Biswajit Chakrabarty, Chandan Sen, Swastika Mukherjee and Pijush Ganguly are back, albeit playing a different set of charaters. A welcome addition has been the powerful character actor Kaushik Sen, who does a wonderful job
Without acting spoilers to the story, 3 things must be mentioned - 1. Anjan Dutt does a fine job of indicating the time period the story is set in - a poster of Morutirtha Hinglaj indicated the story is set sometime in the late 50s-early 60s 2. The settings are extremely appealing visually, as if Dooars is in itself a character in the movie 3. The Rabindrasangeet used in the movie sets the mood for total Bengali-ness
As far as acting and directing is concerned, Abir is realistic and not ambitious, he stays within his limits. Saswata and Ushasie do their jobs well, the rest play their roles well. But if a special mention has to be done, it has to be of the actor who plays Falguni Pal - he shines in his brief role. Anjan Dutt, too is learning as a director. My rating - 6/10
The movie has had a good BO opening, and I sincerely hope the movie draws in as many crowds as the first one. If there is one sleuth whose story needs to be told on a large canvas, it is Bomkesh Bakshi
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