Detective Byomkesh Bakshy

2015 • 138 minutes

About this movie

CALCUTTA 1943
A WAR... A MYSTERY... and A DETECTIVE...

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is based on the early exploits of India’s first true-blue detective, created by Bengali bestseller writer Saradindu Bandyopadhyay. Directed by Dibakar Banerjee, the film is set in the Second World War torn Calcutta during the 1940s and follows the first adventure of Byomkesh Bakshy (Sushant Singh Rajput), fresh out of college, as he pits himself against an evil genius who is out to destroy the world. Using his wits against the most villainous arch criminal the world has seen, in a world of murder, international political intrigue and seduction.

Ratings and reviews

While adhering to a lot of genre conventions, particularly from classic noir films, Banerjee has made Bakshi (that's the right spelling, no matter what anyone says) his own in a war-torn Calcutta that feels incredibly real and lived-in. Excellent production values all around with detailed reproduction. Spot-on pacing, narrative heft and a sterling performance by Neeraj Kabi. Best Byomkesh since Ray's Chiriyakhana.

The movie was overall a great experience. It portrayed a period in indian history which is not well known. The plot is good, slightly predictable if you've seen enough films or read enough books of this type but all the performances and direction makes it more forgivable. Sushant Singh Rajput has done a job of portraying the socially awkward who can't help but blurt out his deductions. There are some twists in plot that may thoroughly surprise you. All in all a great one to watch.

The portrayal of Byomkesh's was absolutely wrong. Story is not original (in fact a dumb one). A typical YRF movie. It didn't feel like I was watching a detective movie, especially not that of Byomkesh. Wastage of time and money.