Byomkesh O Pinjrapol review: Anirban Bhattacharya and Sudipto Roy reinvent the lost charm of the Bengali sleuth

3.5/5

Story: Byomkesh O Chiriyakhana is a well-explored story. Former judge Nishanath Sen’s (Babu Dutta Roy) Pinjrapol is a colony where former criminals live and work to get back to normal life. Nishanath starts receiving different motor parts – a reminder of an old case in which he pronounced the death sentence to a criminal. He sees the motor parts as a threat. He brings Byomkesh Bakshi (Anirban Bhattacharya) and Ajit (Bhaswar Chatterjee) to Pinjrapol to investigate. However, after their first visit, he asks Byomkesh to stop investigating and subsequently, dies. His death opens Pandora’s box in Pinjrapol.

Review: Byomkesh Bakshi seems to be the most sorted hit formula that the Bengali film industry discovered in recent times. As a result, the makers left no stone unturned to over-exploit it and the trend seems to be still in and the fist-fight over Byomkesh and its rights is still on. It took Hoichoi eight seasons to finally break the shackle of run-of-the-mill Byomkesh Bakshi. This season, if nothing else, is different in terms of flavour and storytelling which makes it a refreshing watch.

Also read: Sudipto Roy on Byomkesh O Pinjrapol: Anirban Bhattacharya is the most talented actor in this generation 

Sudipto Roy’s new Byomkesh looks interesting even in the trailer. That flavour continues in the show. The makers take great care in creating picturesque frames and garnish the series with the evocating soundscape. There are moments when a beautiful frame blends with compensating background music and together they fill your heart.

One such scene is where Byomkesh and Ajit are seated against a blue wall and Nishanath’s nephew Bijoy (Soumik Maitra) conveys the news of Niashanath’s death to his wife Damayanti (Moitree Banerjee). The sequence is beautiful. There are some more sequences like this.

Ayan Sil has done a brilliant job of reinventing indoor shots. Shubhadeep Guha keeps the background score to the point. Along with them, the set designing team also deserves a round of applause for making the show aesthetically appealing. In fact, even the makeup and costume look pleasant.

Meanwhile, the series is not overcrowded with known faces. A bunch of lesser-known, yet talented actors and actresses, has done a damn good job. Durbar Sharma as Bhujanga Dhar Das and Buddhadev Das as Panugopal deserve special mention as both of them are restrained and poignant in their portrayal of complex characters.

In the recent seasons of Hoichoi’s Byomkesh, Anirban appears tired. No lush green forest location or opulent bungalow could hide the fatigue or monotony. In Season 8, we get to see a rejuvenated Byomkesh in Anirban. As the creative director, he brings in the best changes in his character for sure. He is a fierce detective, yet a regular, man-next-door. He knows where to draw the line – not just as an actor but also as the character he is playing. Anirban as Byomkesh is savage in the series. Along with Anirban, Byomkesh’s costume gets a makeover, and that fits perfectly well.

Meanwhile, Bhaswar is the greatest discovery as Ajit in season 8 of Byomkesh. He brings back the flavour of KK Raina from Basu Chatterjee’s television series. Ajit’s calm, simplicity, and loyalty are beautifully portrayed by the actor. Ridhima Ghosh as Satyabati is not widely seen in every frame. But there are occasions when she lights up the screen in darkness. One such moment is when she goes off to bed after waiting for Byomkesh till late. It is now known that season 8 is her last Byomkesh as Satyabati in Hoichoi and she will be remembered fondly among the viewers.

There are problems in the series and the first, is in its pace. It takes an entire episode to warm up to the crisis. There is evidently a deliberate attempt not to focus on Byomkesh in the first episode. It is slightly tiring. Second, the socio-political commentary is so yesterday. It is redundant and tiring. The crisis of a war-ridden and riot-stricken society does not need dialogues anymore. It may need action and smart weaving in the script. Having said that the juxtaposition of Nishanath’s narration and Byomkesh’s introductions to the characters is a delight to watch.

Verdict: It is a must-watch for the section of the audience who are tired of the monotony associated with Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay’s ‘smart Bengali sleuth’. This Byomkesh series puts its best foot forward to offer something that we have not seen in Byomkesh. It has its distinguishing style and will be remembered for that among many other seasons.