Aug. 10, 2022
Genre: Bangla;Mystery
Description: Set in the turbulent backdrop of the 1971 Naxalite uprising in Bengal, the film “Byomkesh Hatyamancha” follows detective Byomkesh Bakshi as he becomes entangled in a tale of revenge after witnessing a crime during a theater performance. As he delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a complex narrative of love, betrayal, and infidelity, ultimately unraveling the mystery.
This marks Abir Chatterjee’s eighth portrayal of Byomkesh Bakshi, but with a unique twist: the screenplay is based on an unfinished story by late novelist Saradindu Bandopadhyay. Director Arindam Sil and writer Padmanabha Dasgupta crafted the plot from Bandopadhyay’s “Bishupal Bawdh” (The Killing of Bishupal), providing creative freedom to explore an unrealized concept.
Despite the promising material and Chatterjee’s consistent performance, the film falls short of expectations, ranking as one of the more average entries in the Byomkesh series. While the setting of 1971 Bengal—a time of cultural vibrancy and political unrest—is meticulously recreated, the story struggles to leverage its potential fully. The socio-political atmosphere is captured effectively, with details like a vintage radio broadcasting updates on the Bangladesh liberation movement. However, the execution fails to match the richness of the era or the depth of the original source material.
Cast director: Arindam Sil
Cast actor: Abir Chatterjee, Kinjal Nanda, Arna Mukhopadhay, Paoli Dam, Suhotra Mukhopadhyay, Sohini Sarkar, Anusha Vishwanathan, Poulomi Das, Padmanabha Dasgupta, Ashim Roy Chowdhury
Original name: ব্যোমকেশ হত্যামঞ্চ