Struggling to solve the case, breaking down each clue into a significant detail, in a world ravaged by the British dominion and equally endangered by war, the 1940s, there lives a detective Byomkesh Bakshy typically stylized as Bakshy Babu. Sublime his way with words, sharp his mind and snazzy his attire, Sushant Singh Rajput dazzles as the Indian counterpart of the well known mastermind.

Revitalizing the ingenuously crafted characters of Bandopadhyay, laughs gelled up here and there, Dibakar Bannerjee creates a thriller turning out in no more than 15 to 20 minutes to be a very intriguing flick as Bakshy Babu untangles the mystery by joining the pieces from the fragments of hints scattered across the locale.

What's so different about the movie is that it takes the road less traveled by. It portrays a beautifully archaic Calcutta with vintage cars and trams, and a story paced with an excellent flow. With a strong grip on your curiosity and attention, it shines as the product of masterful thinking timed by fluid execution. From the creation of an eerie environment to the brilliant juicing up of characters, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is a cinematic delight.

Fantastic. 8.5/10.

Taking a look around Netflix UK for titles from 2015,I spotted a Bollywood Noir which I had heard a lot of praise for,which led to me getting ready to investigate Detective Byomkesh Bakshy.

The plot-

1940s Calcutta:

After not hearing from his dad Bhuvan for weeks, Ajit Banerjee decides to hire private detective Byomkesh Bakshy to track him down. Traveling to the outskirts of Calcutta,Bakshy discovers a hostel that Bhuvan stayed in.Whilst he has not been seen for weeks, Bakshy learns from fellow hostel guest Dr. Anukul Guha that Bhuvan worked in a factory.Going to the factory with Guha,Bakshy finds the factory to be shut down,but guarded by two security guards and a mysterious femme fatale keeping a close watch.Outwitting the guards,Bakshy and Guha break into the factory.Finding a strange smell in the building,Bakshy soon discovers a burnt up body,which leads to Bakshy suspecting that something about Bhuvan is being kept hidden at the hostel.

View on the film:

Capturing the city being in a tug of war between the British Empire and Japan,co-writer/(along with Urmi Juvekar) director Dibakar Banerjee & cinematographer Nikos Andritsakis soak the title in a frosty Neo- Noir atmosphere of fear and dread,as deep shadows and Film Noir posters hang around every corner of Calcutta. Diving into the era, Banerjee & Andritsakis investigate every decaying street with elegant tracking shots which hit 40's cars grinding grit into the title,and smoked covered drug deals taking place in sly whispers.

Bringing Saradindu Bandopaddhyay's pulp character to the big screen (with no songs!),Banerjee & Urmi Juvekar closely work with editors Manas Mittal & Namrata Rao in their excellent adaptation,as dazzling flashbacks are splashed across the screen that deconstruct the mystery and allow the viewer to put the clues together piece by piece.Injecting a jet- black dark Comedy side into the title,the writers brilliantly use the comedic shots to sink Bakshy deeper into the rotting Film Noir world,as Bakshy finds himself stuck in the middle of drug and gang wars,which lead to a thrilling kung-fu final scream coming from the ruins of the burnt up Calcutta.

Offering Bakshy helpful "advice" Neeraj Kabi gives a wonderful performance as Dr. Anukul Guha,thanks to Kabi giving Guha a jolly,warm glow,which he tears apart with a wickedly sinister grin.Looking past the burning lights of the city, Sushant Singh Rajput gives a fantastic performance as Bakshy,whose playful swagger Rajput reveals to be a cover to dive into the harsh underbelly of Calcutta's underworld,as Bakshy uncovers the secrets of 1940's Calcutta.

Based on the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi created by the Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay, 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!' is A Blast! Writer-Director Dibakar Banerjee delivers a deliciously twisted thriller, that's grim, dark, complex & yet engrossing. Its a moody period film, that works hugely as a suspense-thriller!

'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!' Synopsis: In a contemporary interpretation of war torn Calcutta during the 1940's, the film follows the first adventure of Byomkesh (Sushant Singh Rajput),fresh out of college, as he pits himself against an evil genius who is out to destroy the world. It's his wits against the most villainous arch criminal the world has seen, in a world of murder, international political intrigue and seduction.

'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!' is a slow-burn thriller, that grows on you with each passing scene. The drama unfolds with such detailing & crispness, that I kept going with the narrative more & more. Bakshy's first adventure has moments of pure shock, twists, humor & also betrayal.

Banerjee & Urmi Juvekar's Adapted Screenplay is very well-done. The Writing is super sharp, despite, its slow-pace. The first-hour builds up suspense, while the second-hour offers one intriguing moment after the other. The climax, also, is fabulously done. Banerjee's Direction deserves full marks. He's back in top-form! He's handled the film with utter brilliance. Cinematography captures every moment with flourish. Art Design is extremely well-detailed. Editing is good, but the pace could've been slightly faster. Music & Background Score are excellent.

Performance-Wise: Sushant Singh Rajput as Byomkesh Bakshy, is impressive all through. This is his finest performance to date. Anand Tiwari is fantastic. He contributes so much in the goings-on. Swastika Mukherjee enacts the femme fatale, confidently. Divya Menon is first-rate. Neeraj Kabi is outstanding. He stands out. Meiyang Chang is effective. Arindol Bagchi is adequate.

On the whole, 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!' works big time! Its one helluva thriller! Strongly Recommended!