Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s creation of a violin-playing detective with a knife-edged intellect and a propensity for drug addiction had set a benchmark from A Study in Scarlet. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle managed to give Sherlock a cult following, so much so that Indian readers were mesmerised by him. Rajshekhar Basu, pen name Parashuram, wrote an essay, Saralakkho Hom that appeared in a collection of short stories Saralakkho Kichchu. The name Saralakkho Hom when translated from Bengali indicates a Simpler Holmes: a kind of trimmed-down, mock version of the famous fictional detective. Hom, however, is a Bengali surname!

Stories and adventures of Sherlock Holmes have been the subject of many films and series. The 1951 Bengali film Jighangsha, based on Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles, directed by Ajoy Kar, is considered one of the best psychological thrillers on celluloid. The same was remade in Hindi as Bees Saal Baad, which became a runaway hit.

The above facts were perhaps playing on the minds of all involved with the latest film Saralakkho Holmes in Bengali that released on August 29, 2025. While the earlier adaptations were based on just plot and characteristics of Doyle’s thriller, and the whole situation and backdrop were Indianised, in director Sayantan Ghosal’s film, writer Sanjib Banerji has tried to keep the characters closer to the original, but has played around with names and situations, keeping the modern times in mind.

The name Saralakkho is perhaps a direct take from Parashuram, and Rishav Basu, who plays the eccentric but sharp young detective Holmes, has taken recourse to a quirky presentation of a cult figure. Such unorthodox presentations face the risk of criticism, as readers have a certain image in mind. Both Sayantan, the director, and Rishav, the actor, have taken the plunge and indulged in a different take. This indulgence has had a shocking effect, which has given the film and Rishav a unique representation. Rishav Basu’s energy is infectious, and it works as a double-edged knife. To some, it is refreshingly rejuvenating, while to others it may appear over the top. Yours truly falls in the first category.

Sanjib, in his adaptation, has tried his best to give a logical background and explanation in creating a Bengali Holmes and his transfer to England, where he solves a mystery that has beleaguered an Indian family over a period of time. Padmonabha Dasgupta is by now a master at script adaptations from detective stories or thrillers. His ease at presenting the story visually has helped the director in his efforts. The locations in England, both indoor and outdoors, were readymade, but the visual effects created by the graphic team remain the bane of Bengali films. And this tradition has to be overcome, so that the Hound looks fearful and not mechanical.

Arna Mukhopadhyay as Dr Arjya Sen, Saralakkho’s Bengali Watson, has been a perfect foil for the whimsical detective. What made the film’s two-hour running time a semi-thrilling experience were the performances of Shaheb Chatterjee, Shataf Figar and Kanchan Mullick. Gaurav Chakrabarty as Shekhar Roychoudhury, the doyen, has matured as an actor to such a degree that his performance keeps one guessing throughout.

Rajnandini Paul’s innocence is still attractive and believable. Badshah Moitra as Saralakkho’s father Rajshekhar Holmes (a tribute to Parashuram perhaps) proves once again the fact that no role is too small for a competent actor. Priya Karfa’s presence in a film after a long absence had a nostalgic effect.

DoP Tuban’s competence in camera operations and lighting, to create an ambience of thrill and terror, is undeniable, and Subhojit Singha has by now honed his cutting (read editing) skills further in this film.

In both Bees Saal Baad and Jighangsha, music played an important part and the haunting songs from the film were extremely popular. The music was created by the legendary Hemanta Mukherjee or Hemant Kumar, depending on the language of the film. In Saralakkho Holmes, Debojyoti Mishra has done a competent job, but the changed times and circumstances have perhaps not etched the songs in the minds and hearts of the audience as yet. The subtlety of the background score lies in its unobtrusive presence.

Eskay Movies has so far done a number of films set in England. Saralakkho Holmes is one of the batch, but it has a refreshingly different take, which is perhaps the result of a good team effort led by Sayantan Ghosal.