Eskay Movies, the makers of the upcoming detective thriller Saralakkho Holmes, dropped its teaser on Saturday. Starring Rishav Basu as the eponymous investigator, his character is evidently inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s celebrated fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. With its story based on the British author’s hugely popular novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, Saralakkho Holmes promises to offer a heady concoction of crime, action, terror and suspense and is clearly targeted to appeal to lovers of the mystery thriller genre of films.
The crisp, 90-second teaser explains the background of the story while artfully introducing its central characters through a series of sequences that are visually intense and powerful, and effectively evoking an atmosphere of crime, mystery and subterfuge. Saralakkho is depicted as a young gentleman proud of his Bengali identity and possessing a robust sense of humour. Westernised in habits and appearance, he appears to be on a visit to London, perhaps summoned by his client to solve a mystery and get to the bottom of a terrible crime.
Rishav Basu portrays the character with confidence, displaying a swag and style that almost reminds the audience of a very young Feluda. The teaser informs us that besides being smart, dashing and brainy, he is also a sprightly, agile and athletic young man, capable of taking on and disposing of the bad guys with his ingenious acrobatic skills, and also wielding the gun expertly where necessary. Arna Mukhopadhyay appears as his loyal friend and assistant, clearly a counterpart to Holmes' Watson. Painted as a more sober and subdued character, he is the perfect foil to Saralakkho’s energetic, spirited personality.
Gaurav Chakrabarty plays the role of Saralakkho’s client, Shekhar. The heir of an aristocratic family that owns a huge estate in Devonshire, his uncle has been brutally killed and believed to have been the victim of a ferocious beast that has tormented the family for generations. Serious, sombre and the epitome of sophistication and civility, Gaurav plays his role with the necessary gravitas and also brings an air of British reserve and stiff upper-lip into his portrayal. Rajnandini Paul plays the part of someone who is in love with Shekhar and fears for his safety.
Shaheb Chattopadhyay, Shataf Figar and Kanchan Mullick are also glimpsed in the teaser and add a more complex and layered dimension to the narrative. Based on a popular work of detective fiction whose resolution many audiences may be familiar with, it is likely that Saralakkho Holmes may come loaded with a surprising twist to the original story. If not, then its reception among the audience will depend on its actors’ performances and director Sayantan Ghosal’s style of storytelling. Saralakkho Holmes hits theatres on July 18.
