Product Code Database
Byomkesh Bakshi is a fictional detective created by Bengali author Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. A self-proclaimed "satyanweshi" (literally seeker of truth), Bakshi is known for his keen observation, logical thinking, and knowledge of forensic science, which he uses to solve complex murder cases, mostly set in Calcutta.
His first appearance was in the story Pother Kanta (1932), where he demonstrates his deductive skills, but his formal introduction occurs in Satyanweshi (1934), a murder mystery involving cocaine trafficking. Byomkesh adopts the alias Atul Chandra Mitra in this story, where he meets Ajit Bandyopadhyay, who becomes his close companion and the narrator of the Byomkesh stories.
The character's name has since become synonymous with intelligence and keen observation in Bengali vernacular. The Byomkesh Bakshi stories have been adapted into various media, including films, television series, and audio dramas. Notable portrayals of the detective include those by Uttam Kumar, Rajit Kapur, and Abir Chatterjee. The stories continue to have a significant influence on Indian detective fiction, contributing to the development of the genre.
Most of the stories are written from Ajit Kumar Banerjee's perspective, who meets Byomkesh in the mess at Chinabazar. Byomkesh later asks Ajit to live with him at his three-story rented house at Harrison Road as his assistant and chronicler. The only other person in his household is his attendant Putiram.
In the beginning of the stories, Byomkesh Bakshi is described as "a man of twenty-three or twenty-four years of age who looked well educated." Byomkesh is a Hindu and wears mostly a white shirt/kurta with a white dhoti, occasionally draping a shawl. He does not live in luxury but possesses numerous books. He travels frequently, and does not own a gun and does not consider himself to be an "expensive helper". He habitually smokes and drinks tea with milk. He is fluent in Bengali language, Hindi, and English language. Byomkesh does not like being called a detective, and thinks the word 'investigator' even worse. Thus, he fashions a new name for himself which he inscribes on a brass plate in front of his house. The plaque read "Byomkesh Bakshi: Satyanweshi" (The Inquisitor).
The stories vary widely in their depiction of crime—from complex drug networks, as in Satyanweshi, to domestic mysteries like Arthamanartham and Makorshar Rosh. Though Bandopadhyay ceased writing Byomkesh stories between 1938 and 1951 while working in Bombay's film industry, public demand led him to resume with Chitrachor ( Picture Imperfect) in 1951. His last story, Bishupal Badh ( The Killing of Bishupal), was left incomplete upon his passing in 1970.
| Satyanweshi | 1932 |
| Pother Kanta | 1932 |
| Seemanto-heera | 1932 |
| Makorshar Rosh | 1933 |
| Arthamanartham | 1933 |
| Chorabali | 1933 |
| Agniban | 1935 |
| Uposonghaar | 1935 |
| Raktomukhi Neela | 1936 |
| Byomkesh O Boroda | 1936 |
| Chitrochor | 1951 |
| Durgo Rahasya | 1952 |
| Chiriyakhana | 1953 |
| Adim Ripu | 1955 |
| Banhi-patanga | 1956 |
| Rokter Daag | 1956 |
| Monimondon | 1958 |
| Amriter Mrityu | 1959 |
| Shailo Rahasya | 1959 |
| Achin Pakhi | 1960 |
| Kohen Kobi Kalidas | 1961 |
| Adrishyo Trikon | 1961 |
| Khuji Khuji Nari | 1961 |
| Adwitiyo | 1961 |
| Mognomoinak | 1963 |
| Dushtochokro | 1963 |
| Henyalir Chhondo | 1964 |
| Room Nombor Dui | 1964 |
| Cholonar Chhondo | 1965 |
| Shajarur Kanta | 1967 |
| Benishonghar | 1968 |
| Lohar Biskut | 1969 |
| Bishupal Bodh (unfinished) | 1970 |
Chiriyakhana (1967) is an Indian Bengali-language crime thriller film based on the story of the same name, directed by Satyajit Ray and written by Bandyopadhyay and Ray, it starred Uttam Kumar as Byomkesh Bakshi.
The 1993–97 Byomkesh Bakshi television series, created by Basu Chatterjee, and starring Rajit Kapur as Byomkesh Bakshi, and K.K. Raina as Ajit respectively, became one of the most critically acclaimed and celebrated adaptation of the character. These television series are cast by Doordarshan.
There have been 20 Byomkesh Bakshi films, with Abir Chatterjee portraying the detective in seven of them.
The Satyanweshi audio drama series, created by actor Aneesh See Yay, adapted twenty-two Byomkesh Bakshi novels and produced eight original audio dramas in Malayalam.
In 2014, Colors Bangla aired a TV series titled Byomkesh, starring Gaurav Chakrabarty as Byomkesh and Ridhima Ghosh as Satyabati. Produced by Dag Creative Media, the series was well received by audiences.
In 2015, the Bollywood film Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! featured Sushant Singh Rajput as the lead, bringing Byomkesh to a national audience.
Byomkesh was also referenced in The Big Bang Theory Season 7, Episode 18, where Sherlock Holmes is humorously dubbed the "English Byomkesh Bakshi."
Anupam Roy refers to Byomkesh Bakshi in his song "Kolkata", for the Bengali film Praktan.
Radio Mirchi’s Sunday Suspense has adapted several Byomkesh stories, including Satyanweshi, Pather Kanta, and Durgo Rahasya, with RJ Mir initially voicing Byomkesh, later replaced by Gaurav Chakrabarty following Mir's departure.
|
|
