Sharadindu Bandopadhyay’s iconic sleuth, Byomkesh Bakshi, has been brought to life across various mediums – the big screen, television, theatre, and even podcasts. With his unmistakable touch of Bangaliana, sharp intellect & timeless appeal, the satyanweshi has made a lasting impact on Bengali pop culture. At the Kolkata Literary Meet, Rajit Kapur and Gaurav Chakrabarty, who have portrayed Byomkesh in different eras, came together for a chat with director Srijit Mukherji about the enduring legacy of this iconic character.
The extraordinary wit of an ordinary man
For Gaurav, stepping into Byomkesh’s shoes was both exciting and challenging. “Whenever I read Byomkesh, the only face that came to mind was sir’s (Rajit Kapur), but I didn’t want to mimic him,” he said. Reflecting on his approach to the character, Rajit Kapur shared, “I was advised not to read anything that might influence me. Byomkesh’s beauty lies in how he solves cases without resorting to dramatics or turning into a superhero.” Srijit shared that his first encounter with Byomkesh was through literature and praised Rajit’s performance, saying, “His quiet demeanor and intelligence captured everything that makes Byomkesh so unique.”
Rajit Kapur with KK Raina in a still from Byomkesh Bakshi
Byomkesh beyond Bengal
Although Rajit is not Bengali, he brought authenticity to the character. “I learned how to tie a dhoti because the costume team didn’t know. Now, I can tie it blindfolded,” Rajit laughed. The actor also drew inspiration from a legendary portrayal, saying, “The image of Uttam Da (Uttam Kumar) as Byomkesh was something I absorbed and reprocessed.” The Yugantar actor also fondly recalled working alongside Utpal Dutt in Byomkesh Bakshi, saying, “His full-throated laugh still rings in my ears.”
Quotes:
Simplicity is what makes Byomkesh unique from all other fictional detectives. He’s grounded, yet brilliant– Rajit Kapur
I wanted to bring out the extraordinary mind of the man without making him superheroish– Gaurav Chakrabarty
You can’t escape Byomkesh Bakshi. Any Bengali detective adaptation will inevitably remind you of him – Srijit Mukherji