Byomkesh Bakshi is an Indian Hindi television series based on the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi character created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. The series stars Rajit Kapur and K. K. Raina as Byomkesh Bakshi and Ajit Kumar Banerjee respectively. It features music and background score from Ananda Shankar. Upon release it became critically acclaimed. It was re-telecast on DD National in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown in India.
Contents
Synopsis
Byomkesh Bakshi is a Bengali detective and a truth seeker who takes on spine-chilling cases with his friend Ajit Kumar Banerjee. Byomkesh identifies himself as Satyanweshi meaning 'truth seeker' rather than a detective. He stands out from other legendary detectives like Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes because he is more concerned with truth than with law as evidenced from his cases where he lets the perpetrator die by manipulating the circumstances using their own methods as a redemption and deliverance of justice for the victim in absence of evidence as in Balak Jasoos, Ret Ka Daldal, and a few other cases.
Basu Chatterjee adapted each novel by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay into an episode (except Chiriyaghar and Aadim Shatru, which are made in two-part episodes).
Cast
Episodes
The first season had 13 and the second season had 19 episodes.
Season 1 (1993)
Satyanweshi (transl. seeker of truth): In 1932, Byomkesh Bakshi investigates murders that have taken place in the Chinatown locality. He assumes an alias and starts living in the hostel run by the homeopathic doctor Anukul babu. Initially told that there weren't rooms available, he convinces Ajit Kumar Banerjee to share a room with him. Then, by applying deductive methods, he soon identifies the murderer and induces an attack from him, and thereby catching him red-handed.
Raste Ka Kanta (transl. Obstacle, impediment, or a nuisance): In 1933, an advertisement in the newspaper draws the attention of Bakshi. Although seemingly funny, this advertisement Agar aap raaste ke kaante se... it seems to have a more dangerous implication. A client approaches Bakshi and narrates how he was almost pierced by an object while walking on the street. Byomkesh investigates the matter and catches this dangerous person who has a special method of killing people.
Seemant Heera (transl. The Frontier Diamond) : The case revolves in 1934 around the theft of a priceless heirloom, and Byomkesh and Ajit are invited by the current heir to recover it from the heir's uncle, as consumed by greed, he has stolen it. His uncle offers to let Byomkesh and Ajit search the house for seven days. Byomkesh cracks the culprit's expertise in sculpting and eventually succeeds in getting the Seemant Heera back.
Makdi Ka Ras (transl. "Juice of a Spider" or "Spider Fluid"): In 1934, Byomkesh meets Mohan, one of Ajit's school friends and a doctor by profession who shares an intriguing event with them and seeks Bakshi's help. One of his patients, Nand Dulal Babu, has a weird addiction to Tarantula's fluid, which is gradually damaging his health. Despite the strict vigilance, how the fluid reaches Nandlal babu becomes the biggest question. But Bakshi solves the case in no time.
Wasiyat (transl. "Will" or "Testament") : In 1935, Karali Babu, a wealthy Bengali, with no direct heir, has been murdered in his sleep. As Byomkesh determines later in the story, the victim was killed in such a way that hints at the culprit having knowledge of medical procedures. The fact that the victim was in the habit of frequently changing his will out of temper makes it likely that anyone who could inherit his wealth would have killed him. Byomkesh probes the case and gets hold of the murderer. During this case, he meets Satyabati for the first time who is shown as his wife in the later episodes.
Season 2 (1997)
Aadim Shatru (transl. "The primal enemy," "The earliest enemy," or "The original foe") (Part 1)
Aadim Shatru (Part 2)
Aag Aur Patanga (transl. "Fire and moth")
Vansh Ka Khoon (transl. "Blood of the lineage" or "Blood of the family/dynasty")
Necklace
Amrit ki Maut transl. "Death of nectar" or "Death like the loss of immortality/elixir")
Pahari Rahasya (transl. "The secret of the hills" or "Mystery of the mountains")
Anjaan Khooni (transl. Unknown killer)
Kahen Kavi Kalidas (transl. "Thus spoke the poet Kalidasa" or "The poet Kalidasa says")
Adrishya Trikon (transl. Invisible Triangle)
Wasiyat ka Rahasya (transl. The Mystery of the Will)
Bemisaal (transl. Unparalleled, matchless, unique, or incomparable)
Balak Jasoos (transl. "Child spy" or "Kid detective")
Chakrant (transl. Conspiracy, plot, intrigue, or machination)
Paheli Gatha (transl. "a song, verse, or tale of a riddle" or "a riddle told in verse.")
Kamra No. 102 (transl. Room No. 102)