Gorosthane Sabdhan!

Feluda returns this year with a hint of nostalgia as the mystery he is about to solve is in the city of joy. Alas, the year is advanced to 2010 and with hi tech gadgets like the mobile and the www, Feluda’s research work seems easier enough. Also at times the Feluda like observations apparently lacks in edge but truly speaking, this seems to be Sandip Ray’s best venture with the trio as the calm and composed Sabysachi apparently strikes the best impression in this adventure. He is accompanied by the new Topshe in Saheb Bhatacharya whose age and looks are by far the best and most noticeably offers the more apt chemistry with Bivu Bhattacharya’s characterization of Lalmohanbabu. But having said these, it must also be mentioned that Bhattacharya is gradually becoming unbearable since appearing as Lalmohanbabu for the fourth time in a row he should have improved more.

This adventure, in search of Perigal Repeater - don’t ask me what it is, as it’s part of the mystery – takes Feluda to the Gorosthan (the Park Street cemetery). Or shall we say that his hunts in the Gorosthan led him to the deep rooted mystery. Yes, the mystery was surely deep rooted as it dates back to eighteenth century when a British named Thomas Godwin settled in Calcutta. With him came the precious Perigal Repeater. Now it seems, evil collectors were after it and it’s up to Feluda to save the day. But most mysteriously it was not the primary motivation. Feluda, on his own, had started investigating the cause of a reported accident in Gorosthan when his instincts drove him to further his searches.

The viewers are next led through a maze of complex characters and a thrilling ride through the Victorian remains of the city. Starting from séances and old chests the mystery spreads its knotty hues among academicians, gamblers, antique collectors and of course the private investigator Pradosh C. Mitter.

Sashanka Palit’s cinematography is excellent as are the shot compositions but if Sandip Ray’s style of story telling may be changed a bit to keep the mystery shrouded till the very end, the excitement could have been much more intense. Produced by Mou Roychoudhury, the team could have been more selective of the casting. While some, specially Tinu Anand blended into his role perfectly but contrastingly that of Subhashish Mukherjee failed to draw appreciation. Dhritiman Chatterjee was good during the start but at the final scenes his overacting was too much for the character. Dwijen Bandyopadhyay in his short appearance provided a wonderful relief that was so absent in Bivu’s entire performance. Infact, after viewing this, my opinion is the next Lalmohanbabu might be selected from Haradhan Bannerjee and Dwijen Bandyopadhyay. But surely one of the best performances come from Sabyasachi who seemed more relaxed in this role and though whispers about him gaining weight seemed going against his Feluda image but his acting reflected the sharp intellect much more than any other previous ventures.