The Eken: Benarase Bibheeshika

After Ray penned Joy Baba Felunath and quickly crafted a movie based on the novel, the sacred city of Varanasi turned to a city of mystery for the Bengali readers and the addicts of Bengali films.

So much so that Arindam Sil relocated his adaptation of Bahnni-Patanga to Benaras in Har Har Byomkesh, a marked difference from the original as penned by Saradindu Banyopadhyay. Thus we had both Feluda and Byomkesh solving a case apiece in movies at least here, reaffirming the status of the place as a city where mystery brews.

Following the tradition, Joydip Mukherjee takes Ekenbabu through the city this time to solve mysteries. With a tribute to Ray and his creations and with apparently a subtle Byomkesh touch, the case surrounds a plot that endangers the city.

Based on the story of Sujan Dasgupta and scripted by Padmanava Dasgupta, the thrill starts early with a blast that rings alarm among the police while grips the heart of the audience with suspense. As the blast is traced back to Belal Mallick, the infamous crook, the authorities anticipate further strikes. As his presence is felt in the city, the police and the agents of the Special Task Force start to sieve through each avenue to apprehend Belal, feared for being an explosive expert and famed equally for being a skilled specialist of disguise. 

As the moments gradually turn tense, Ekenbabu and Bapi accompany Pramatha to Benaras on a sudden invitation of Pramatha's friend, Subimal. Subimal eagerly invites the trio to their mansion that he shares with his uncle, Bireshwar but their visit seemed not too cordially accepted by Bireshwar's very young wife, Damini.

A collector of rich antiques, Bireshwar perceives that he is being robbed of his prized possessions and wishes Ekenbabu to look into the matter. But his frequent loss of memory, resulted apparently due to the aggressive treatment of his cancer and a sense of secrecy that he maintains, prevented him to elaborate on his ideas.

Smelling a scent of something fishy and hot on the trail of smuggled artefacts, Ekenbabu curiously gets embroiled in the search for Belal and gets to peek in the case of the bomb blast as well.

The movie blends adventure with mystery and starts at a happy pace but climaxes a bit too abruptly with several ends, let quite loose and very vaguely explained! Joydip Mukherjee directed the movie for the young adult and the age beyond but a little more detailing and critical thinking would be advisable for future projects in the franchise, which will be hopefully continuing! But the best part of the picture is the superbly synchronized acting of the trio Anirban Chakrabarti (Ekenbabu), Suhotro Mukhopadhyay (Bapi) and Somak Ghosh (Pramatha), who keeps the thrill intense while providing ample refreshing snippets with their perfectly tuned timings during comic sequences. Saswata Chatterjee (Belal Mallik) is a surprise disappointment along with Biswanath Basu, both of whom perform well below than what we expect of them! Gaurav Chakraborty (Subimal), with his natural gracefulness, fits in well in a character, which essentially demands just that. However, Sagnik Chatterjee plays another fine support though with a bit sterner look than required, at places, but would like to welcome his appearance that eagerly commits to the character that he portrays. The other person who is equally committed to her role is Ishaa Saha (Damini) with her accent convincing of the lineage meant for her character, a feature that Sagnik slightly lacked and she played a correct support to the suspense that the narrative with so many angles quietly needed.

Thus, in a nutshell, the movie is a pleasant watch for the summer holidays but surely had the potential to perform far better!

Chaalchitro: Canvas of Cruels

Based on a police thriller, the movie grippingly starts on a high note but falters as the thrill peaks. Written and directed by Pratim Das Gupta, the story might have been better crafted and less tersely edited (Antara Lahiri), as the pace of the movie is inherently quite fast.

A serial killing spree grips the city when women are found killed and the bodies pinned up in the manner, reminiscent of a series of murders that happened long ago! With the earlier killer already serving his sentence, DCP Kanisha Chatterjee (Tota Roy Chowdhury) and his investigating squad are baffled as the killer strikes again. With the only common factor being that all the victims had broken off their marriages prior to getting killed, the police starts keeping vigil at probable targets. But as collateral wrenches the heart and the body count grows, the police must act fast as the murderer gets desperate!

A narrative like this was meant to top the charts, while picturised, but was marred by sequences that were fast, unnatural and unreal.

However, this movie should be watched at least once for three reasons.

The acting of the supporting actors who just overshadowed the main cast. Anirban Chakrabarti was precise and sober, Ziaul Faruq Apurba dominated with grandeur in his curt presence and Tanika Basu was simply outstanding. No word will suffice to describe what she achieved in a role that I feel, will be most difficult to play at any time by anyone!

The next best thing to be noted was costume design by Sabarni Das. The dresses were plain and simple mostly, and fitting and realistic for the occasions captured.

But the best of everything will be the music by Debojyoti Mishra that soothes the senses and gives the movie a much needed grace in the midst of too much gore.

With content fit only for the matured, the movie will be a mostly enjoyable watch!

Tekka

A kidnapping kaleidoscope with situations escalating to crazier heights, the feature film is sure to entertain with a ride, albeit jerky, of thrill and suspense. I would love to have termed the ride gripping had it not been for the intermittent sequences racing to a peak of tension but followed by a quick release that awkwardly cuts through a rather bland consequence. Whatever may be the nature of the pace though, the thrill is sure to be appreciated.

When Iqlakh, the sacked janitor of a corporate house captures a school girl and holds her hostage at gunpoint right inside the building where he was earlier employed, the matter immediately attracts the attention and concern of the police, the corporate house and the mother of the little girl. While demanding that his job be given back, his demand of the owner being present to confirm his appointment irks the authorities. what complicates matter is the fact that the owner of the firm was a prominent political figure! The negotiating ACP thus faces a frighteningly difficult task of convincing Iqlakh of the situation that develops behind. A media team, accidentally present at the very site, leaks footage of the drama that unfolds inside. As Iqlakh shows no intention to compromise, the adamant owner of the firm, Anubrata Adhikari likewise refuses to dance in the tune of the kidnapper by appearing physically as demanded. The situation worsens as the determined mother takes a drastic step. What happens after this is a breezy ride through a maze of strategies, which needs to be seen to be enjoyed that culminates in a revelation that awes.

With a splendid storyline (Bhaskar Chattopadhyay) having multiple twists, the screenplay (Bhaskar Chattopadhyay), however, will disappoint slightly, thanks to the slurry of slangs that mingles a bit too unnecessarily in the dialogues (Srijit Mukherjee) that again gets carried away, at times, while framing perfectly critical yet irritatingly irrelevant messages. Dev Adhikari, however outshines, as is most often the case, I have noticed, when Srijit Mukherjee directs, with a superb display of emotions that fits accurately with the character that he portrays on screen. Loknath Dey is another actor, who is naturally brilliant, but remains completely under utilized in the imperfectly woven script. But considering these shortcomings too, the movie is a genuine entertainer that will be enjoyed by all if the coarseness at places is ignored in the script and the central theme is assimilated maturely.

The Eken: Ruddhashwas Rajasthan

Ekenbabu is back in the big screen, and this time in the majestic Rajasthan! Rides on camel, visits to palaces, desert tours are there as are tasting the local cuisines, a necessity, according to Ekenbabu, to have a complete feel of a new place. With Bapibabu and Pramathababu as the usual tour mates, the holiday is all set for a joyride. But alas, where there is a detective, there ought to be at least a crime and the audience will be rejoiced, riding the merry wheel of adventure, wrapped in mystery.

The ever fussy Ekenbabu is no exception and Rajasthan, a hunting ground for Feluda, now seeks the chubby detective to look for stolen artefacts, missing persons and solve murder!

With a pace that will never feel unnatural, the movie is a thrilling ride of suspense and fun. Blending humour in just the right amount, the central theme is very much focussed. A museum curator with a queer interest in replica, an alleged professor of archaeology who drops in uninvited and a chemistry professor with an interest in lost antiques, the list of suspects grows equally diverse. Thus it remains to be seen how Ekenbabu handles the confusion and solves the puzzles and fights against a vicious villain, rumoured to gulp his opponents, without leaving a trace of the body anywhere.

Joydip Mukherjee directs the thriller and trims it perfectly for the old and young to enjoy together. The audience packed halls easily indicate the growing popularity of Ekenbabu, much of whose credit must be given to Anirban Chakrabarti in keeping the character consistently lively. Playing the satellites and supporting the irritatingly clever sleuth, Suhotro Mukhopadhyay as Bapibabu and Somak Ghosh as Pramathababu enhances the chemistry between them and Ekenbabu in styles, which are fascinatingly unique for each yet contrastingly comic, completing the package of smart entertainment. Another notable cast is Sudip Mukherjee as the local police chief and a training mate of Ekenbabu in the start of their career, whose appearance and dialect were so astonishingly perfect throughout that I held him as a Rajasthani actor for the initial few introductory sequences, at least.

Echoing a creepily crooked concept from Elementary, the film is a fantastic entertainer but will fall short of critical applause due to the coarse commercial inserts that felt way out of the context and appeared childishly scripted, given the flurry of tributes reserved for Ray and his subtleties in Sonar Kella, Joy Baba Felunath. Thus, the movie will be appreciated for the uncompromised suspense that it gifts but will be appreciated less for the lack of finesse it serves.

Ek Theke Baro

I'd read about Twelve Angry Men, saw the movie, Ek Ruka Hua Faisla, but when I witnessed Ek Theke Baro on stage, based on the same story, the experience was electrifying!

The fate of a young ruffian hangs in the balance as twelve jurors deliberate in a closed room to decide on the accused. What will be the decision - will it be the deathly gallows or freedom?Eleven seems certain about the boy's crime while only one has doubts. And here begins the drama. A single case, a focused plot, a single room with a goal for a single decision. But a dozen persons with a dozen views, a dozen perspectives and a dozen traits that they represent had apparently at least a dozen reasons to differ!

But the court wants a decision unanimous and so starts the deliberation. Locked in a room till the decision is reached, some goes hungry while others go impatient. Reason fights emotion while logic pits against bias. Passion prevails while irritation peaks. The sane fights the obsessed and the serious confronts the casual.

Can the truth be ever unveiled? Will the accused get the deserving judgement? The debate that started with the eleven convinced against the one favouring otherwise, not only unwraps the evidences in new light but also exposes the raw perspectives of the general populace. When prejudice unfurls its irrational fangs and obsession clouds judgement, the logical few will always be tasked with the difficult assignment of spelling out the right decisions against the impatiently arrogant and the impertinently ignorant.

Nandikar presents this tremendously thrilling drama directed by Saptarshi Maulik. The director also acts as one of the juries and is correctly critical in his performance as his character demands. Assisting him in direction is Arghya Dey Sarkar who is deputy to Maulik in direction but on stage, his characterisation as the stubbornly passionate and aggressively obstinate jury will easily keep him way ahead of the others. Barishan Chatterjee will deserve a special applause, representing the sober elderly with faith in the youth, in this Swatilekha Sengupta adaptation of the original. Sourav Dinda portrays the insignificant peon with no or only tiny crumbs of dialogues, who starts the proceedings and closes them as well, signing off with significance infused in the character, representing the contrastingly gentle regular worker with defined duties, a mind not unhinged by the stress of taking decision that matters!

The entire presentation is brilliant and will request the fans of drama to watch this display of passion where thrill will flow, emotions will engulf the audience, senses will writhe with the rage that arises on stage as you will never be certain till the very climax whether sanity will prevail and order restored. A fantastic compact presentation that will keep the audiences on edge throughout and time will fleet past with a pace accelerating yet surprisingly steady.

There is a very interesting caveat. There is a wallpiece on stage that runs on real time. Though the actual time will be different but audience may note the duration of the presentation from the clock, clearly in their view, and will surely appreciate the precision of acting in this dialogue intensive presentation that wraps up in style within the duration, announced at start, reflecting professionalism at its finest.

Parker Pyne Investigates

If you are not happy, then Parker Pyne awaits you to take your case and make you hearty. With a fee payable in advance, you can let the love detective take care of your case just like Mrs Packington in The Case of the Middle-Ages Housewife. If adventure is your choice, you will be matched with romance with a touch of mystery as was The Case of the Disconcerted Soldier scripted by his acquaintance, Mrs Ariadne Oliver, the novelist who will see to the thrills of it. Fees varies for each case, but that is justified as each case is specially crafted to suit the clients' requirements. But there is an inherent investigator in Pyne who makes his presence felt time and again, starting from The Case of the Distressed Lady where curiously, though happiness to the client is robbed off but the same in the reader will be guaranteed. But sometimes it becomes a bit more than tricky where happiness looms round the corner but the client takes a sudden turn as in The Case of the Discontented Husband, taking the agency of happiness by surprise. However, the honest proprietor is never deterred by these outcomes and will even lose money if the cause is so deserving like in The Case of the City Clerk, where, unbeknownst to the client, he embarks upon an adventure with political consequences and international importance, yet cleverly embroidered by the seller of happiness that satisfies all interested parties. But never have been the satisfaction more heartfelt than in The Case of The Rich Woman, where unhappiness due to excessive wealth is solved with a plan so elaborate that it will defy imagination yet will be rendered classic by the humble ambience. But the real mischievous prank is in Have You Got Everything You Want? where the adoration for the newly married hubby is smirked by a sudden discovery that puts doubt in the mind of the wife, but for a chance meeting with the agent of happiness, each matter is solved in a series of humorous twists. As opposed to slight mischief, the next involves a murder near The Gate of Baghdad, where the killer and the killed are in the same troupe as is the sleuth. Following at its heel is a curious death that happened long ago in The House at Shiraz that would have remained buried in the darkest past if not the merchant of cheerfulness would turn sleuthing for the sake of happiness. His investigative streak continues in The Pearl of Price in deducing the whereabouts of a seemingly expensive pearl but the interesting point is the portraiture of the sleuth. The author has developed the character in such a way that he sometimes seem to resemble Poirot but then she adds that additional detail which makes Parker unique with his very own way of looking into perspectives and justifies the requirement of different characters to solve different sets of crisis. The short and crisp Death on the Nile is a murder mystery on a boat where the small pool of suspect seems to help the retired civil servant in the Department of Records to narrow it down on the perpetrator with the real evidence that lay aside the pile of false. Sequel to it, with a subtle clue lying hidden in some remarks, is the mystery of The Oracle at Delphi, where kidnapping and ransom constitutes the primary plot but the more interesting plot lies hidden till the climactic phase. Though a premonition remains irrationally unexplained, but the classic style bears the incomparable Christie signature written all over it.

Misir Ali Omnibus II

The opening thriller had been a most entertaining novel, titled Brihannala. With an introduction like any other Misir Ali novel, as the mystery unfolds, so does the solution apparently to the readers but the final twist will be sure to put them reeling with a truth so revealing that justifies why the Professor of Abnormal Behaviour was called upon to solve. The literary skill of the master storyteller, Humayun Ahmed, will be reminded again at the climax when it will be felt that the obvious hint were there right at the inception but for the enigmatic writing that concealed it in plain sight. Trivial surprises are also in store for  the inquisitive readers who will come to know that Psycholgy was Arts subject and not Science in university courses when this novel was designed. The next is about a mysterious lady who comes to Ali only to  be driven out shortly but leaves her belongings and money that incites the sleuth in revealing a curious mind with unnatural acumen. With clues hidden in a narrative and a letter, the investigator must find the problem and then solve it to help the distressed client in Tandrabilas. Everything remains justified in this suspense, including its intriguing incompleteness, but the mistake in a mathematical riddle remains its single technical flaw and another spoiler during the beginning mars the narrative slightly in the otherwise fascinatingly detailed gripping plot and queer incidents. The ultimate logical man meets the ultimate intuitive person in Himur Dwitiya Prahar which mixes humour, ingenuity, mystery and romance in the best possible way. Narrated by the protagonist, Himu, the story deals with his encounter with fear and how he approaches to overcome it. Ali appears for a lesser time but the portions are the best in this novel where the author excels himself in documenting dialogues for both of his legendary creations who are characteristically contrasting to each other. The story is not only endearing, but it resembles the style of Sanjib Chattopadhyay with a freshness that cheers the readers. This is my 1st Himu novel and it will be a refreshing relief in this intellectually overwhelming yet satisfying compilation of the adventure with the human psyche. Moving ahead is Amii Misir Ali, which had already been discussed earlier. The most terrifying case of the volume is Baghbandi Misir Ali, which is surprisingly unassuming in the start but midway onwards, three characters evolves so hurriedly that the reader is trapped in a mesh of psychic wits that stifles the breath away. The sleuth is, however, the target in this game and his honest wit is all there to deal with the situation. The psychopathic killer, a former patient and his current servant (who is, for a change, not a thief) are entangled in a chase to save a little girl as well as a severely sick victim. The final in the volume is a challenging puzzle in the form of a letter that includes the Kahen Kabi Kalidas riddle, which is not solved but the primary mystery is. Infact, the mystery is solved by the sleuth, sitting entirely at his home with a couple of communications with his students and some materials obtained on request from the client. With an array of less peculiar characters than is customary in his novel, the plot will surely keep the suspense alive as the sequences unfold. Curiously, it contains only two chapters with one encroaching the majority of the novel but the shorter one will be no less enthralling.

The Secret of Chimneys

As you go through the book, you will feel that you are going through the scenes of a drama rather than a novel. Yes, the description of events are more filled with discussions rather than reflections on the mysteries. The loquaciousness is the only consistent thing about the story that contains at least three mysteries woven into a single fabric and no dearth of suspects. Interestingly, as the mystery gathers pace, the number of sleuths increase. We have Battle, then comes the detective from the French police. Several other amateurs and professionals in the respective field also tries their hand at trying to crack the mystery that consists of a murder, a theft from days past, attempted robbery which attracts the suspects and the detectives in the same place.
The Chimneys, the great country estate seems to hold secrets that threatens the Royalty and the politics of a small fictional country ruled by the monarchy and which had seen much bloodshed and scandals. Curiously, the supposed errand of the apparent unrelated yet adventurous young man, puts him and his life in the midst of the dangerous race for control. As a murder occurs in the premises where several political personage has taken residence, the professionals are called.
The shrewdly deceptive Battle enters and so does several other mystery seekers. A gem, stolen long ago but apparently hidden in the Chimneys, seems again to attract the thief who stole it. The person, released from the gallows gives the slip to the police and seems to lurk in the vicinity. A master of disguise, he seems to blend with the others in plain sight. Attempt of robbery for a particular manuscript of allegedly risky memoir threatens the balance of nations. Added to this is another death and a bundle of scandalous letters.
As the reader will find, that there is no dearth of mystery but however, the entire novel along with the signature Christie twists will fall short of expectations at the major portions where adventure predominates over mystery.

Amii Misir Ali

Bordering the realm of psychology, this mystery is far from the mundane detective stories. Misir Ali is more psychologist rather than detective. It is the request of his clients that makes him a sleuth rather than his innate motive. Here we find the prospective client persuading a less reluctant Ali to take the case with varieties of methods that are queer to say the least. But this introduces the psychological aspect of the novel right at its very inception paving the mind of the reader for the complex set of events that will come shrouded in mystery. Misir soon found himself in the trail of a psychological duel between a master planner and himself with the resource of his intellect fighting the array of mortal and immortal pawns in the battle. The writing is flawless where it irritates at the beginning but its simplicity makes it attractive enough till it is taken care by the thrill that is surprisingly pacy. But there are certain shortcomings too viz, the climax could have been a bit less abrupt to allow the essence of the outcome to be assimilated and also it is not obvious how the criminals are punished, more importantly whether they are punished for the crime that was committed.

Blindsight

A spine chilling mystery that will keep you glued to the pages till it is solved. The medical examiner Laurie Montgomery is baffled with a series of coccaine overdose cases in which she senses foul play but fails to convince the authorities to take precautions. Quite curiously, a series of apparently random killings take place almost simultaneously that keeps detective Lou Soldano search for clues to link a Mafia kingpin to the crimes. Lou and Laurie cross path while doing the autopsies and each starts to piece together their respective puzzles to solve their problems. As bodies pile up in the autopsy tables, it seems these two are the only persons to get to the bottom if they work as a team but for their quabbles that does the opposite. As the paid assassins increase the body count, threat looms large on the unsuspected. With the rival sects planning to overthrow the other in the crime world, the innocents pay the most. Exploiting an inherent folly of a medical benevolence, the criminals play mayhem for their goal. But what is the motive? It is upto the forensic investigators to uncover the truth and unmask the evil. It had been a reread for me but I again enjoyed the suspense part of which had been happily erased from my memory. Recommended for lovers of medical fictions it reveals a chilling truth that will make the heart shudder.

The Firm

A couple of school friends suggested me the particular title among few others when I confessed that my tryst with Grisham's had not been so appealing. Actually it was again a college mate who had convinced me to read The Pelican Brief, which being as fantastic as it is made me select The King of Torts for my next read. That was apparently where I stopped reading Grisham and was actually a bit scared of ever touching another. But as it happened, friends have a way with themselves. But I am grateful to them for their suggestions for which I again relished a Grisham after a great many days.
It starts with a hint of thrill in the opening few chapters but the revelation comes all of a sudden that actually unfolds the terrifying puzzle. A fresher hired from the law school by a rich yet unassuming firm dreams a lavish early retirement. The promise of a hefty paycheck annually amassed from the rich uncomplaining clientele with other luring perks that the professional peers could only dream of seemed more than satisfying. Infact, the firm seemed also to take particular interest in the associates to settle down with a family early. So Mitch, the rookie, tried to settle down with a hope to make himself the youngest partner in the history of the firm where he was hired. Little did he know that the firm actually had a secret of its own that is chillingly fearsome. He was lured into a cleverly conceived trap that made him an accomplice to crime from which escape and death seems synonymous. But fate had a surprising twist for him as law enforcers contact him with a warning of an impending doom. As he becomes suspicious, more so by an even curious revelation of the accidental deaths of previous employees, Mitch tries to think rationally. As he gives his ears to the investigators against orders from his senior colleagues he is shocked to learn a dangerous truth. As the law is hell bent to bust a racket of mob and lawyers, Mitch is held in the midst that makes life threateningly deceptive. Thus ensues fast paced cat and mouse chase where it is upto Mitch himself to get out from the clutches of assassins while assuring safety for friends and family. With help coming from curious quarters, the chase is fascinating yet fearful. The uniqueness of the narrative is the delayed introduction of the central theme after the primary characters are well introduced though the web of suspense is felt with clear hints that poses queries that is revealed in trickles.

Goenda Indranath Rudra Samagra Vol I

Mystery and suspense are the essence of the stories but often the fast pace mars the evolution of the mystery. Consisting of the following exploits of Indranath Rudra, penned mostly by Mriganka and some from a 3^rd person perspective, plots are sometimes dull, sometimes fantastic but with speedy happenings all through.
In Bhanumatir Khel, the sleuth investigates a double murder in a theatre with a jumble weave of characters but the solution seems a jigsaw puzzle fitted in the right way. The credits go to the author for the elegant solution of a clever riddle. In Afim O Indranath Rudra, a smuggling racket operates in the Rajasthan deserts. There is an attempted murder that leaves the sleuth apparently traumatized. The police friend from Calcutta, Jayanta is called. But as the racket is busted by the sleuth in disguise, it seems a bit unrealistic as it seems a superhuman effort on the part of him. But the superhuman status to the sleuth is actually acknowledged in the introduction by the author. The next, Bha Rahasya is basically a riddle to open a treasure trove that when solved will justify the name of the story which seems a printing mistake otherwise. The preamble is drama in itself which borders an unrealistic romance, which is characteristic of the author as some of the other stories depict in this, that continues in the main story as well. The story starts with two prime characters appearing at the same place at the same time which was actually necessary but this puzzling coincidence is never explained. The sleuth also seems a bit too smart. The next is Aamar Moner Moreechika, which is written in the 1st person in the form of communiqué to his friend where the sleuth himself poses a fundamental query. A taxi driver is killed. The clues reveal an elopement but the climax horrifies the conscience of the detective as the truth is unshakeable yet tragic to someone near. Prabanchak Samrat is Indranath’s written letter to an editor where he acknowledges his failure to catch the king of deceivers. The letter essentially narrates one of the latest tales of the deceiver juicing out wealth from the rich in a way that is precarious yet clever. The anecdote of failure continues in Sonar Aata where the search for treasure turns tragic with a murder. So Indranath failed in his primary objective of protecting the client. Two suspects are apprehended where both seems to have equal chance to be the killer. As the mystery is solved but this poetry in motion is too abrupt to be a good one. The title¸ Rudrachakra, itself could have been pointer to the plot which I realized only near the final chapters. It is actually a series of traps set to catch a criminal who is identified quite early. Though it plays with the psychology of the villain but its apparent apathy towards the victim of the hateful crime lowers its civilized quality. Indranath solves a death in Achalgarh Rahasya that hints his similarity with Ghanada to certain extent as the charges are cleared against the accused. The Chh(n)uchor Golae Chandrahar has a Ghanada Swapankumar combo effect where animal skin smugglers are busted with a surprise entry of Geondani Narayani, a vigilante, that lowers the appeal only. The mystery is further diluted by the excessive use of ornamental language in Chemical Detective, which could otherwise be categorized as marvellous. A chemical factory explodes leaving behind a severely mutilated body charred beyond recognition where police smells murder but the trace of the victim could only be found by the sleuth. Beema Rahasya, as the name indicates, is a mystery related to an apparent insurance fraud which Indranath investigates as part of his job for the agency. It is a nice mystery albeit the undue stress on descriptions of emotions strips out the real charm. Another nice mystery is weaved in Photo O Indranath Rudra, which is predictable yet enjoyable. Here, the sleuth exhibits a deep knowhow on the existing national conspiracies. A hateful crime is committed in Pagal Khuni but more stress on description rather than analytics with confiding clues only with the truth seeker makes it tiresome. The thrilling crime is made tasteless by poor choice of perspective. A girl with four wooers suddenly finds one killed and another arrested for the murder in Sonar Kharam. But is he the real killer? The sleuth finds a deep rooted motive lying dormant for years. But this pacy mystery is a bit fast that makes investigation crudely prime without caring for sentiments to be developed for the unfortunate. Sieving thru the complicated autobiography in Stabsha Attahasi, a mystery is to be solved that had aged quite a bit. These become less of a mystery while more of a romantic adventure that hurries downstream. With the use of hypnotism in D(n)aat Thakte, a bit of psychology, the criminal is finally pinned with the use of odontological evidence. Here, the criminal is threatened to agree to terms dictated upon that is justified wonderfully and proves to be the best part here. The 3^rd person perspective in Heerak Bandareer Heerer Kalam starts with the request to rescue some thirteen diamond studded pens that is stolen. Quickly a murder follows. Clue to catch murderer is vague but there is a hint to where stolen items can be placed. The only thing worth mentioning in Kodakar Case is that ghost and mystery go hand in hand. An interesting method of saving a friend while pinning criminals is narrated in Rupor Rekabi. A riddle with a wrong clue is given in Adrish Bardhaner Galpo Nie Goenda Dh(n)adha Gh(n)etu Pujote Dhol Shanai|| Indranath Rudra||. Unfortunately, detection has taken a backseat in Sundaree Tumi Suktara where fiction runs in the extreme. The less said the better. Complicated way to justify the murderer to be human by analyzing a series of eerie happenings in Pretinee Kanyar Kahinee seems a bit too much. A stoneman case is revisited as the sleuth tries to catch Raater Atanka where the author explains in his own style with a disclaimer that is witty yet wise.

Choyti Rahasya Upanyas

Picked up this book at the bookfair and it proved to be a gem of a choice. This premier collection consists of six mystery stories by Kalyani Basu, sister to Bani Basu, with a signature style of her own though reflecting a similar trait in the plots. Author introduces about her works in a higher octave but seems her expectations are a bit too ambitious. Though there  is thrill and suspense yet the introduction could have been toned down a little for the future.
Featuring police detective Avra Chatterjee in four of the cases, the first one is Golmuktar Bala where a murder follows theft but criminals are unmasked following a set of bad clues. The suspense is weaved at the very beginning but the solution becomes a bit obvious as the story progresses. Actually the absence of a clear motive makes it a bit easy to understand who the perpetrators are. The next case for the detective is in Boomerang where the possessive and suspicious husband contemplated the contract murder of the wife but is killed instead. Here the central theme of the book becomes more  prominent that hypothesizes that crime is the result of circumstances that forces persons to become evil. Infact the fate of the villain being uncertain during the closing seems fitting for the case. Avra remains a bit passive in Shikarakti where a serial killing targetting a set of four friends keeps the suspense high. A depressed girl is about to be married to one of the friends while getting over her psychological trauma but the killing starts suddenly that threatens the dream of a settled life. This fast paced suspense is a real thriller. The detective reappears in Arya Aasche where a long lost step brother is about to return after thirty four years to claim his right over a family heirloom. A mysterious twist of false identities and murder threatens the calm life of the family that seems to feel the ripple of past magnified to a dangerous scale.
There are two other stories, the intensely psychological thriller Sutapa Ekhono Bari Fereni, where a wife goes missing after leaving for home from her school. Clues are cleverly weaved that subtly casts shadows of doubt that fades but persists throughout to keep the thrill focussed. With merely a handful of characters, this is not a professional investigation style narrative yet suspense runs high as the mystery unfolds. The other is titled B(n)ashbon  which might be termed as a mystery with a difference where a hateful crime is committed but nobody finds a clue. The usual suspects rare rounded but are forced to be released due to insufficient evidence. An unsolved mystery seems to await. The surprise comes as justice is served the natural way with a punishment which is violently just.
Mystery lovers may go through the thrill that promises a unique perspective to crime as well as punishment.

Clouds of Witness

A man, the would be brother-in-law of Lord Peter is killed. The chief accused is his brother while the chief witness is their sister. No doubt that drama starts from the very first page that continues with a steady pace till the closing chapters. An incredible finale is in store in this essentially courtroom case. As evidence piles up it seems that mystery is not one but many. Some witness goes missing while some clouds the judgement. It remains to be seen how the sleuth uncovers the truth assisted by Bunter along with Inspector Parker who acts as the faithful satellite while remaining mostly unbiased as his post demands. Support also comes from Peter's mother, the wise Dowager Duchess whose abilities display the trait that her son uses in his sleuthing. With an introduction by the fictitious uncle of Lord Peter this Sayers saga of crime and passion is light yet satisfying.

Kiriti Omnibus Vol II

The introduction by Shri Gajendrakumar Mitra is the best in this volume of Kiriti. Sketching a compact to the extreme history of detective fiction till that time, the introducer did not miss to acknowledge the premieres of the trade yet criticizing the authors where they are due. But in this regard it seems he was a bit biased to the Kiriti genre as his analysis of appeal seemed a bit far fetched. Following this is Duti Katha by the author where he justifies the marriage of his sleuth. Then the volume starts with Holud Shaitan that takes the sleuth with his associate overseas on a hunt for a sinister assassin, continues with Dainir B(n)ashi aka Ishkaboner Bibi Harataner Saheb which could have been the best of the fictions had it not been for the unnecessary lengthening in the closing chapters. After this is Dragon which bridges two sets of incidents by the murderer but it seems a bit forced that both murderers are the same along with the fact that the sleuth enjoys holidays while on the scent of criminal without trying to wrap it quickly. The next piece is Momer Alo where a wife is killed with the father-in-law accusing his son for the crime. This is followed by Basanta Rajani where an old acquaintance of the sleuth is found dead that starts a trail of queer revelations and Kalo Pakhi links a murder with theft but fails to justify the link clearly.

Acceptable Risk

Based on the Salem Witch trial and trying to give a rational of the events the story revolves around a mould unearthed in one of the mansions in Salem. The mould seems an apparent anti-depressants and when it promises a billion dollar future for a set of doctors and a businessman with a medical background sky seems the only limit. But things starts a bit awry with mutilated animals turning up in the neighbourhood and the researchers, playing guineapigs among themselves, find themselves dishevelled and sleep walking awakening on their rooms but with dirt and injury on their beings. A fine border that remains between medical ethics and incessant profiteering seems to become blurred by lust and Robin Cook once again proves that the world needs a balance and a rationale approach for its betterment where hurrying may lead to danger that might become uncontrolled becoming irreparable.

Chromosome 6

A radical invention, an enterprising materialist, a profiteering organization, a ruthless enforcer, the combination could not have been less perfect for a smooth flow of cash from the wealthiest of clients but for the fact that it showed a blind eye to ethics. So when a mafia chief is killed in the States ripples are felt in the remote base in Africa as a possible postmortem thwarted the entire project. So the body vanished but the trace could not be entirely wiped out. An obstinate team of mortuary doctors seemed to solve the mystery of the vanished body and another headless corpse all at the same time. Joining them was a police detective.  The bad boys were in action but the dice was rolled. So as the trio in States tried to solve some bizarre mysteries, another trio in Africa tried to investigate the ethical doubts. So the suspense heightened as biology unfolded some extreme revelations. A terrific mystery coupled with signature crisp narrative style that makes the story awesome. Surprisingly, reliefs are found in the choicest phrases that does not dries up the thrill but actually spices it up. Robin Cook once more shows his mastery in medical mysteries but some parts remained unexplained as the suspense culminates which might make it short of classic.

Chandragirir Rajkahini

A tremendously exciting novel with a touch of one of the greatest classics of all times but the moment you expect it to turn towards the obvious direction a twisting revelation makes it all the more rivetting.
A petty mercenary is hired by an aquintance of a dwindling kingdom to act as one of the successors of the dead king due to his close resemblance to the king's elder son who is living a life of the hunted after his step brother, the other  claimant of the title, failed in his attempt of killing him. Bargaining for the adventure with his life at stake, little did he know what awaits him as the deeper he delves, the royal secrets smeard with treachery make him shudder. A tale of royal vengeance where the common man is held as pawn in the name of fallen prestige keeps the suspense high. Though some queries remain unanswered still it remains a thrilling anecdote of an adventure with a touch of the romsnce. I had read several stories of the author but this surely is unique in its character

Deepak Chatterjeer Adventure

The famous thriller series continues this time in the digest form. The mystery pack contains

1. Kalobajaree Damane Dasyunetree Chamelee o Deepak
2. Dui Tin Char
3. Neel Sagarer Mohonoae
4. Garo Paharer Rahasya
5. Lal Neel Halud
6. Jaliyater Chakranta

All these contains the untiring efforts of Deepak Chatterjee to get rid of the evils in the society. At times, he is assisted by Ratanlal and Deepak's apprentice in the trade, Rajat Sen also appears in a significant role once. A master of disguise, the sleuth and his satellite uncover quite some dangerous plots to put to justice pirates, get rid of the masterminds behind several murders, foil the ploys of smugglers, in a word becomes the most feared person among the bad guys. But there is a glaring set of mistakes starting from the bad grammar, continuing with names of same persons being referred differently and a set of brow raising coincidences that makes the quality poor and the mystery super shallow. Swapankumar's fast paced thriller is best described as adventure that brings nostalgic memories of films not bothering on rationale but making the sleuths the heroes at all cost. Stories start with interesting twists, puzzling the readers quite a bit, but the obvious contradictions bordering on impracticality makes them lame to the extreme. But overall it gives a taste of the old times but will bring a sympathetic smile to the face.

Goenda Indranath Rudra Samagra Vol IV

I had read maybe one or two or a few only Indranath Rudra stories in Anandamela and that too at a very young age. But it had something that still aroused the interest as I chanced across a collection among the final few copies left in bookfair this year. True these are old fashioned stories but how now I lament why I didn't bought a few more volumes. The only bad part is these are written with an undue emphasis on drama of the moment though the intellectual part is quite good. Sometimes the sleuth hunts in his own but sometimes he is assisted by Mriganka and his wife. But the quick observation with the analytical reasonings always keeps the detective a class apart from the rest. The stories after a brief author's introduction are arranged as

• Ghori
• Sonar Koroti
• Choti
• Momer Haat
• Nebuchadnezzarer Silmohar
• Atta Jhinuker Botam
• Shunya Kalshi
• Rakter Shaitan
• Paerakuthir Rahasya
• Chidranwesi Indranath
• Neel Chobir Chalanae

The narratives correctly blend nostalgia with the classic. Right from very first readers will be glued to the old world romance that also is used to mask yet prolongthe underlying suspense.