Cast: Kay Kay Menon, Ranvir Shorey, Rasika Dugal, Kriti Kulhari, Shernaz Patel,
Where: Streaming on JioCinema

In the tranquil and seemingly uneventful town of Lonpur, Bengal, where the most exciting event might otherwise be a stray cat crossing the street, Kay Kay Menon steps into the eccentric shoes of Shekhar Home, a man with an intellect so sharp it could slice through the dense fog of the early 1990s. If you ever wondered what Sherlock Holmes might be like if he swapped his London flat for a Bengali bungalow and exchanged his deerstalker for a more climate-appropriate Panama hat, wonder no more.

The six-episode series, Shekhar Home, is an ambitious adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary detective stories, set against the backdrop of a pre-internet India. Shekhar, our very own cerebral sleuth, is joined by Ranvir Shorey’s Jayvrat Sahni, a middle-aged bachelor whose lack of social engagements has evidently freed up his calendar to indulge in the odd mystery or two. Together, this dynamic duo dives headfirst into a series of perplexing cases that are as diverse as they are dangerous—from blackmail and murder to supernatural occurrences and a high-stakes case of national security, the latter involving the death of three unfortunate scientists and one absconding.

Sharp, alert with strong observational skills Shekhar’s methods is nothing short of mesmerising, albeit occasionally predictable for the genre-savvy. His ability to dissect a crime scene with nothing more than a piercing gaze and a pensive frown leaves the local law enforcement, particularly Rudranil Ghosh’s Govinda Laha, both baffled and grateful. However, the show does have a penchant for spelling things out a bit too clearly before showing them, which might feel like spoon-feeding for the more observant viewer. The narrative style leans towards “tell first, show later,” a choice that adds a touch of the old-school but sometimes at the expense of pacing.

Visually, the series is a treat. The camerawork is atmospheric, capturing the mystique of a bygone era with impressive finesse. A standout frame comes when the image of Rabindranath Tagore reflects on the frames of Shekhar Home’s spectacles, creating a fleeting yet profoundly artistic shot. It’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it kind of brilliance, such are the moments that truly shine in this adaptation.

As for the supporting cast, they do their jobs with the kind of effortlessness that makes you forget they’re acting at all. Shernaz Patel’s Mrs. Hendricks (affectionately known as Mrs. H) and Kaushik Sen’s Mrinmoy add layers of depth to the story, while Rasika Duggal and Kirti Kulhari, though relegated to smaller roles, make their presence felt as Iraboty Adhyo and Shanti aka Mumtaz (or simply, M).

Overall, this is a well-crafted series that offers a nostalgic ride through the labyrinthine mysteries of 1990s. While it’s an engaging watch, it might not leave a lasting impression once the final credits roll. Still, for those who relish a good mystery with a cultural twist, Shekhar Home might just be the detective you didn’t know you needed.

(This article is published under a mutual content partnership arrangement between The Brew News and The Free Press Journal)