Wikipedia

Har Har Byomkesh

Har Har Byomkesh is a 2015 Indian Bengali mystery thriller film directed by Arindam Sil.[2] The film is based on the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi, created by the Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. The film stars Abir Chatterjee as the eponymous sleuth, while Ritwick Chakraborty enacts the role of his assistant Ajit Bandopadhyay and Sohini Sarkar helm in the shoes of Satyabati.[3][4] The teaser of the film was released on 11 October 2015.[5] The trailer was launched on 15 October 2015.[6] The film was released on 18 December 2015.[7]

Har Har Byomkesh
Film poster
Directed byArindam Sil
Written byPadmanabha Dasgupta
Based on'Bahni-Patanga' by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay
Produced byMahendra Soni
Shrikant Mohta
StarringAbir Chatterjee
Ritwick Chakraborty
Sohini Sarkar
CinematographySoumik Haldar
Music byBickram Ghosh
Production
companies
Release date
  • 18 December 2015 (2015-12-18)
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali
Budget₹2 crore[1]
Box office₹4 crore[1]

Plot

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In Benaras, DSP Purandhar Pandey invites Byomkesh Bakshi, Ajit Bandopadhyay and Satyabati to a party thrown by zamindar Deepnarayan Singh at his residence to celebrate his recovery after a prolonged illness. But the very next day , Deepnarayan dies under suspicious circumstances. Byomkesh takes the responsibility of investigating his murder. He is clear about two motives - money and an illicit relationship. The list of suspects grows, even as Byomkesh discovers the painting skills of Dipnarayan's wife, Shakuntala, through a portrait of Dushyanta and Shakuntala drawn by her. The painting haunts him, though he fails to understand why. Then he learns that Deepnarayan has long been bed-ridden and that Shakuntala is pregnant. The rest of the story revolves around how Byomkesh, along with Ajit, DSP Purandhar Pandey and Satyabati, solved the mystery.

Cast

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Soundtrack

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Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Saawan Aayo Ri"Barnali Chattopadhaya3:45
2."Roothe Sajan Kaise"Sabina Mumtaz Islam2:12

Production

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Development

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Shree Venkatesh Films bought the rights of Byomkesh franchise, except those with Anjan Dutt, planned to have on board more than one director to build the Byomkesh franchise. The first one from their stable is Har Har Byomkesh by Arindam Sil, based on Saradindu Bandopadhyay's Banhi Patanga. Shrikant Mohta hinted that after this film, one of the possible sequel may be directed by Sandip Ray.[10]

Casting

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Aditi Rao Hydari (left) was replaced by Nusrat Jahan (right) .

Sohini Sarkar was selected to play the role of Satyabati.[11] Initially, the character of Shakuntala was offered to Aditi Rao Hydari, who was recommended by Shoojit Sircar to the director, which would make her Bengali debut.[12] B.A. Pass actor Shadab Kamal was selected to enact the role of the main antagonist, making his debut in Bengali cinema.

Adil Hussain was selected for a supporting role.[13] Harsh Chhaya, June Malia, Rachel White and Subrat Dutta were selected to play prominent roles. On 12 July 2015, it was announced that Aditi Rao Hydari walked out from the film and Nusrat Jahan would replace her.[14] Actor Soumyajit Majumdar, known for his role in Aashiqui 2, was also inducted in the film's cast.[15] Shinjini Kulkarni, granddaughter of Pandit Birju Maharaj, was hired to play a mujra sequence in the film.[16]

Filming

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Though in the book by Saradindu Bandopadhyay, Patna was the story's main backdrop, but director Arindam Sil decided to shoot the whole film with Benaras in the premise. Sil, with his crew, left to conduct a recce in Benaras on 16 June 2015.[17] The filming commenced on 19 August 2015 at Benaras.[18] The filming took place for 25 days in many historic places such as the Ramnagar Fort in Benaras and Kolkata. The filming ended on 13 September 2015.[19][20]

Soundtrack

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Bickram Ghosh is selected as the music director. Sutapa Basu penned down the lyrics for a Sawan, sung by Barnali Chattopadhyay and a Chaiti, sung by Sabina Rahman. With usage of old aged instruments Bickram Ghosh had aptly recreated the semi classical format which was popular in Benaras during the period captured in the movie. Bhojpuri singer Kalpana Patowary was confirmed to sing a bhajan, written by Sugata Guha in the film, which would pay tribute to a scene from Satyajit Ray's film on detective Feluda titled Joi Baba Felunath.[21][22]

Release

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Critical response

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The film received mixed reviews from critics. Sankhayan Ghosh of The Hindu stated "Har Har Byomkesh is a moody, engaging detective film, yet crippled by the same old problems of the genre"[23] while The Times of India gave a rating of 4 stars out of 5.[24]

Box office

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The film was a runaway hit at the theatres.[25]

References

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  1. ^ a b Groves, Don (8 December 2016). "Amazon Prime Video Snares Bengali Thriller 'Byomkesh Pawrbo'". Forbes. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Direction is my priority now, says actor Arindam Sil". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Har Har Byomkesh actors share their experiences". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  4. ^ "Har Har Byomkesh: Complete cast revealed!". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Har Har Byomkesh teaser out: Watch Abir Chatterjee, the newest Byomkesh in town". India Today. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Stars shine down at Har Har Byomkesh trailer launch!". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  7. ^ "CBFC proposes a cut in the lovemaking scene of 'Har Har Byomkesh'". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Our Byomkesh is national, even international: Abir". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  9. ^ "A chat with Nusrat Jahan days before the release of Har Har Byomkesh". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  10. ^ "Sandip Ray to direct Byomkesh?". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Sohini Sarkar on playing Satyabati in Har Har Byomkesh". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Aditi Rao Hydari to star in Arindam Sil's Byomkesh". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  13. ^ "Mostly, I'm just a guest actor, who behaves himself of the sets: Adil Hussain". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  14. ^ "Aditi out, Nusrat to star opposite Adil in Har Har Byomkesh". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Aashiqui 2 actor Soumyajit Majumdar roped in for Har Har Byomkesh". The Times of India.
  16. ^ "Birju Maharaj's granddaughter in mujra act of Har Har Byomkesh". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Byomkesh team in Beneras". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  18. ^ "My Byomkesh is more a Benaras tough: Arindam Sil". The Indian Express. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  19. ^ "Team Byomkesh's Benaras journey ends in Kolkata!". The Times of India.
  20. ^ "Har Har Byomkesh: Straight from Benaras shoot". The Times of India.
  21. ^ "Kalpana Patowary to pay tribute to Ray in 'Har Har Byomkesh'". Business Standard. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  22. ^ "Har Har Byomkesh song tribute to Joy Baba Felunath". The Times of India. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  23. ^ "Har Har Byomkesh: A Bengali in Banaras". The Hindu. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
  24. ^ "Har Har Byomkesh Movie Review". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  25. ^ "Byomkesh holds fort in box-office clash". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
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