• Give it a chance, prepare to be patient, and chances are that it’ll stay with you.

  • Shubhra Gupta
    Shubhra Gupta
    Indian Express

    6

    ‘Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!’ is a film that filled me to the brim. It is the kind of film that I will recall and savour, flaws and all. The pacing is languorous, and in the second-half, the stutters become obvious. Its biggest weakness is its leading man Sushant Singh Rajput…

  • Raja Sen
    Raja Sen
    Rediff

    5

    The multiple Byomkesh adaptations Bengal keeps churning out might not make for great cinema, but, based as they mostly are rather slavishly on Saradindu’s work, enthrall new audiences regardless.

    Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! is the best looking and least captivating of the current lot.

  • Rohit Vats
    Rohit Vats
    Hindustan Times

    8

    It’s a film that will keep you glued to the screen for all the 135 minutes it runs into. Don’t think of even missing a minute of it.

  • Kusumita Das
    Kusumita Das
    Deccan Chronicle

    7

    There are two kinds of audiences for this film — those who know Byomkesh and those who don’t. Dibakar has a revelation for both. That’s one case neatly solved.

  • …a cinematic delight that deserves a sustained run in the multiplexes.

  • Srijana Mitra Das
    Srijana Mitra Das
    Times Of India

    7

    …a fun watch presenting another mystery – how Sushant looks good, despite a uni-brow? Go solve.

  • Rajput immerses himself as Bakshy and comes out on top, but the film itself never manages to soar, despite threatening to do so many times. The trimmings on this one are plenty, but it’s the meat that is missing.

  • Tushar Joshi
    Tushar Joshi
    DNA India

    7

    Don’t miss it for the world. Byomkesh Bakshy has everything going for it. Great script, superb ensemble and a director who isn’t afraid to dream big! It is worth getting caught in this cryptic maze.

  • Suhani Singh
    Suhani Singh
    India Today

    4

    Bandopadhyay’s stories are a page-turner. The same cannot be said for Banerjee’s story which while it is ambitious on scale falls short on pace and thrill. Banerjee gets a tad too indulgent with the technical crafts. It comes at the cost of a lack of engaging tug-of-war between Bakshy and his nemesis; Banerjee and Juvekar don’t manage to give him enough weight in screen time. The editing is sluggish which only hampers the narrative. Overall, the canvas is great but the work on it leaves a lot to be desired.

  • Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is a delicious thriller filled with elements that make you rack your brains too. This mystery is the one even you would want to solve. Watch it for an amazing story and its even better execition. Crime mysteries just got better in Bollywood!

  • …a must watch for noir lovers and the end might just be the beginning of Dibakar’s next.

  • There are many factors which may make the film struggle at the Box Office. A few of them include unwanted violence (esp. in the second half), a plot that went haywire and also too much of thriller elements. Generally, any kind of murder mystery comes with a sinister motive, which gets revealed towards the end. But, in the case of DETECTIVE BYOMKESH BAKSHY!, the film gets dragged on endlessly, even after the culprit has been identified!

    …can be skipped, without any regrets.

  • Sachin Chatte
    Sachin Chatte
    The Navhind Times

    6

    …the setting of Calcutta in the 1940’s, the detailing that has gone into it, the ambience, costumes, lighting, camerawork and the overall production values are absolutely top class., there is no two ways about that. It is as real and as good as a period drama can get…but on a downbeat note, the focus in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! is only on the grandeur of the scenes with very little going for it in terms of the story.

  • Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is definitely worth a watch but is it brilliant? Not really.

  • Rachit Gupta
    Rachit Gupta
    Filmfare

    -

    Watching Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is an exhilirating and engaging experience. With its enriched visuals and edgy music, this film really serves up great thrills. Yes, the ride is a bit bumpy and the average film aficionado might not take kindly to the sudden influx of violence, but those are variables in a larger game. This film is bubbling with nervous energy and it has all the trappings to entertain. Miss it at your own risk. Movies this well-made are hard to come by.

  • If only the audience were given a role to play a part in solving the crime, methinks this would have been mind-blowing.

    All the same, if you are looking for something different, DBB is something that you can venture out to see.

  • Githa Vanan
    Githa Vanan
    Bollyspice

    7

    …not your average suave, sophisticated sleuth. He makes mistakes, takes heroin to prove a point and dabbles in politics. But you have to admit, the detective has a method to his madness.

  • Don’t miss it. Even if just to go back to the magical world of nostalgia created so beautifully and earnestly by Banerjee and cinematographer Nikos Andritsakis.

  • Subhash K Jha
    Subhash K Jha
    SKJBollywoodNews

    8

    A scintillating synthesis of the cerebral and the sensual, Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is a rare Bollywood whodunit cooked on the slow burner at a tantalizing temperature.Dibakar Banerjee’s Calcutta of the 1940s pulsates with heart soul body and nerves of steel.Sushant Singh lives the role of the 1940s’ detective. With due respects to Rajit Kapoor,Sushant is now officially the face of Byomkesh.He owns the part as much as Kingsley owns Gandhi.

  • …has its moments of thrill and shock, but his grand crescendo doesn’t live up to our expectation.

  • …is ultimately a wicked cocktail of clues, images, sounds, emotions and sensations. From start to end, you’ll be firmly affixed to the edge of your seat. Hopefully this is the start of a franchise and the dawn of a bold new era for Yash Raj Films.

  • At the end of Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, Banerjee dangles the possibility of a sequel, which is an uplifting thought. It would be wonderful to return to the world that Banerjee created and perhaps the next time round, there won’t be the flaws that pockmark this film. Stylish, beautiful, but also underwhelming…

  • Johnson Thomas
    Johnson Thomas
    The Free Press Journal

    6

    The unnecessarily overly stylized extension of runtime towards the end makes it an anticlimax of sorts. But all things said, this one’s worth a dekho for sure!

  • Komal Nahta
    Komal Nahta
    Komal Nahta's Blog

    -

    …an ordinary fare which does not give the audience the thrill of a murder mystery. While it will be liked by the classes, its acceptance among the masses will be limited. It will, therefore, not do good business at the box-office.

  • Piyush Chopra
    Piyush Chopra
    NowRunning

    8

    …a thrilling murder mystery that leaves you awestruck and giddy with pleasure. A scrumptious delight of a film that has the repeat viewing value of a classic, missing it would be a crime only Byomkesh could solve.

  • Daily Bhaskar
    Daily Bhaskar
    Daily Bhaskar

    6

    Watch the film for its crackling plot and brilliant treatment.

  • Aparna Mudi
    Aparna Mudi
    Zee News

    8

    The film has managed to bring back a popular Indian character to the limelight, and the movie does justice to the genre. Watch it for the packaging of the movie, music, lights, art direction and the story – they all fit together for an experience to remember.

  • Tanaya Ramyani
    Tanaya Ramyani
    BookMyShow

    7

    Who doesn’t love a classic whodunit-crime film? Detective Byomkesh Bakhsy! is not your regular Bollywood package. If you enjoy watching suspense, this film got it all! Plus, the end promises more. And, we really don’t mind. Bring it on Banerjee!

  • IndiaGlitz
    IndiaGlitz
    India Glitz

    8

    …a brilliantly crafted magical eye popper of sonic élan. It’s not just a whodunit story.. it’s an adventurous journey.. a must see for its technical bravado, experimental sound and a detailed period 1940’s nostalgia..

  • Bollywood Life
    Bollywood Life
    Bollywood Life

    8

    Bollywood has aimed to shell out several murder mysteries in the past and failed miserably. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy however is a treat to watch, especially for all Sherlock Holmes fans. Trust me, you will forget about the ruling Khans once you see Sushant in his killer detective avatar! I urge you to go and watch this film right away.

  • Byomkesh Bakshy, the character does create enough interest for you to want to watch his next adventure, even if the first one by itself wasn’t enticing.

    Dibaker Banerjee scored alright then, didn’t he? You want to watch the next one, even though the first one leaves you underwhelmed.

  • Rahul Desai
    Rahul Desai
    Mumbai Mirror

    6

    Other than a memorable villain and franchise possibilities, this film-much like Shanghai-leaves me with a vague awareness of its quality. It’s good, but I’d much rather enjoy this director’s cheeky experiments with characters and convention, over pulp and form. Banerjee is the truth, but must he prove his versatility?

  • Anuj Kumar
    Anuj Kumar
    The Hindu

    -

    A stylish noir adventure soaked in surprise and substance in equal measure.

  • JPN
    JPN
    Jagran

    7

    Don’t miss it. Even if just to go back to the magical world of nostalgia created so beautifully and earnestly by Banerjee and cinematographer Nikos Andritsakis.

  • What would have got my vociferous approval is if the ending had lived up to all that promising foreplay. But I wouldn’t write this one off entirely. Give Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! a chance.

  • Murtaza Ali Khan
    Murtaza Ali Khan
    APotpourriOfVestiges

    8

    The movie has some pacing issues and it occasionally tries to purposefully misdirect the viewer but despite the flaws it proves to be quite an enthralling experience. While the movie is bound to disappoint the hardcore Byomkesh Bakshi enthusiasts, it has all the elements to satisfy the masses and the classes alike. If the movie does well at the box office (and it most certainly will), a sequel may be just around the corner . Highly recommended!

  • Sushant delivers a rather understated performance, but the real star here is Banerjee who shines with his cinematic brilliance as he pays attention to minutes details in terms of construction of the characters and the city (Calcutta). He lets the story take the usual path, before delivering a rather edgy punch without resorting to the larger-than-life hysteria. Dibakar Banerjee dishes out an interesting thriller!

  • f you love the 1940’s and if you are a fan of fiction, then Detective Byomkesh Bakshy is the movie for you. It may be a little slow and lengthy but in the end it is a paisa vasool entertainer and a pure cinematic brilliance.

  • Watch it once for some great performances and fabulous production values that one hasn’t seen in Hindi films in a long time.

  • Watch this film for an authentic original experience; look for suspense, but also look a slice of the Forties urban India. Watch it if you want to applaud original Indian writing. Of course, watch it, if you like me, simply love detective flicks.

  • Ambarish Ganesh
    Ambarish Ganesh
    IndianNerve

    7

    …has its share of flaws, but could be watched for its sheer ambition and scope. If Dibakar does make a franchise of this, I’d be more than willing to put my money on it.

  • Siddhi Palande
    Siddhi Palande
    FridayMoviez

    5

    What attracts you more is the artistry of the film, the frames and the montages are A-rate. They take you on a nostalgia trip and bring out the Bengali-ness of the setting. With the film being a cliff hanger, India gets its own promising franchise Sherlock Holmes-esque franchise.