Samrat & Co. is an intriguingly amateurish murder mystery in which Rajeev Khandelwal plays a Sherlock Holmes style detective. These are puzzles that even Samrat wouldn’t be able to solve.

Samrat & Co might be about an extraordinarily observational man’s fight against crime but as far as cinema goes, this film is a crime against the genre.

While it’s brave of the conservative Rajshri productions to take the leap – from family dramas to thrillers, the effort should have been more compelling. While Sherlock Holmes was dismissive of mediocrity, Samrat succumbs to it.

Neither witty nor funny, Samrat & Co can be avoided.

After seeing this film you miss the Rajeev Khandelwal who debuted in the brilliantly made Aamir (2008). Better to watch the more thrilling CID on TV then suffer Samrat and his company.

SAMRAT AND CO is a major letdown, certain elements notwithstanding.

This desi Holmes is passable; I would rather wait for Byomkesh Bakshi now.

If I had to rephrase a dialogue which would sum up this film, it would be; ”boring picture ek tuti pencil ki tarah hai; there is no point.”

Rajshri Banner should stick to what best they are known for – family dramas. Their effort to make the shift falls flat on its face. Best avoided.

Trust me Samrat is no Sherlock Holmes, Feluda, Byomkesh Bakshi or Hercule Poirot. If you love to see Bollywood mystery films and have nothing else to watch this weekend, better get yourself a DVD of Bhool Bhulaiyaa and rewatch rather than going for this squanderous stinker.

In an attempt to draw at least something positive from the film, one can say that it least it never drops its pace and might even keep you interested in its silliness at all times – you wonder how much harder will the makers of the film try. Hopefully, Samrat & Co will die a death with the film, and future filmmakers will think long and hard before creating such lightweight caricatures of characters who have enthralled so many generations.

…displeased that Samrat was part-kickboxer like Robert Downey Jr. and partsociopath like Cumberbatch-a combination most unsatisfactory in a Rajshri setup.