'Byomkesh O Durgo Rahasya' is a 2023 Bengali-language detective thriller film from India, directed by Birsa Dasgupta and penned by Subhendu Dasmunshi. The movie features Dev in the lead role of 'Byomkesh Bakshi', accompanied by a talented cast including Rukmini Maitra, Ambarish Bhattacharya, Rajatava Dutta, Satyam Bhattacharya, and Debesh Chattopadhyay in significant roles. This production is brought to you by Dev Entertainment Ventures, with Dev serving as the producer. The storyline draws inspiration from the iconic Bengali fictional detective, Byomkesh Bakshi.
In a chat with ABP Live over a phone call, director Birsa Dasgupta shared his reason behind selecting Dev as 'Byomkesh', and giving a modern touch to this legendary cahracter.
Talking about what made him choose Dev as 'Byomkesh', Birsa said, "It's not that I chose him. Basically the person who produced the film had rights for Byomkesh. So, he wanted to make it and he had a plan to make it with Dev. So, they approached him, and then they were looking for a director and wanted somebody fresh, since Dev will be acting as 'Byomkesh' for the first time."
"When I saw Dev's tweet, I called him and I said this is something that I've always dreamt of making. So let's do it. He said, 'Will you direct it?' I said yes. And he said, 'Okay, great!' then that's how it happened," he further added.
He then went on to share his experience working with him saying that he had worked with Dev in a film before and they have been friends since then. But, this one happend to be special, because here Dev was not just an actor but also half producer.
"So yeah, as an actor, as a human being, he's a very, very genuine humble guy. He's also very intelligent and sharp. And on set he is a prankster, but along with that, as a producer is responsible. So, he knew how to balance, as he was the producer and the hero at the same time. And, he was always warm, always fun," Birsa recalled.
In this movie, we see 'Byomkesh' in a very different sort of an avatar. The audience is used to seeing Byomkesh as a traditional Bengali clad in Dhoti and Kurta. But, Birsa gave a modern touch to the age-old hero.
Sharing the reason behind this, Birsa said, "I have always imagined Byomkesh like this only and because Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay never did a sketch of Byomkesh, nor did he write that Byomkesh is a chain smoker, nor did he ever mention that Byomkesh has only wit and no muscle power. Secondly, people have made Byomkesh for so many years and people have seen so many avatars of Byomkesh, so I consciously wanted to do something very different from that. Becasue, then what is the point of doing Byomkesh for the first time, if I don't present the audience with something fresh."
"Also, the decision to showcase Byomkesh as a smoker for all these years comes from a male machoism, which I don't believe, and another reason why we didn't show Byomkesh as a smoker here because Satyabati is pregnant and it's not good to smoke in front of a preganant woman. So, I wanted to spread this message around," he further added.
'Byomkesh O Durgo Rahasya' hit the theatres on August 11, 2023.