The series begins on an interesting note as Shekhar meets Dr Sahni (Ranvir Shorey) and the two instantly connect like Holmes and Dr Watson. Their newly forged alliance is put to the rest immediately as a serial killer crops up in the quaint setting of Lonpur. Needless to say, Home and Saini, outsmart the wily killer in the first episode without much ado. That sets the tone for the rest of the show, where Home is unbeatable throughout the rest of his adventures. Barring a few eager-beaver mistakes, Home generally stays two-steps ahead of every challenge and challenger in his crime-solving pursuits. There lies the biggest caveat in recommending this show. Home is never quite challenged by his foes or the case at hand. Everything seems to be a breeze for this genius, even when M (the main antagonist and a nod to Holmes’ foe Moriarty) shows up, he hardly poses a challenge for our lead detective. Invincibility can make a character boring, quite quickly. Just ask the Man Of Steel.
Also worth noting is the inconsistency in the show’s production values. The first three episodes have a distinctly unimpressive visual feel. The production design, lighting and at times the cinematography look a bit humdrum. And then things improve in the fourth episode, while the last two episodes have a totally different visual appeal and aesthetic. But what’s consistently impressive is the performances by the lead cast. Kay Kay Menon as Shekhar is an absolute delight. Of all the British and Hollywood veterans who have played Holmes on screen, Kay Kay’s portrayal ranks in the top tier for sure. Ranvir Shorey as Dr Sahni is fantastic as well. Rasika Dugal and Kaushik Sen (playing Shekhar’s brother and a nod to Holmes’ elder brother Mycroft) are good in their brief roles. Rudranil Ghosh handles the comedic performance as Inspector Laha with aplomb.
Creators and writers Aniruddha Guha, Srijit Mukherji and Niharika Puri deserve credit for adapting Sherlock Holmes into an all-Indian setting. Getting the clever bits right in a Sherlock Holmes story are extremely important and the writers along with Vaibhav Vishal (who has penned dialogue for the show) manage that to perfection. If only, the show’s direction and production had been assigned consistent, this would have rivalled any other Sherlock Holmes show / movie made in the West. Also the climactic twist with a central character goes against the grain of Holmes’ ethos. But if you’re not a Baker Street purist, you might appreciate the clever writing.
Back home, we’ve had our own answers to Holmes’ with Satyajit Ray’s Feluda and Sharadindu Bandopadhyay’s Byomkesh Bakshi. Shekhar Home, while a straight adaptation of the 221B royalty, is just as intriguing and engaging a character as Feluda and Byomkesh. If you enjoy detection stories and crime solving mysteries, Shekhar Home has the trappings to keep you entertained. But do keep in mind that the inconsistency is a bit of a let down.
