Sleuths Byomkesh, Feluda cross celluloid sword with same day release

While in a double bonanza for Feluda lovers, Sandip Ray's Double Feluda featuring the razor-sharp, well-travelled detective conceived by late maestro Satyajit Ray hit the screen Friday, the sleuth set up a popularity clash with another Bengali detective that is Byomkesh as director Arindam Sil's 'Byomkesh Pawrbo' also released on the same day.

 "Feluda has his own share of fans and audience who will flock to the first few shows but I am tense to keep that momentum. This happens before release of every Feluda film including Double Feluda (Golokdham Rahasyo and Samaddarer Chabi)," Sandip told IBNS at the premiere last night.

"I would myself also watch 'Byomkesh Pawrbo' and other releases as well, but later on. But I think Feluda's typical Bangaliana (Bengaliness) is unmatchable apart from his acceptance across all age groups which cannot be the case with Byomkesh, who is more popular with adults," Sandip commnted cautiously.
     
Director Arindam Sil, who earlier made 'Har Har Byomkesh', based on 'Bahni Patanga', said Byomkesh has seen steady rise in popularity graph as compared to Feluda whose craze was no doubt phenomenal but consistent and hence people will be more curious to know the exploits of Byomkesh in his 'Byomkesh Pawrbo' in the wake of the mounting expectations from his first film than a Feluda flick which had not seen much experimentation in content and treatment in past few years.
     
"Unless you make some changes and you evolve the story line while sticking to the basic facts you can't wean away more audiences," Arindam said about Byomkesh Pawrbo based on 'Amriter Mrityu.
      
About casting Abir Chatterjee as his Byomkesh, Arindam said, "he even learnt horse riding for this film and perfected the art."

"I did not have any qualms had he also portrayed Feluda in Sandip Ray's film, I think audiences are not so naive as to mix up a real and reel life person but it is entirely my personal opinion. Babuda (Sandip Ray) can definitely feel differently," he said refusing to comment on Sabyasachi Chakraborty coming back as Feluda in Double Feluda. 

Actor Rudranil Ghosh, one of the character actors in Byomkesh Pawrbo, said both suits and 'dhoti punjabi' go well with modern Bengali bhadralok hinting both films have distinct flavours.       

The epic clash was preceded by a similar phenomenon two years back on Dec 19, 2014  when Feluda movie 'Badshahi Angti' got released on the same date as Anjan Dutt's 'Byomkesh Phire Elo' and both had reasonably done well around that time. 

Will Bengali cine lovers see the same clash at the box office, despite demonetisation? The directors, producers and the cast are optimistic with the belief their film will have the edge.