Shekhar Home review: A laid-back and desi adaptation of Sherlock Holmes!

Kay Kay Menon and Ranvir Shorey's Shekhar Home is a good start for a Bengali twist on the BBC's Sherlock Holmes but it longs for more development!

Given that I'm an ardent fan of the BBC adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, Shekhar Home still managed to engage me, even if not for long. The series is too casual in its approach and lacks the vigour and eclectic feel of the BBC show even if it has the potential to be a good beginning for a desi version of the enigmatic detective show. 

Inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books, the six-episode series works more as an episode-to-episode adaptation of the BBC's Sherlock Holmes and why not? After all, this is also made by Indian BBC studios. Hence, just like the British version, while the dangers of a mysterious 'M' (Moriarity) looms large, we get to see Kay Kay Menon as the eccentric detective and Ranvir Shorey as his loyal partner go through solving one unsolvable mystery after another in a fictional town called Lonpur in West Bengal. It works on the same principle of deciphering mysteries of murders, ghosts, and robbery to show us the dark side that lurks within all human beings!

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Despite the strange pun of Sherlock Holmes to Shekhar Home, the show seems to flow smoothly and logically, adding a layer of rootedness by turning a smoky grey London into a colourful Bengal and the violin into a sarangi playing the well-known background score of Holmes. And while watching all the easter eggs will excite a passionate fan, this desi adaptation somehow can't fully stand on its own. Hats off to the creators for situating Shekhar Home in the 90's Bengal, given how it is a home for art, literature and detectives like Byomkesh Bakshi. But it seems like it got too busy recreating the British show with the same cinematography, characters, and mystery-solving style that it forgot to build its own original flavour of Bengali spin thoroughly. 

Even the characters are underdeveloped and only get upgraded because of how the ensemble cast performs them. I'm sher-locked for life because of Benedict Cumberbatch and I believe that no one can do a Holmes better than him but Kay Kay Menon was a huge surprise; he impressed me with his version of Holmes that's different from Cumberbatch's yet so magnetic. His baatik kurtas, unique chuckles, darting inquisitive eyes, and flair make up perfectly for the lunatic brilliant mind that Sherlock is! Ranvir Shorey's well-balanced Jayvrat Sahni, aka Dr. Watson and Rasika Duggal, as the enticing Iravati, also work well as companions of Sherlock. Call it the fault of an underwritten script or a rather mellow approach, apart from these characters, nobody really shines out. While Menon and Shorey's camaraderie is brought out nicely, their chemistry isn't felt the way Sherlock and Watson's should!

Despite being well-intentioned and having the potential, this desi version falls flat and misses the chance to leave a lasting impact. Although it makes up for a good introductory part, especially with the refreshing plot twist towards the end, which combines the personalities of Watson and Moriarity, right now, this show aches for more!

Shekhar Home is streaming on JioCinemas! 

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