Feluda is not just a name, Feluda is an emotion which only the fanatics can relate to. Over the years there were many movies on Feluda with some new twists here, some new additions to the story there, some parts omitted from the books, and terrible side casts. But Sabyasachi made the movies work. He was nowhere near the Feluda Satyajit Ray drew, but he was the Feluda he wrote. The charisma Soumitra and Sabyasachi brought to screen as Feluda is really hard to match and Tota had a huge responsibility to fill in the shoe. When i saw him as Feluda the first time, i was pleasantly surprised cause he does resemble young Sabyasachi and he has been in the previous Feluda movies. But then i saw Chinnomostar Obhishap and royally disappointed with his performance. It was so stoic and unemotional, his nervousness for the role showed throughout the series.
Then came Darjeeling Jomjomat. As someone mentioned in his/her review that the fanatics already know the story, so what matters most is the execution. Tota RC was more at ease this time around and i liked the Jatayu & Topshe. Some might find Jatayu overacting but no one can top Shaheb in that department. The guy who was Topshe once upon a time came back as a villain and delivered such a sub-par performance. I liked this Pulok Ghoshal better than the ones in Sandip Ray's movies. In the book, Jatayu mentions Pulok as chokra, some young guy. So this casting was better than those ancient Pulok Sandip Ray cast. The story telling through Sepia tone was a nice touch. And it was a straight story just like the book, no fantasy addition which Mr. Srijit likes to incorporate in most of his films and ruin them. So i am very surprised he managed to make something decent.
But this series wasn't without any faults. The worst thing was the theme song. It was like a cheerleading song for Feluda. It should have played only once in the first episode, not in all 6 of them. The background score when Feluda did find some clue or saying something intelligent, very annoying. The makeup for Tota RC in places were so heavy, especially in one shot when he was standing near a window and sunlight falling on his face, the make up looked like it was melting. The wigs used in the series looked so fake that u can say it's fake. Shaheb got the worst deal. Lip sync was below average, especially for the Police guy. Also Tota bro. And that shot with the leopard was so unnecessary, what can i say.
Yes, it's hard to match the personality of Soumitra and Sabyasachi as Feluda, but Tota RC has done a commendable job in this one which i can't say for Chinnomostar Obhishap. And this series was very straightforward which is something Srijit has never done before. As a Feluda fanatic, i would say a job well done. Could have been better? Maybe.
