Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole (2024)
Director: Debaloy Bhattacharya
Cast: Abir Chatterjee (Dipak Chatterjee), Paran Bandopadhyay (Shri Swapankumar), Shruti Das, Pratik Dutta, Saoli Chattopadhyay, Loknath Dey, Goutam Halder
Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole (2024), directed by Debaloy Bhattacharya, is a bold #PulpActionComedy that revitalizes the fantastical detective universe of Bengal’s beloved novelist Swapankumar. In a meta-fictional twist, the creator—paradoxically played by iconic actor Paran Bandopadhyay—summons his fictional sleuth, Dipak Chatterjee (Abir Chatterjee), out of an existential retirement to rescue Kolkata from the diabolical “Badami Hyena” terror. This reflexively addresses the tension between creator and creation in a delightfully absurd narrative. Telegraph India+1
The film’s cast delivers standout performances: Abir Chatterjee strikes a playful yet poignant balance as the washed-up detective decorated with pulp-hero bravado, and Paran Bandopadhyay is magnetic as the obsessive author, reclaiming his legacy with theatrical gravitas. Shruti Das, Pratik Dutta, Goutam Halder, and others enrich the narrative with comic timing, savvy support, and genre-bending flair. Cinekolkata.comTelegraph IndiaIMDb
Visually and tonally, the film is a kaleidoscopic tribute to pulp imagery—color-saturated, surreal, and cartoonishly theatrical. Its mise-en-scène—complete with floating spaceships, neon wigs, and whimsical color palettes—evokes a “thakumar-jhuli” (grandmother’s folktale) realm, where dream logic triumphs over realism. Debaloy Bhattacharya’s painterly roots are evident in each scene, turning Kolkata into a site of retro-futurist adventure. The Times of India+1Telegraph India
At its core, the film explores nostalgia, creativity, and the porous line between fiction and reality. It pays affectionate homage to Swapankumar’s zany legacy while crafting its own funky detective mythology. Critics applauded its daring style and witty meta-commentary, though noted that its pace could drag early on. Yet once the plot’s kaleidoscopic momentum kicks in, the surprises and shifting surprises keep viewers hooked. The Times of India+1Cinekolkata.comIMDb
Award recognition—including nominations for Best Film, Director, Actor, and Music at WBFJA and Filmfare Bangla—attests to its creative ambition and cultural resonance within Bengali cinema. Wikipedia+1
In summary, Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole is an inventive, genre-smashing ride that invites audiences into a lurid, unserious universe—with enough heart, humour, and visual panache to resurrect pulp fiction for a new generation.
Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole (2024), directed by Debaloy Bhattacharya, is a bold #PulpActionComedy that revitalizes the fantastical detective universe of Bengal’s beloved novelist Swapankumar. In a meta-fictional twist, the creator—paradoxically played by iconic actor Paran Bandopadhyay—summons his fictional sleuth, Dipak Chatterjee (Abir Chatterjee), out of an existential retirement to rescue Kolkata from the diabolical “Badami Hyena” terror. This reflexively addresses the tension between creator and creation in a delightfully absurd narrative. Telegraph India+1
The film’s cast delivers standout performances: Abir Chatterjee strikes a playful yet poignant balance as the washed-up detective decorated with pulp-hero bravado, and Paran Bandopadhyay is magnetic as the obsessive author, reclaiming his legacy with theatrical gravitas. Shruti Das, Pratik Dutta, Goutam Halder, and others enrich the narrative with comic timing, savvy support, and genre-bending flair. Cinekolkata.comTelegraph IndiaIMDb
Visually and tonally, the film is a kaleidoscopic tribute to pulp imagery—color-saturated, surreal, and cartoonishly theatrical. Its mise-en-scène—complete with floating spaceships, neon wigs, and whimsical color palettes—evokes a “thakumar-jhuli” (grandmother’s folktale) realm, where dream logic triumphs over realism. Debaloy Bhattacharya’s painterly roots are evident in each scene, turning Kolkata into a site of retro-futurist adventure. The Times of India+1Telegraph India
At its core, the film explores nostalgia, creativity, and the porous line between fiction and reality. It pays affectionate homage to Swapankumar’s zany legacy while crafting its own funky detective mythology. Critics applauded its daring style and witty meta-commentary, though noted that its pace could drag early on. Yet once the plot’s kaleidoscopic momentum kicks in, the surprises and shifting surprises keep viewers hooked. The Times of India+1Cinekolkata.comIMDb
Award recognition—including nominations for Best Film, Director, Actor, and Music at WBFJA and Filmfare Bangla—attests to its creative ambition and cultural resonance within Bengali cinema. Wikipedia+1
In summary, Shri Swapankumarer Badami Hyenar Kobole is an inventive, genre-smashing ride that invites audiences into a lurid, unserious universe—with enough heart, humour, and visual panache to resurrect pulp fiction for a new generation.