# Byomkesh Bakshi in other media

Byomkesh Bakshi is an Indian-Bengali detective character created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. Referring himself as "truth-seeker" or Satyanweshi in the stories, Bakshi is known for his proficiency with observation, logical reasoning, and forensic science which he uses to solve complicated cases, usually murders occurred. Bakshi, initially appearing in the 1932 story Satyanweshi, the character's popularity immensely increased in Bengal and other parts of India.
Many film, television, radio, audio drama and other adaptations that have been made of Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay's series of detective novels featuring his character, Byomkesh.

## Books

Saradindu Bandopadhyay penned 32 Byomkesh stories from 1932 to 1970 prior to his death. In his early stories, Ajit Kumar Banerjee is described as his companion, and chronicler of his stories. But in some cases Ajit also investigates in absence of Byomkesh (examples, Makorshar Rosh, Shoilo Rahasya). The stories are all written in traditional formal Bengali language. However, later the stories shift to more colloquial language. The later stories (Room Nombor Dui, Chhlonar Chhondo, Shajarur Kanta, Benisonghaar and Lohar Biskut) are not penned by Ajit, who was engaged in his publication business.
The stories are not very complicated but very engaging, with a long series of surprising events. The stories present a range of crimes from the first story, Satyanweshi, where Byomkesh destroys an international drug racket, to household mysteries and crimes like Arthamanartham and Makorshar Rosh.
Sharadindu did not want to continue the Byomkesh stories, due to which he stopped writing from 1938 to 1951. During that time he busied himself writing scripts for films in Bombay. After his return to West Bengal, Byomkesh stories were still in demand so he wrote Chitrachor (Picture Imperfect) in 1951 and other stories gradually on to 1970, when his last story "Bishupal Badh" (Killing of Bishupal) was left incomplete owing to his untimely death.

### List

There are 32 published and 1 unpublished Byomkesh stories. The list is chronologically arranged.
Color key
* indicates "story".
* indicates "novel".
* indicates unfinished writings.
| Novel/Story | English title | Year of publication | Details of First English Translation | Details of First English Translation | Details of First English Translation | Characters | Characters |
| Novel/Story | English title | Year of publication | Title of Book | Name of Story in Translation | Translator | Ajit | Satyabati |
| Satyanweshi | The Truth-Seeker | 1932 | Picture Imperfect and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Inquisitor | Sreejata Guha | Yes | No |
| Pother Kanta | The Gramophone Pin Killer | 1932 | Picture Imperfect and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Gramophone Pin Mystery | Sreejata Guha | Yes | No |
| Seemanto-heera | The Hidden Heirloom | 1932 | Byomkesh Bakshi Stories | The Hidden Heirloom | Monimala Dhar | Yes | No |
| Makorshar Rosh | The Tarantula's Juice | 1933 | Picture Imperfect and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Venom of Tarantula | Sreejata Guha | Yes | No |
| Arthamanartham | The Worthless Fortune | 1933 | Picture Imperfect and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | Where There's a Will | Sreejata Guha | Yes | Yes |
| Chorabali | The Quicksand | 1933 | Byomkesh Bakshi Stories | Quicksand | Monimala Dhar | Yes | No |
| Agnibaan | The Calamity Aflame | 1935 | Picture Imperfect and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | Calamity Strikes | Sreejata Guha | Yes | No |
| Uposonghaar | The Last Encounter | 1935 | Picture Imperfect and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | An Encore for Byomkesh | Sreejata Guha | Yes | No |
| Raktomukhi Neela | The Bloody Sapphire | 1936 | Byomkesh Bakshi Stories | The Deadly Diamond | Monimala Dhar | Yes | No |
| Byomkesh O Boroda | Byomkesh and Boroda | 1936 | The Rhythm of Riddles : Three Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | Byomkesh and Barada | Arunava Sinha | Yes | No |
| Chitrochor | Picture Imperfect | 1951 | Picture Imperfect and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | Picture Imperfect | Sreejata Guha | Yes | Yes |
| Durgo Rahasya | The Mystery of the Fortress | 1952 | The Mystery of the Fortress and Other Stories | The Mystery of the Fortress | Shankar Sen | Yes | Yes |
| Chiriyakhana | The Menagerie | 1953 | The Menagerie and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Menagerie | Sreejata Guha | Yes | No |
| Adim Ripu | The Pristine Enemy | 1955 | | | | Yes | No |
| Banhi-patanga | The Moth and the Flame | 1956 | | | | Yes | Yes |
| Rokter Daag | The Fault in The Bloodline | 1956 | | | | Yes | Yes |
| Monimondon | The Jewel Case | 1958 | The Menagerie and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Jewel Case | Sreejata Guha | Yes | Yes |
| Amriter Mrityu | The Death of Amrito | 1959 | The Rhythm of Riddles : Three Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Death of Amrito | Arunava Sinha | Yes | No |
| Shailo Rahasya | The Phantom Client | 1959 | Byomkesh Bakshi Stories | The Phantom Client | Monimala Dhar | Yes | |
| Achin Pakhi | The Unknown Prey | 1960 | Byomkesh Bakshi Stories | The Avenger | Monimala Dhar | Yes | No |
| Kohen Kobi Kalidas | Thus Spoke the Poet Kalidasa | 1961 | The Mystery of the Fortress and Other Stories | This Spoke the Poet Kalidasa | Shankar Sen | Yes |
| Adrishyo Trikon | The Invisible Triangle | 1961 | The Mystery of the Fortress and Other Stories | The Invisible Triangle | Shankar Sen | Yes | No |
| Khuji Khuji Nari | The Case of the Missing Will | 1961 | The Menagerie and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Will that Vanished | Sreejata Guha | Yes | No |
| Adwitiyo | The Only One | 1961 | Adventures of Byomkesh Bakshi. Volume 2 | Adwitiya | Mishul Das | Yes | Yes |
| Mognomoinak | The Magnificent | 1963 | | | | Yes | |
| Dushtochokro | The Crooked Circle | 1963 | The Mystery of the Fortress and Other Stories | The Crooked Circle | Shankar Sen | Yes | |
| Henyalir Chhondo | The Rhythm of Riddles | 1964 | The Rhythm of Riddles : Three Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Rhythm of Riddles | Arunava Sinha | Yes | Yes |
| Room Nombor Dui | Room No. 2 | 1964 | Byomkesh Bakshi Stories | Room Number Two | Monimala Dhar | No | Yes |
| Cholonar Chhondo | The Vengeful Collision | 1965 | Byomkesh Bakshi Stories | The Man in a Red Coat | Monimala Dhar | No | Yes |
| Shajarur Kanta | The Quills of the Porcupine | 1967 | The Menagerie and Other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries | The Quills of the Porcupine | Sreejata Guha | Yes | Yes |
| Benishonghar | The Annihilation of Beni | 1968 | | | | No | Yes |
| Lohar Biskut | The Iron Biscuits | 1969 | The Mystery of the Fortress and Other Stories | The Iron Biscuits | Shankar Sen | No | Yes |
| Bishupal Bodh (unfinished) | The Annihilation of Bishu Paal | 1970 | | | | | |

## Television and streaming

Actor Gaurav Chakrabarty won a Tele Academy Award (Best actor in a leading role) in 2014 for his role as Byomkesh Bakshi for Byomkesh.
| Year | Series | Actor | Director | Aired on |
| 1980s | Byomkesh Bakshi | Ajoy Ganguli | | DD Bangla |
| 1993, 1997 | Byomkesh Bakshi | Rajit Kapur | Basu Chatterjee | DD National |
| 2004 | Byomkesh Bakshi | Sudip Mukherjee | Swapan Ghoshal | DD Bangla |
| 2007 | Byomkesh | Saptarshi Roy | Swapan Ghoshal | Tara Muzik |
| 2014 | Byomkesh | Gaurav Chakrabarty | Amit Sengupta, Gopal Chakraborty, Joydeep Mukherjee | Colors Bangla |
| 2017 | Byomkesh | Anirban Bhattacharya | Sayantan Ghoshal,Soumik Chattopadhay,Soumik Halder | Hoichoi |
| 2023 | Durgo Rawhoshyo | Anirban Bhattacharya | Srijit Mukherji | Hoichoi |
* Sushant Singh Rajput and Anand Tiwari reprised their roles from Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! in a 2015 episode of the long running Indian TV Series C.I.D. to promote the films.
* Actor Abir Chatterjee and Ritwick Chakraborty promoted the film Byomkesh Pawrbo in a daily soap Goyenda Ginni in Zee Bangla, as themselves respectively.

## Radio

The Sunday Suspense series of 98.3 Radio Mirchi (Kolkata) adapted several novels of Byomkesh Bakshi for audio stories which include Satyanweshi, Pother Kanta, Makorshar Rosh, Agnibaan, Roktomukhi Neela, Khunji Khunji Nari, Arthamanartham, Adwitiyo, Monimondon, Cholonar Chondo, Lohar Biscuit, Achin Pakhi, Sajarur Kanta, Durgo Rohosyo and Chitrachor, performed by Mir Afsar Ali as Byomkesh and Deep as Ajit. However, Mir left this show and Gaurav Chakrabarty replaced him. Gaurav has played Byomkesh in Banhi Patanga, Rakter Daag and Magnomoinak.

## Audio drama

The Satyanweshi audio drama series created by actor Aneesh See Yay adapted twenty two novels and eight original audio dramas of Byomkesh Bakshi in Malayalam Language
| Year | Original Title | English Title | Based On |
| 2019 | Satyanweshi | The Truth Seeker | Satyanweshi (novel) |
| 2019 | Pathayile Mullu | The Thorn of The Path | Pother Kanta |
| 2019 | Agni Asthram | The Fire Weapon | Agnibaan |
| 2019 | Upasamharam | The Epilogue | Uposonghaar |
| 2019 | Vilpathrathinte Rahasyam | The Secret of Bequeath | Khunji Khunji Nari |
| 2019 | Bhootham | The Ghost | Byomkesh O Boroda |
| 2019 | Vamshathinte Kolapathakam | The Successor's Murder | Rokter Daag |
| 2019 | Chathuppile Chathi | The Deception With a Swamp | Chorabali |
| 2019 | Chakravyooham | The Labyrinth | Dushtochokro |
| 2020 | Chilanthiyude Visham | The Venom of Spider | Makorshar Rosh |
| 2020 | Maranathinte Chathikkuzhi | The Death Trap | Cholonar Chhondo |
| 2020 | Amoolya Vajram | The Precious Diamond | Seemanto-Heera |
| 2020 | Akjatha Kolapathaki | The Unknown Murderer | Achin Pakhi |
| 2020 | Raktham Puranda Indraneelam | The Bloody Sapphire | Roktomukhi Neela |
| 2020 | Chithram Katta Kallan | The Picture Thief | Chitrochor |
| 2020 | Randaamathe Muri | The Second Room | Room Nombor Dui |
| 2020 | Prahelika | The Riddle | Henyalir Chhondo |
| 2020 | Bomkesh AD 7907 | An Epic Voyage To The Future | Original Story by Aneesh See Yay |
| 2020 | Rahasyangalude Kotta | The Fortress of Secrets | Durgo Rahasya |
| 2020 | Adhirshya Thrikonam | The Invisible Triangle | Adrishyo Trikon |
| 2020 | Thalam Thettiya Manassu | The Rhythm Less Mind | Original Story by Aneesh See Yay |
| 2020 | Jailpulli | The Incarcerated | Original Story by Aneesh See Yay |
| 2022 | Soothradharan | The Mastermind | Original Story by Aneesh See Yay |
| 2022 | Pracheena Shathru | The Ancient Enemy | Original Story by Aneesh See Yay |
| 2022 | Uttama Kallan | The Perfect Thief | Original Story by Aneesh See Yay |
| 2022 | RasaThanthram | The Chemistry Trick | Original Story by Aneesh See Yay |
| 2022 | AthulyaN | The Matchless | Adwitiyo |
| 2023 | Vajramala | The Necklace | Monimondon |
| 2023 | Amrithinte Maranam | The Death of Amrit | Amriter Mrityu |
| 2023 | Velluvili | The Challenge | Original Story by Aneesh See Yay |

## Films

    Indicates they are part of Star Productions film series
    Indicates they are part of Anjan Dutt film series
    Indicates they are part of Shree Venkatesh Films film series
    Indicates they are part of Yash Raj Films film
| Year | Title | Byomkesh Bakshi | Ajit | Director | Based on | Producer |
| 1967 | Chiriyakhana | Uttam Kumar | Shailen Mukherjee | Satyajit Ray | Chiriyakhana | Star Productions |
| 1974 | Shajarur Kanta | Shyamal Ghosal | Shailen Mukherjee | Manju Dey | Shajarur Kanta | Manju Dey |
| 2009 | Magno Mainak | Subhrajit Dutta | Rajarshi Mukherjee | Swapan Ghosal | Magno Mainak | New Wave Communications |
| 2010 | Byomkesh Bakshi | Abir Chatterjee | Saswata Chatterjee | Anjan Dutt | Adim Ripu | Kaustuv Roy |
| 2012 | Abar Byomkesh | Abir Chatterjee | Saswata Chatterjee | Anjan Dutt | Chitra Chor | Rana Sarkar |
| 2013 | Satyanweshi | Sujoy Ghosh | Anindya Chatterjee | Rituporno Ghosh | Chorabali | Shree Venkatesh Films |
| 2014 | Byomkesh Phire Elo | Abir Chatterjee | Saswata Chatterjee | Anjan Dutt | Beni Sanghar | Kaustuv Roy |
| 2014 | Doorbeen | Soumitra Chatterjee | Rajat Ganguly | Swagato Chowdhury | Feluda-Byomkesh combination (Original Story) | Saikat Mitra |
| 2015 | Shajarur Kanta | Dhritiman Chatterjee | Pradip Mukherjee | Saibal Mitra | Shajarur Kanta | Pradip Churiwal, Saikat Mitra |
| 2015 | Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! | Sushant Singh Rajput | Anand Tiwari | Dibakar Banerjee | Loosely based on Satyanweshi | Aditya Chopra, Dibakar Banerjee |
| 2015 | Byomkesh Bakshi | Jisshu Sengupta | Saswata Chatterjee | Anjan Dutt | Kohen Kobi Kaalidas | Kaustuv Roy |
| 2015 | Har Har Byomkesh | Abir Chatterjee | Ritwick Chakraborty | Arindam Sil | Banhi Patanga | Shree Venkatesh Films |
| 2016 | Byomkesh O Chiriyakhana | Jisshu Sengupta | Saswata Chatterjee | Anjan Dutt | Chiriyakhana | Kaustuv Roy |
| 2016 | Byomkesh Pawrbo | Abir Chatterjee | Ritwick Chakraborty | Arindam Sil | Amriter Mrityu | Shree Venkatesh Films |
| 2016 | Baroda O Bohurupi | Subrata Roy (cameo appearance) | | Neelotpal Sinharoy | Bohurupi | Bijoli Prosad Sinharoy Haraprosad Sinharoy Amiya Sinharoy |
| 2017 | Byomkesh O Agnibaan | Jisshu Sengupta | Saswata Chatterjee | Anjan Dutt | Satyanweshi,Agnibaan and Upasanghar | Kaustuv Roy |
| 2018 | Biday Byomkesh | Abir Chatterjee | Rahul Banerjee | Debaloy Bhattacharaya | Original story | Shree Venkatesh Films |
| 2018 | Byomkesh Gotro | Abir Chatterjee | Rahul Banerjee | Arindam Sil | Rakter Daag | Shree Venkatesh Films |
| 2019 | Satyanweshi Byomkesh | Parambrata Chatterjee | Rudranil Ghosh | Sayantan Ghosal | Magno Mainak | Greentouch Entertainment |
| 2022 | Byomkesh Hatyamancha | Abir Chatterjee | Suhotro Mukhopadhyay | Arindam Sil | Bishupal Badh | Shree Venkatesh Films |
| 2023 | Byomkesh O Durgo Rahasya | Dev | Ambarish Bhattacharya | Birsa Dasgupta | Durgo Rahasya | Shadow Films Dev Entertainment Ventures PVR Inox Pictures |

## Video games

A hidden objects game for mobile devices called Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!: The Game was released by Games2win in 2015.

## Legacy

* A popular fictional detective named "Vyomkesh", has been referenced by Sita in Amish Tripathi's book Sita: Warrior of Mithila.
* He was referred in The Big Bang Theory episode named "The Mommy Observation".