In a nostalgic nod to classic Indian television, which gave us memorable sleuths in its heyday, contemporary streaming shows have struggled to replicate the same charm and eccentricity. One show, however, stood out last year: Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Charlie Chopra & The Mystery Of Solang Valley.” This series, featuring Wamiqa Gabbi as a funny, foul-mouthed Emily Trefusis, was an outlier in a landscape where creativity seemed to be waning. Now, acclaimed actor Kay Kay Menon, in collaboration once again with his “Ray” director Srijit Mukherji, steps into the spotlight with a fresh take on a classic character.
In Mukherji’s new series, “Shekhar Home,” streaming on JioCinema, Kay Kay Menon embodies a Bengali Sherlock Holmes. Set in the 1990s in the tranquil, fictional town of Lonpur, this show adapts Arthur Conan Doyle’s original stories but infuses them with a distinctly Bengali flavor. “Ei to jibon, Kali da (such is life, Kali brother),” Shekhar quips with a deliciously slow drawl in the opening episode, while a café charmingly bears the name ‘Khasha Blanca’, a playful nod to pop culture.
“’Home’ is genuinely a surname in Bengal,” Kay Kay clarifies. “Our show remains deeply rooted in Indian culture. It’s set in a time before computers and electronic gadgets became commonplace, making the process of detection more engaging and hands-on. The town itself exudes a sense of timeless lethargy, reminiscent of ‘Malgudi Days.’”
Kay Kay reveals that his favorite portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on television has been Jeremy Brett’s rendition. Although he dons a deerstalker hat on the show’s poster, his approach to the character eschews professional clichés in favor of depth and authenticity. “I focus on the person, not the profession,” Kay Kay explains. “How swiftly Shekhar can manipulate a prop isn’t my concern. I might never grasp the full intricacies of a profession, but I can understand people. It’s a psychological journey we actors undertake.”
Growing up, Kay Kay devoured the works of Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, The Hardy Boys, and Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. He believes that a child’s mind, teeming with curiosity and imagination, leaves a lasting impression well into adulthood. “Even now, long after shooting a scene, the mental image that lingers is often the one I imagined while reading the script,” he shares. This experience was frequent on the set of “Shekhar Home.” “The production would ask, ‘Remember the market scene we shot?’ while I would be lost in the version I had envisioned.”
Kay Kay has previously described himself as an ‘impressionist’ actor, a term typically associated with painters. He now introduces a new term to his repertoire: ‘simulator.
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“In modern flight simulators, the experience of flying a plane is so authentic that authorities had to remove the crash mode due to the risk of heart attacks. That’s what I aim for as an actor. My simulation of a character must be that lifelike.”
Known for his subtle and intelligent performances, Kay Kay Menon consistently trusts the viewer’s intelligence, even within the domain of Hindi cinema. This trust has remained steadfast throughout his three-decade-long career. One memorable instance is his portrayal of Vishnu, a sinister film financier in “Sarkar” (2005). Decades later, a fan recounted how impactful a particular scene was for them.
“I firmly believe the audience is intelligent,” Kay Kay states. “They might not be intellectual, but they are smart enough to navigate life’s challenges. If they can handle life, then understanding a film isn’t a stretch.”
Kay Kay has been enjoying his stint on streaming platforms, featuring in “The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family,” the acclaimed “Farzi,” two seasons of “Special Ops,” the crime saga “Bambai Meri Jaan,” and the survival drama “The Railway Men.” He also has a ‘glorified cameo’ in the upcoming series “Citadel: Honey Bunny,” starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and another series, “Murshid,” set to release this month.
His presence on social media has grown, though he describes his engagement as functional rather than personal. “Social media is integral to our lives now,” he concedes. “I mainly use it to promote my films. I hold no grudge against any tool or technology. Creating a compelling one-minute reel takes great skill and creativity, skills I don’t possess.”
Reflecting on his career and the landscape of Indian cinema, Kay Kay notes the audience’s enduring appetite for grand entertainment. “All through my career, I’ve seen instances where content-driven cinema seemed poised to become mainstream. It never takes off,” he laughs.
He attributes this to the public’s preference for larger-than-life narratives. “India is a country of blockbusters. Audiences prefer a variety buffet over one nutritious meal.”
With “Shekhar Home” now streaming on JioCinema, Kay Kay Menon reaffirms his belief in the power of storytelling and the intelligence of his audience, promising a unique and immersive sleuthing experience.
