For anyone who’s been skeptical about Abhishek Bachchan’s representation of the iconic character of Bob Biswas from Kahaani (2012), let me just say that I had my doubts as well.
I remember feeling chills down my spine watching the sinister character of the original Biswas, played by Saswata Chatterjee, with a creepy smile and scary wide eyes. A character that had no more than ten minutes of screen-time in 2012 certainly left a huge impact on the audience to be resurrected in 2021.
But can another actor do justice?
The short answer – sure, why not?
The longer answer – it’s no surprise that actor Abhishek Bachchan can do wonders in collaboration with the right directors. This experiment is no different!
Director Diya Annapurna Ghosh makes a strong debut with Bob Biswas allowing each character to shine through, with Bachchan in the titular role ofcourse.
From actor Purab Kohli as Bubai playing a small-time drug dealer to actress Samara Tijori as Mini, an over-achieving student. Each character irrespective of their screen-time offers something unique and makes their presence felt with great performances.
Special mention to the Casting Director (and team) Mukesh Chhabra for consistently finding such talent.
I won’t delve into the story because that may take away from the experience of watching a suspense thriller. But the synopsis, in a nutshell, revolves around the secret life of a life insurance agent restarting after an accident and a drug-crime nexus.
The first half of the film is exciting as we uncover the life of Biswas through his perspective – a man who has lost his memory and has returned to his life after being in coma for 8 eight years.
We are introduced to his wife, kids, his work pre-accident and colleagues, and even his well-wishers.
As a viewer, you’re bound to question every scene and everyone’s motive. I was too trying to solve the puzzle and connect the dots along with Biswas… while also questioning Biswas’ intentions itself as his character demanded.
However, that is where the script falters.
The film run quietly smoothly even in moments that perhaps could’ve been more suspenseful. None of the conflict or dilemma are dramatic enough to keep you at the edge of your seat or give you that adrenaline rush required for the genre.
The last 20 minutes before the end take a turn, shifting from a thriller to a more romanticized redemption and emotional breakthrough – that sort off feels like a downer.
A lot of questions are left unanswered which makes it feel incomplete but I’m hoping Bob Biswas turns into a series with a new kind of hero, or shall I say anti-hero.
Speaking of another aspect that enhanced the film was the camera work by Cinematographer Gairik Sarkar. The craft is in the lighting showing the rustic streets of Kolkata, mysterious dim lighting for the night and killings, and fresh bright settings for the day. It works perfectly distinguishing the two lives of Bob and the ambiguities of the situation.
In interviews leading up to the release, Abhishek Bachchan clarified that the film is about reinventing the character with a backstory, which now makes sense as Bob Biswas serves as a prequel to Kahaani (2012).
It will leave you tickled in the last scene and make you want to revisit the original Biswas… I won’t say more than that.
Final Verdict:
Bob Biswas is an experimental spin-off worth a watch. A fun thriller with great performances.
Popcorn Rating – 
[4/5]
Bob Biswas is now streaming on ZEE5
