Joto Kando Kolkatatei (2025) [Film Review] — A Nostalgic Whodunit That Puts Kolkata in Spotlight

Anik Datta’s Joto Kando Kolkatatei reinvents the Bengali whodunit by turning Kolkata into the film’s chief protagonist. Equal parts riddle-box and city portrait, the movie opts for mood, music, and memory over razor-tight plotting. That choice yields pleasures — especially for viewers who cherish Ray-inspired detective lore — even as it undercuts the film’s ambition to be a lean, edge-of-seat thriller.

Story & Screenplay

A riddle-driven narrative that modernises classic sleuthing grammar

Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed’s Saba and Abir Chatterjee’s matured Topshe (now Toposmitro) follow cryptic clues through graveyards, shuttered houses, and online breadcrumbs to solve a decades-old enigma. Writers Anik Datta and Utsav Mukherjee cleverly update the Feluda vocabulary — swapping telegrams for Facebook posts and cryptic letters for Google searches — but the film’s non-linear, riddle-first approach occasionally fritters momentum. Some twists are satisfying; others arrive predictably, blunting the whodunit’s sting.

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Performances

Steady anchors that sell the film’s reflective tone

Abir Chatterjee grounds the film with a calm, believable turn as a Topshe who has grown into his own detective identity. Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed fuels the plot with earnest curiosity, though her performance sometimes strains to carry deeper emotional notes. Rik Chatterjee and Roja Paromita Dey provide lively support, while Dulal Lahiri lends aged gravitas. Collectively, the cast keeps the story human, even when the mystery’s mechanics falter.

Direction & Cinematography

Anik Datta’s affectionate gaze makes Kolkata feel alive and puzzling

Datta’s direction is at its best when indulging in atmosphere. Cinematographer Soumya Ray frames Park Street, St. John’s Church, and the North Bengal hills with affectionate detail — the city’s textures become clues in themselves. The shift to Kurseong and Darjeeling refreshes the palette and helps the film avoid geographic monotony. Though some sequences meander, the visuals consistently reward patient viewers.

Music & Sound

A resonant score that often carries what the script leaves undone

Debojyoti Mishra’s score is the film’s emotional backbone, weaving retro jazz, folk hues, and orchestral swells to sustain tension and nostalgia. Standout songs — from Tanya Sen’s cabaret-style number to the wistful title track — deepen the film’s atmosphere and frequently compensate for narrative slow patches.

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Verdict

A rewarding watch for lovers of Kolkata and literary mysteries, but not a perfect thriller

Joto Kando Kolkatatei is a film of character and place more than of relentless deduction. It will charm viewers who appreciate Satyajit Ray’s legacy reimagined in a contemporary key and anyone who loves a cinematic tour of Kolkata’s soul. If you want a taut, puzzle-first detective film, you may find it indulgent; if you welcome a mystery that doubles as a city portrait with soulful music and earnest performances, it’s well worth your time.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)