Indian television, during its golden years, gifted audiences with some unforgettable sleuths. Reflecting upon those carrot-chomping standards, it seems that recent streaming shows, despite being seen as fertile ground for quirkiness and elaborate world-building, have not quite matched the legacy. However, one standout show from last year was Vishal Bhardwaj’s “Charlie Chopra & The Mystery Of Solang Valley,” which was a simple yet delightful series featuring Wamiqa Gabbi as a witty and foul-mouthed Emily Trefusis. Now, acclaimed actor Kay Kay Menon reunites with his “Ray” director Srijit Mukherji to take on a classic character in a unique setting.
Kay Kay Menon stars as a Bengali Sherlock Holmes in Mukherji’s new series, “Shekhar Home,” currently streaming on JioCinema. The show, set in the 1990s in a quiet and fictional town called Lonpur, adapts Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic detective stories, infusing them with a Bengali essence. In the opening episode, Shekhar, with a charming drawl, tells a suspect, “Ei to jibon, Kali da (such is life, Kali brother),” encapsulating the cultural twist. The show even features a cafe named ‘Khasha Blanca.’
“Home is a genuine surname in Bengal,” Kay Kay explains, emphasizing the authenticity they aimed for in the series. “Our show is very Indian. It’s set in the early 1990s, a time when we didn’t have computers or smart devices. This makes detective work much more interesting and physically engaging. The town of Lonpur itself is very laid-back, reminiscent of the time of ‘Malgudi Days.’”
A still from ‘Shekhar Home’ reveals the nostalgic yet dynamic setting of the show. Kay Kay, who considers Jeremy Brett’s portrayal of Sherlock Holmes on British television as his favorite interpretation, aimed to bring something unique to his role. Despite donning a deerstalker hat on the promotional poster, Kay Kay focused on developing the character from the inside out rather than relying on external quirks.
“I play the person, not just the profession,” Kay Kay states. “I don’t fixate on how quickly Shekhar can use a prop. Instead, I concentrate on understanding the human being, not the intricacies of a job. It’s a psychological process for actors.”
Reflecting on his childhood, Kay Kay recalls reading Conan Doyle’s stories avidly, along with works by Agatha Christie, The Hardy Boys, and Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five. He believes the imaginative and inquisitive nature of a child’s mind has stuck with him into adulthood. “Often, long after filming a scene, the images that linger in my mind are the ones I imagined while reading the script,” he shares. This intrinsic visualisation frequently haunted him while working on “Shekhar Home,” as he recounts, “The production team would refer to ‘the scene we shot at the market,’ but I’d be picturing something entirely different.”
Describing himself once as an ‘impressionist’ actor – a term commonly used in painting – Kay Kay now supplements this with another term: ‘simulator.’ Drawing an analogy to modern flight simulators, he emphasizes, “My job is to simulate a character, making it so lifelike that it’s believable.
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Kay Kay is renowned for respecting the intelligence of his audience, often opting for nuanced performances rather than overt dramatization, a principle he’s adhered to throughout his three-decade-long career. He recounts a scene from “Sarkar” (2005), where his character Vishnu eyes a young starlet with insidious intent, a portrayal that left a lasting impact on a fan years later.
“I firmly believe that audiences are intelligent. They may not always be intellectual, but they understand life through various circumstances. If they can navigate life, understanding a film is no big deal,” he says.
Kay Kay has been thriving in the era of streaming platforms. His recent works include “The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family,” “Farzi,” two seasons of “Special Ops,” the crime drama “Bambai Meri Jaan,” and the survival series “The Railway Men.” He also has a significant cameo in the upcoming “Citadel: Honey Bunny,” featuring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and another series, “Murshid,” scheduled for release later this month.
With his increasing presence in the media, Kay Kay navigates the digital age with grace. Before our interview, he diligently completed a session with a ‘youth platform,’ answering quickfire questions and offering advice to Gen-Z. His Instagram, with 407k followers and 477 posts, feels engaged yet impersonal, primarily used for announcements and promotions.
“Social media is now intertwined with our lives,” Kay Kay acknowledges. “I typically use it to promote my work. I have no qualms with any tool or technology. Creativity and skill are required to make a one-minute reel, for instance. However, that’s a skill I do not possess.”
Kay Kay’s last theatrical release was the sports drama “Love All” (2023). He was once a star of an alternative cinema vein alongside actors like Irrfan Khan and Manoj Bajpayee. Today, this niche seems to have shifted entirely to streaming platforms.
“Throughout my career, there have been phases where it seemed like content-driven cinema would dominate. It never quite happens,” Kay Kay laughs, attributing this to the public’s craving for grand, larger-than-life entertainment. “Blockbusters are the main game in India. I’ve come to realize you cannot take that away from the audience. They prefer the buffet, not just one nutritious meal.”
“Shekhar Home” is currently available for streaming on JioCinema.
