Dawshom Awbotaar movie review: Srijit Mukherji’s latest thriller is all about fan service and very little logic

The plot, if you can call it that, involves two troubled cops (Prosenjit and Anirban Bhattacharya) trying to hunt a serial killer who thinks he is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the dawshon awbotaar (tenth incarnation) to be precise. The killer targets people who, according to him, are morally corrupt and are a threat to society. The murders are carried out with varying degrees of ineptitude with the murderer sloppily going about his task. But the two detectives in charge, often hailed in the film as “the best minds of the country”, seem to be not bothered with mundane details like conducting background checks of suspects.

They just seem to be interested in winning the who-gets-the-best-monologue match. They are approached by a guilt-ridden psychiatrist (Jaya Ahsan), who claims to know the murderer and is very sorry about not reporting that earlier, but that doesn’t bring any sense of urgency to the proceedings. These men just want to run in slo-mo and deliberate on the intricacies of the Bengali cuss dictionary. After about 150 mins of this, a resolution as obvious as the Victoria Memorial dome in the Kolkata skyline is achieved. But it is so full of loopholes that Bengali YouTubers can create a good 20 minute video out of them. For that, Srijit Mukherji should be thanked.

One can say that the actors are committed to their roles, but what does that even mean when the script is as weak as this. Prosenjit is a bit too clinical in his foul-mouthed, weathered cop act. In fact, this drowned-in-whiskey-grief act seems like something the actor can do with his eyes closed. Anirban Bhattacharya gets a better arc, and when he is not saddled with ridiculous lines, he does seem honest. Jaya Ahsan has the thankless task of dealing with two narcissistic men who love hearing their own voice, she looks adequately exasperated. We hear you sister.

The Pujo week also has another Srijit Mukherji release, Durgo Rawhoshyo, streaming on HoiChoi. It’s a Byomkesh Bakshi detective story told in a straightforward, sincere way, devoid of the trappings of his other release. I would choose that over Dawshom Awbotaar any day.

Dawshom Awbotaar
Director – Srijit Mukherji
Cast – Prosenjit Chatterji, Anirban Bhattacharya, Jisshu Sengupta
Rating –