Spy Tales

For British documentary filmmaker Phil Cox,the character served as a catalyst to explore the booming private detective industry in India,in the process holding up a mirror to our changing society. Rajesh became the focal point of Cox’s latest feature documentary,The Bengali Detective,which makes its world premiere at the prestigious Sundance International Film Festival in Utah this month. “During my recent trips to India,I came across a number of billboards advertising private detectives. That’s how I came to develop the narrative. Their world turned out to be a reflection of modern India,” explains Cox.

The film revolves around Rajesh as he solves three cases — of counterfeit,adultery and a triple murder. His clients are among Kolkata’s middle-class families. In between pursuing leads,the film side-tracks into the protagonist’s affinity for dance. So during his free time,Rajesh dreams of winning a national talent show on television,a dream that comes dramatically true.

Cox says he has treated the subject with the empathy and restraint that it deserves. There are also profiles of clients,something that was only possible because of his persistence. “We needed to make them feel comfortable in our presence,since the very reason they visit a private detective is for privacy. We have shown their stories in a non-judgmental fashion,” explains Cox.

The film,shot on a budget of less than 2,00,000 pounds,travels to Berlin Film Festival in February. “I shall hopefully come to Mumbai next,” he says.