Murder most mysterious

April 06, 2010 05:03 pm | Updated 05:03 pm IST

Feluda, a young detective, sharp-witted and observant, was created by Satyajit Ray the Bengali film maker. Ray loved writing and making films for children and wrote the Feluda stories too. The relationship between Feluda and Topshe is sure to remind you of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Topshe learns a lot just by being around Feluda, and Feluda bounces ideas and observations off Topshe to trigger a chain of logical thinking.

When Feluda, “Jatayu” ( Lalmohan Babu) and Topshe discover the body of a man when they go on holiday to Puri, things begin to look a little suspicious. They had just heard about the death of the famous wildlife photographer … but it seems like there is no connection between the two. Then there are some strange crooked footsteps they notice on the beach leading away from the dead man.

Following them, they enter a mysterious and dilapidated old house, which belongs to a D.G. Sen, who is passionate about palm-leaf manuscripts, which he considers works of art. He is also obviously very attached to them for he will not sell them, even at a very high price. On their way back from the house they meet a photographer on the beach.

Recognising Feluda he begins to relate his tale of strange encounters and incidents to him…hoping Feluda can employ his famed powers of detection… On a whim, they meet an astrologer who claims he can read into the past and future of the photographer, but Topshe, of course, is sceptical.

Then one of the Sen's manuscripts, the Buddhist Prajna Paramita, goes missing! Curious-er and curious-er! Feluda has a lot on his hands at the dead of night by the sea and wouldn't survive if it wasn't for his friend Topshe. With the help of Mahim Sen, G.N.Sen's son, they piece things together bit by bit. Many exciting scuffles and fights fill the plot. The story is set against the backdrop of the temples of Puri and this gives it a unique atmosphere.

The hauntingly beautiful illustrations by Tapas Guha bring the temple town to life with deep and vivid colours. This is a must-read for anyone interested in detective stories, graphics and temples!

MURDER BY THE SEA; Art: Tapas Guha; Script: Subhadra Sen. Rs.99; Puffin Books

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