The Bengali Detective

Synopsis

The secrets of Kolkota’s and London’s Bengali community revealed by overweight dance obsessed intrepid detective Rajesh Ji. Mixing dance and song with the harsh lives of clients, this originally styled feature documentary provides an entertaining yet poignant look at modern India and its Diasporas through the prism of crime. What happens when a population loses trust in its police and authorities? A new phenomena is happening in India today - the rise of the private detective. Poisonings, adultery, fraud, bridal purity and the occasional murder – such are the day to day investigations of Rajesh Ji. Each client walks through the door carrying a secret fear or suspicion, and all need Rajesh’s help. This film follows the intrepid detective and his motley band of helpers on 4 selected raids and investigations, both in Kolkota and London, exposing the secrets, fears and covert actions of today’s middle class india. 

About the director

Philip Cox has run award winning Native Voice Films production company since 1998.  He regularly works for UK and international broadcasters. His last feature documentary, We Are The Indians showed on Channel 4 / MORE4 to critical acclaim - winning 3 festival awards and a cinema release. He has won and been nominated for 7 international awards.

Co-Producer: Annie Sundberg is a producer and director based in New York. She is the co-director and producer of the award winning feature documentaries The Devil Came on Horseback, The Trials of Darryl Hunt and the forthcoming feature about comic legend Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work and recently Burma Soldier for HBO.

According to the filmmakers

No two ways about it, we would not be in production now if it were not for the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation. They totally committed to the project and opened a lot of doors for us. A superb ray of light in the harsh world of indie filmmaking.

Sales/Screening Contact

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Giovanna Stopponi at Native Voice Films:

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