Dawshom Awbotaar Movie Review : Prosenjit-Anirban shine in this dark cop drama

Srijit Mukherji’s Dawshom Awbotaar can be considered a prequel to several of his popular films, but there is also the unique possibility that the director has created a multiverse (with due apologies to Marvel), where certain characters coexist simultaneously in different timelines. What concerns us is a Probir Roy Chowdhury (Baishey Srabon and Dwitiyo Purush) and a Bijoy Poddar (Vinci da) working together to catch a killer on the loose.
Set sometime in the early 2000s, police officer Probir Roy Chowdhury (Prosenjit Chatterjee) is tasked with investigating a serial killer who uses stories of the ten avatars of Vishnu to plan and execute his murders. During the course of investigations, he is joined by officer Bijoy Poddar (Anirban Bhattacharya) and they form an unlikely bond despite their differences in age, experience and outlook (think Bad Boys, Lethal Weapon, or Tango and Cash). Together, they try to stop the antagonist (Jisshu U Sengupta) from committing the murders, aided by psychiatrist Moitreyee (Jaya Ahsan) who claims to have treated him for mental illness.
As the story progresses, Probir and Bijoy start to empathize with each other, as they understand that they have both had different, yet difficult lives. Prosenjit as the cynical, sharp Probir Roy Chowdhury delivers a power-packed performance, while Anirban’s street-smart Bijoy Poddar is a perfect match to his veteran's suave avatar. Together they strike a fine balance between a practical cop and a sentimental sap. Jisshu Sengupta as the antagonist is a treat to watch, both in and out of his disguises. Jaya Ahsan plays the hapless Moitreyee well. However, her chemistry with Anirban, despite the much-talked about romantic scenes, was quite tame in comparison to the lead cop pair.
Soumik Halder’s cinematography and the use of familiar locations and well-shot action sequences are a bonus. Anupam Roy and Rupam Islam deliver a solid soundtrack. The energetic “Agunkheko” and the slow and dreamy “Ami sei manushta aar nei” are both quite hummable.
With romance blooming in the second part, the story slows down considerably, and then moves towards a slightly drawn-out climax. There are a few loose ends and absurd situations that could have been better summed up or tightened at the end. But the palpable chemistry between Prosenjit and Anirban is a rare treat, and definitely one of the main reasons why Dawshom Awbotaar is an entertaining watch this festive season.