Sherlock and Watson of the East?

Chiriyakhana (চিড়িয়াখানা, The Zoo, Bengali; 1967)
Director: Satyajit Ray
Deviating from the usual Ray's story with social theme, this flick starts with a rather unusual musical score. Ray did his own musical score for this one. It sounded like what it turned out to be - a suspense thriller whodunit, probably along the line of Sherlock Holmes and his dear Watson. Here Uttam Kumar (who acted as the hero in Nayak, Hero) appears as Byomkesh Bakshi, a quirky philosophical private eye who seem to the brain behind the duo of private investigator. His side kick, Ajit, may appear like a comedian but he is also witty in his own way and contributes his share to the story.
Just like their predecessor, they indulge in quite a bit of smoking (not cigar but cigarette) and drinking tea.
As in the case of Baker's street, Bakshi is visited by a visitor with a peculiar case when he is deep in an intellectual discourse with Ajit whilst playing with pet snake, Vasuki, whom he trusts more than human!
The visitor is a retired judge who is now running an ashram, as a way of washing his sins after sending a record number of convicts to the gallows. The ashram housed a motley crew of handicaps, social outcasts, an ex-convict, the judge's wife, a musician doctor, among others.

With Vasuki

With smoke and tea!

Bakshi is asked to visit the ashram the following day in disguise (Sherlock again). Dressed a Japanese horticulturist, he and Ajit are introduced to the occupants of the ashram. The judge dilly dallies on telling his problem. Before he manages to tell his problem, he is brutally murdered. The only clue that he is left with the lyrics of an obscure Bengali song from an old movie.

Japanese horticulturist

 The investigating police officer invites Bakshi to help out in the investigation which he thinks is a clear and cut case, not suspecting anyone! Bakshi, through his astute observation, deduces that they are more than meets the eye.
From the lyrics of the song, he traced the actress, who disappeared soon after hitting it high in the box office. He uncovered the mysterious husband of the actress whom the judge had passed judgment and had been released. The scent of blackmail filled the air and through elementary deduction putting everybody as suspect, the real murderer eventually squeals!

N.B. When my son saw the title of movie, he thought I was watching a movie which would translate to 'Bird Food' - Chiriya Khana! In Bengali, it seems, it means 'The Zoo'!