Eken Babu to Eken Sirji: How Bangla’s beloved new-age sleuth got lost in translation

Eken Babu, a new-age sleuth from the best-selling Bengali novels of Sujan Dasgupta, has made his way to the big screen. Created as a mix of Feluda's intellect and Jatayu's comic charm, Eken Babu has tickled audiences with his quirky remarks and impeccable problem-solving skills. Now, the character has made its way to OTT platforms, with three dubbed seasons in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu released by Netflix.

However, the dubbed versions fail to capture Eken Babu's unique style, leaving room for improvement in the translation. The character's signature wit and peculiar vocabulary, which have made fans love him, are lost in translation, making him just another detective in the crowded online space. Eken Babu's journey from the page to the screen has been a long one, with Sujan Dasgupta publishing his first Eken adventure in 1991.

It took the Bengali entertainment industry 27 years to recognize Eken Babu's screen potential, with his first film debuting in 2018. The character's success owes itself to its distinctive qualities, which have made him stand out among Bengal's fictional sleuths.