Famed Indian filmmaker Srijit Mukherji is preparing to bring a lesser-known chapter of Arthur Conan Doyle’s life to the screen with his upcoming film Elementary, My Dear Holmes. The British Indian co-production is set in 1906 London and focuses on the author’s real-life fight against judicial injustice, particularly in the cases of George Edalji and Oscar Slater.
The film explores how Doyle applied the logic of his fictional detective to real-world wrongs.
During an exclusive chat with News Ei Samay, Mukherji spoke about how the film will show Doyle stepping into the very method of reasoning he created through Sherlock Holmes. Asked how this transition from fiction to reality will unfold on screen, the director smiled and said it was “a secret” best left for audiences to discover in theatres.
Racial prejudice is at the heart of the story
Mukherji made it clear that racial discrimination forms the core of the narrative. “Very critical,” he said, when asked about its role in the film. “Both Oscar Slater and George Edalji were victims of racial prejudice. That kind of injustice was something Arthur Conan Doyle was strongly against. He fought it in his own way and got these people acquitted. It is central to the script.”
The director’s remarks highlight Doyle’s involvement in exposing flaws in the British legal system and standing up for marginalised men wrongfully convicted.
“My selection comes from my love for Sherlock Holmes as I grew up with his stories, along with Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, Feluda and Byomkesh. It was a natural choice. But what really intrigued me was his social crusader side. That stayed with me and made me want to tell this story”, he said.
Music, literature and layered storytelling
Apart from directing, Mukherji is set to make his official debut as a music composer with Emperor vs. Sarat Chandra, scheduled for release in May.
“I’ve always been deeply involved with music,” he explained. “Sometimes with tunes, sometimes with lyrics. Now I’m just doing it officially.”
When asked about his approach to “story within a story” narratives, Mukherji avoided giving too much away.
“That structure is as old as storytelling itself,” he said. “What matters is how you use it. For that, people will have to wait for the film.”
The conversation ended on a lighter note when Mukherji was asked about the Slytherin scarf he was wearing. Laughing, he replied, “Considering I have snakes as pets, that qualifies me as a Slytherin but on good days, I’m Gryffindor too. I’m a mixed bag.”
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Elementary, My Dear Holmes is being produced under the UK-India Co-Production Treaty, with backing from the Conan Doyle Estate and production support from Invisible Thread Media and Matchcut Productions.
