India, Oct 28 : National Award winning filmmaker Srijit Mukherji is set to bring the fascinating life of Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes, to the big screen in his new film Elementary, My Dear Holmes. Unlike his previous fictional works, Mukherji’s latest project explores the real life conflicts, compassion, and courage of the celebrated author.
The film, a British-Indian co-production, is being made under the UK-India Co-Production Treaty, supported by the British Film Institute (BFI) and India’s National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). It is jointly produced by Shahnaab Alam of London-based Invisible Thread Media and Mukherji’s own Matchcut Productions from India. The Conan Doyle Estate is also onboard as an associate producer, lending authenticity to the project.
Set in London in 1906, Elementary, My Dear Holmes follows Arthur Conan Doyle during one of the most turbulent phases of his life. As his wife lies on her deathbed urging him to remarry, Doyle is simultaneously drawn into two real-life cases of wrongful conviction those of George Edalji, an Indian-origin man falsely accused of animal mutilation, and Oscar Slater, a victim of miscarriage of justice. These cases inspire Doyle to employ his famous deductive reasoning not in fiction, but to fight for justice in reality.
Reflecting on the project, Mukherji shared, “I first met Sherlock Holmes as a boy, not in Baker Street, but in the quiet between pages.”
Known for pushing creative boundaries, Srijit Mukherji has already established himself as one of India’s most versatile filmmakers. His acclaimed films such as Jaatishwar, Chotushkone, Rajkahini, and Gumnaami have showcased his storytelling depth. He won the National Film Award for Best Director in 2015 for Chotushkone.
With Elementary, My Dear Holmes, Mukherji now ventures into the world of British literary history, exploring how Doyle’s empathy and intellect transcended fiction to defend the innocent and challenge injustice.