Review: Tehkikaat The Detective Show with a Twist
Review: Tehkikaat The Detective Show with a Twist
Tehkikaat (1994–95) was one of Doordarshan’s most popular detective TV serials, starring Vijay Anand as Sam D’Silva and Saurabh Shukla as Gopichand.
It ran for 52 episodes, mixing suspense, crime drama, and quirky humor, and is remembered as India’s answer to Sherlock Holmes.
Vijay Anand as Sam D’Silva (the lead private detective)
Famous film director (Guide, Jewel Thief, Teesri Manzil, Johny Mera Naam) and younger brother of Dev Anand. His calm, intelligent, and slightly stylish portrayal became iconic.
Saurabh Shukla as Gopichand (Gopi) – Sam’s loyal, humorous assistant.
Supporting regulars:
Suresh Chatwal as Inspector Bhinde
Ashok Banthia as Chaudhary
Key Details -
Genre: Crime drama / Mystery
Original Network: DD National
Years Aired: 1994–1995
Episodes: 52 (each ~52 minutes)
Creative TeamWriter, Producer & Co-Director: Karan Razdan
Co-Directors: Shekhar Kapur and Vijay Anand
The show blended intelligent mystery writing with light humour.
Main Cast:
Vijay Anand as Sam D’Silva (the suave detective)
Saurabh Shukla as Gopichand (comic, loyal assistant)
Suresh Chatwal as Inspector Bhinde
Episode Themes -
Each story spanned 2–3 episodes, covering diverse mysteries:
Jealousy Turns Blood (episodes 1–3)
Green Park Murder (4–5)
Revenge of Forgotten Past (6–7)
Travel Agency Girl Serial Killer (8–9)
Twins Illusion (10–11, featuring Karan Razdan in dual role)
Supari – Contract Killing (24–26)
Dowry Case (27–29)
Murder in a Swimming Pool (35–36)
The Ghost of John Perriera (48–50)
Murder of Sam D’Silva (final episodes 51–52)
Locations & Production Style -
Mostly shot in Mumbai and surrounding areas, using hotels, parks, and studios as backdrops.
The show had a filmlike feel because Vijay Anand (renowned film director) brought cinematic storytelling to TV.
Episodes often featured guest stars like Pallavi Joshi, Divya Seth, Ashok Kumar, Rakhee Vijan, and Sudha Chandran.
Funny & Interesting Facts -
Sherlock Holmes inspiration:
Sam D’Silva (detective) + Gopichand (comic assistant) mirrored Holmes and Watson.
Saurabh Shukla’s humor:
His bumbling style gave comic relief in otherwise tense murder mysteries.
Cult status:
Despite being a crime show, it became family entertainment because of witty dialogues and quirky chemistry between the leads.
Final twist:
The series ended with the shocking “Murder of Sam D’Silva,” leaving viewers stunned.
Legacy -
Tehkikaat is fondly remembered as a high-quality, intelligent detective show from the golden era of Doordarshan.
It stood out for its logical storytelling and strong lead performances at a time when Indian television was dominated by mythological and family dramas.
full episodes and complete stories are available on YouTube today, and the show still has a strong nostalgic fan following.
In short:
Tehkikaat is widely regarded as one of the finest detective series ever made for Indian television, largely thanks to Vijay Anand’s charismatic turn as Sam D’Silva and the solid writing by Karan Razdan.
Rating stars - 4 out of 5
Watch Tehkikaat तहकीकात 1994 EP 1 & 2 -Jealousi Turns Blood - Crime Seriel Vijay Anand SAaurabh Shukla
