B-Town meets Sherlock Holmes in an online murder mystery game. Crack clues, interact with suspects and help nail the murderer to win merchandise

A slimy, ponytailed producer, bearing close resemblance to Arjun Rampal in Om Shanti Om, is found murdered. The police have shortlisted three suspects: director Ram Gopal Chopra, who was always at loggerheads with the murdered man, and was sick of directing his sleazy movies, Shilpa Devi, an actress with 'a big chest' and 'something sinister underneath that cleavage', and Akshay Kapoor, the producer's son who managed to find work only as a spot boy.



Punning on the names of the who's who in Bollywood (there's also a Shah Tukh Paan), the guys from Timepass, a UK-based production company, have created an online murder mystery, which unravels over four episodes, called Who Killed the Producer?

The idea, which was originally conceptualised as a live show in 2007, in Birmingham, allows users to crack clues and solve the mystery through a series of online games. "You can also interact with the suspects and go through their blogs," says Danny Sura, one of the producers of Timepass, who also plays the role of the murdered victim in the series.

Moonlighting
The producers of Timepass have regular day jobs that include working in the IT and health sectors, including Danny who works as a psychologist. What binds them is their passion for Bollywood and acting.

"It is difficult to find acting opportunities in England, and so we thought we would create a platform to showcase our skills," says Danny who can easily rattle off dialogues from Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Coolie, having grown up on '80s Bollywood.

Caricatured roles, stereotyped dialogues, and an item number with English subtitles might make the effort seem catering to strictly NRI tastes. Still, with a chance to win Bollywood booty that includes CDs, DVDs, film posters and other memorabilia, it might be worth surfing by. We warn you though, not everything is likely to be 'elementary, my dear Watson'.

Murder, they wrote?
Here are excerpts from the blogs of the suspects in this murder mystery game. Think you can read between the lines and catch them red-handed?

Ram Gopal Chopra: Today is a sad day, Cash wasn't just my boss, he was a friend, more like brothers. The studio will not be the same without him. I don't understand how anyone can suspect that I killed Cash?! Our relationship has always been volatile, happy one moment, at each other's throats the next. That is how we have always been, ever since first working together as apprentices. I'm a passionate person, but that doesn't make me a killer!

Shilpa Devi: I am devastated. For those who are asking about THE rumour, it is true. Our beloved Producer Cash Kapoor is no more. For some reason the authorities have been asking me about his death. Why would they be asking me? He was my pillar of strength. My godfather. I am broken, so haven't touched up my make up for at least half an hour. As for the OTHER rumour some guys are asking me about ufffd naughty boys ufffd I'm not telling. See you later. And remember, if you like touching, then keep in touch ufffd

Akshay Kapoor: I am very upset. My father, the great Cash Kapoor, has been murdered! Why would someone want to murder him? Yes he was a man who made you work hard but that is why he was the best! I know he was very hard on me but that was because he loved me. He wanted me to be better than him. He was teaching me on how to continue the legacy of CK productions. Don't worry about Papa's last remaining magnum opus film, I will complete it as per his vision. Just like a good son.

Log on to www.timepaas.co.uk