Satyajit Ray (2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an interesting personality. Not only did he prove to be an amazing film-maker, but he was also well-known as an author of children’s books. He was born in the city of Calcutta — now Kolkata— into a Bengali family known for their ventures in the arts and literature. He directed about 36 films with his first film Pather Panchali winning eleven international prizes. He had to his credit 32 national awards, international film festival awards, and an honorary Academy Award in 1992. The Government of India gave him the Bharat Ratna in the same year.
Though he is more renowned as a filmmaker, Ray's literary pieces are hidden gems. He wrote several short stories and novels. While young readers were the intended audience, his books gained fans across age groups. The most popular of his books came from the detective stories genre. All his books were written in Bengali and today have been translated into many languages, especially English. Needless to say, his books inspired many film and television spin-offs as well. A lot of his work was featured in Sandesh, a Bengali magazine that did the rounds in the 1960s.
Ray’s characters
One of the characters he created and therefore immortalized is Prodosh Chandra Mitra, popularly known as Feluda (not to be confused with Falooda). It doesn’t come as a surprise that Satyajit Ray fancied the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He had read all the Sherlock Holmes stories at a young age. In fact, Satyajit Ray made reference to Sherlock Holmes in many of his detective tales, showering the private eye of Baker's Street with much praise and adoration . Proof of the inspiration drawn from Sherlock Holmes reflects in his characterization of Feluda as well. Feluda reached heights of fame when veteran actor Shashi Kapoor once donned the role on the big screen.
Yet, there are some distinct differences between Feluda and Sherlock Holmes. Feluda’s trusted sidekick isn’t an army doctor, but his younger cousin Tapesh Ranjan Mitra who is nicknamed Topshe. Topshe fills in the post of chronicler, narrating the stories of his adventures with Feluda as they happen. Feluda and Topshe share a close bond, as it was Topshe’s parents who cared for Feluda after he’d lost his parents. It is also known that Topshe’s father and Feluda’s father are brothers.
Feluda and Topshe are from time to time accompanied by the pseudonymous Jatayu (real name Lalmohan Ganguly). Jatayu is a close friend of Feluda and touted to be a prolific author. Though his books were said to be bestsellers, his characters tended to be overly exaggerated. However, the hero always saved the day and was looked upon as something of a superhero. Lalmohan provided comic relief by way of creating confusion and committing blunders. Yet, he had his moments especially when he actually saved Feluda and Topshe from trouble.
Satyajit Ray’s other well-known character is Professor Shonku or Trilokeshwar Shonku. The Professor, who went by the nickname Tilu, is the protagonist in Ray’s science fiction series. Tilu is said to have completed his schooling and higher education by the age of 16, and by 20, he had gone on to become a professor of physics. Professor Shonku could also speak up to 69 languages.
THE GOLDEN FORTRESS
Mukul talks about battles, peacocks, a golden fortress, and hidden treasure from his past life. His father consults Dr Hajra, a parapsychologist, who takes Mukul to Rajasthan in an attempt to cure him. Meanwhile, there is an article on Mukul in the newspaper, after which two men try to kidnap the boy. Mukul's father, scared for his son’s safety, asks Feluda, a detective, for help. Feluda agrees and heads to Rajasthan with his nephew Topshe. They meet Lalmohan Ganguly (Jatayu), an author of popular thrillers, and together solve the mystery of Mukul’s past life.
The Golden Fortress (Shonar Kella in Bengali) was written in 1971 and was later adapted for the big screen as a Bengali feature film of the same name in 1974. The film also won many awards.
INDIGO
Indigo is a short story collection of tales woven by Satyajit Ray himself. The compilation features a good mix of stories, with characters one can relate to in interesting scenarios.
The title story Indigo, talks about a man who has a supernatural experience. This man is something of a recluse . One day, he decides to visit his friend. His destination is a four-hour drive from home. He gets into his Ambassador and drives off when rain and two flat tyres force him to a halt. He spends the night in an abandoned mansion. In the middle of the night, a strange sound wakes him up. He doesn’t realize until he is up and off his bed that he now occupies the body of a British. How did that happen? Can he ever go back to being his normal self again?
Did You Know?
Until 1991, Satyajit Ray wrote all his Feluda stories by hand. He bought his notebooks from the Oxford Bookstore in Kolkata’s Park Street.
All his books were written in Bengali and today have been translated into many languages, especially English. Needless to say, his books inspired many film and television spin-offs as well.
