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Literary works of Satyajit Ray

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Ray during recording of his film Pather Panchali

Satyajit Ray (1921–1992), a Bengali film director from India, is well known for his contributions to Bengali literature. He created two of the most famous characters in Feluda the sleuth and Professor Shanku the scientist. He wrote several short novels and stories in addition to those based on these two characters. His fiction was targeted mainly at younger readers, though it became popular among children and adults alike.

Most of his novels and stories in Bengali have been published by Ananda Publishers, Kolkata; and most of his screenplays have been published in Bengali in the literary journal Ekshan, edited by his close friend Nirmalya Acharya. During the mid-1990s, Ray's film essays and an anthology of short stories were also published in the West. Many of the stories have been translated into English and published.

Feluda stories

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Feluda, whose real name is Pradosh Chandra Mitra, is a fictional Kolkata-based private detective. He is usually accompanied by 2 sidekicks: Topshe (his cousin–Tapesh Ranjan Mitra) and Lalmohan Ganguly, usually described as Lalmohan Babu (who himself writes under the pseudonym of Jatayu), a bumbling writer of crime fiction. Satyajit Ray wrote thirty-five Feluda stories, most of which were extremely popular, and made two of the Feluda stories into films: Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress) (1974) and Joi Baba Felunath (The Elephant God) (1978).

Key
Indicates a television film/series Indicates Indicates a film
List of Feluda stories/novels written by Satyajit Ray[1][2][3][4]
Year Original title English title Form Published in Film/Television adaptation
Year Name
1965–66 Feludar Goendagiri Danger in Darjeeling Short story Sandesh
1966–67 Badshahi Angti The Emperor's Ring Novel Sandesh 2014 Badshahi Angti
1967 Kailash Choudhary'r Pathar Kailash Choudhury's Jewel Short story Sandesh
1970 Sheyal Debota Rahasya The Anubis Mystery Short story Sandesh 1996 Sheyal Debota Rahasya
Gangtokey Gondogol Trouble in Gangtok Novel Desh
1971 Sonar Kella The Golden Fortress Novel Desh 1974 Sonar Kella
1972 Baksho Rahashya Incident on the Kalka Mail Novel Desh 1996 Baksho Rahashya[a]
2001 Baksho Rahashya
1973 Kailashey Kelenkari A Killer in Kailash Novel Desh 2007 Kailashey Kelenkari
Samaddarer Chabi The Key Short story Sandesh 2016 Double Feluda
1974 Royal Bengal Rahashya The Royal Bengal Mystery Novel Desh 2011 Royal Bengal Rahashya
1975 Ghurghutiyar Ghatona The Locked Chest Short story Sandesh
Joi Baba Felunath The Mystery of the Elephant God Novel Desh 1979 Joi Baba Felunath
1976 Bombaiyer Bombete The Bandits of Bombay Novel Desh 2003 Bombaiyer Bombete
Gosainpur Sargaram The Mystery of Walking Dead Novel Sandesh 1999 Gosainpur Sargaram
1977 Gorosthaney Sabdhan The Secret of the Cemetery Novel Desh 2010 Gorosthaney Sabdhan
1978 Chhinnamastar Abhishap The Curse of the Goddess Novel Desh
1979 Hatyapuri The House of Death Novel Sandesh
1980 Golokdham Rahasya The Mysterious Tenant Short story Sandesh 2016 Double Feluda
Joto Kando Kathmandutey The Criminals of Kathmandu Novel Desh 1996 Joto Kando Kathmandutey
1981 Napoleoner Chithi Napoleon's Letter Short story Sandesh
1982 Tintorettor Jishu Tintoretto's Jesus Novel Desh 2008 Tintorettor Jishu
1983 Ambar Sen Antardhan Rahasya The Disappearance of Ambar Sen Short story Anandamela 2013 Ambar Sen Antardhan Rahasya
Jahangirer Swarnamudra The Gold Coins of Jahangir Short story Sandesh
1984 Ebar Kando Kedarnathey Crime in Kedarnath Short story Desh
1985 Bosepukurey Khunkharapi The Acharya Murder Case Short story Sandesh 1996 Bosepukurey Khunkharapi
1986 Darjeeling Jomjomat Murder in the Mountains Novel Sandesh
1987 Apsara Theatrer Mamla The Case of the Apsara Theatre Short story Sandesh
Bhuswargya Bhayankar Peril in Paradise Short story Desh
1988 Shakuntalar Kontthohar Shakuntala's Necklace Short story Desh
1989 Londoney Feluda Feluda in London Short story Desh
Golapi Mukta Rahasya The Mystery of the Pink Pearl Short story Sandesh
1990 Dr. Munshir Diary Dr. Munshi's Diary Short story Sandesh 2000 Dr. Munshir Diary
Nayan Rahasya The Mystery of Nayan Novel Desh
1992 Robertsoner Ruby Robertson's Ruby Novel Desh
1995–96 Indrajal Rahasya The Magical Mystery Short story Sandesh

Professor Shanku stories

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Professor Shanku (Professor Shonku), or Trilokeshwar Shanku, is a fictional scientist appearing in a series of science-fiction books. He lives in Giridih beside the river Usri. He has a male servant named Prahllad and a cat named Newton living in the house. He was a child prodigy and achieved several academic distinctions. He has his own laboratory in his house, where he does research for many new and fantastic inventions. He is world-renowned for the armory of these diverse inventions. The adventures of Professor Shanku are set in several countries throughout the world.

Tarini khuro stories

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Tarini khuro (Tarini Uncle) is an aged bachelor (khuro is an old Bengali term meaning uncle) who can tell interesting stories based on his weird experiences. Many of these stories border on being horror stories or spooky stories, while some of the stories depict the smartness and quick wit of Tarini khuro.

Bankubabur Bandhu

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Bankubabur Bandhu (Banku Babu's Friend or Mr. Banku's Friend) was a Bengali science fiction story Ray had written in 1962 for Sandesh, the Ray family magazine, which gained popularity among Bengalis in the early 1960s. What differentiated Bankubabur Bandhu from previous science fiction was the portrayal of an alien from outer space as a kind and playful being, invested with magical powers and capable of interacting with children, in contrast to earlier science fiction works, which portrayed aliens as dangerous creatures.

Several science fiction films were inspired by the story, including Ray's own script for The Alien (which was eventually cancelled in the late 1960s), Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982),[7] and Rakesh Roshan's Koi... Mil Gaya (2003), which itself inspired the Indonesian television series Si Yoyo. The story of Bankubabur Bandhu itself was eventually adapted into a television film by Satyajit's son Sandip Ray alongside Kaushik Sen in 2006.[8]

Other short stories

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Satyajit Ray penned many short stories not based on any famous characters. These stories, which used to be published as collections of twelve stories, were mostly urbane and were very unassuming until the very last line or last paragraph, where suddenly a new revelation left the reader amazed. Many of these stories dealt with the way trivial incidents change the course of one's life, while some other stories were chilling horror stories. The language of the stories was very straightforward and lucid.

Ray also translated some short stories (mostly adventure stories) from English and a collection of stories named Brazil-er Kalo Bagh was published. He also translated Ray Bradbury's 'Third Expedition' from Martian Chronicles as 'Mongol-i Shorgo' (Mars is Heaven).

Other books

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12 Series

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  • Ek Dojon Gappo
  • Aaro Ek Dojon
  • Aaro Baro
  • Ebaro Baro
  • Bah! Baro
  • Eker Pithe Dui
  • Jabor Baro

Short stories

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  • ankliya
  • Pterodactyl-er Dim
  • Bonkubabu'r Bondhu
  • Master Ansumaan
  • Anko Sir, Golapi Babu O Tipu
  • Shibu O Rakkhos-er Katha
  • Spot-Light
  • Rontur Dadu
  • Sujon Harbola
  • Taposher Jonaki
  • Raton O Lokkhi
  • Pikoo'r Diary
  • Mayurkonthi Jelly
  • Arjosekhor-er Janmo O Mrityu
  • Kaagtaruya
  • Bahuroopi
  • Sahodeb Babu'r Portrait
  • Brown Saheb-er Baari
  • Sadaanand-er Khude Jagot
  • Professor Hiji-bij-bij
  • Baatik Babu
  • Bhakto
  • Bishful
  • Load Shedding
  • Mr. Shasmol-er Shesh Raatri
  • Pintu'r Dadu
  • First Class Kamra
  • Dhappa
  • Maanpatro
  • Apodartho
  • Sadhon Babu'r Sandeho
  • Lakhpoti
  • Needhiram-er Ichchha Puron
  • Kanayi-er Kathaa
  • Gangaram-er kapaal
  • Nitai O Mahapurush
  • Hauee
  • Protikriti
  • Norris Shaheb-er Bunglow
  • Kutum Katam
  • Ganesh Mutshuddi'r Portrait
  • Notun Bondhu
  • Shishu Saahityik
  • Mohim Sanyal-er Ghatona
  • Nitai Babu'r Moina
  • Sahojaatri
  • Duyi Bondhu
  • Shilpi
  • Akshaye Babu'r Shiksha
  • Proshonna Sir
  • Abhiraam
  • Sobuj Manush
  • Khagam

Anthologies

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  • Golpo 101 (One Hundred and One Stories)
  • Sera Satyajit (Best of Satyajit)
  • Aro Satyajit (More stories by Satyajit)
  • Feluda Samagra 1 & 2
  • Shanku Samagra
  • Prabandha Sangraha

Poetry

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Satyajit Ray translated and wrote some limericks that were published in a collection–Toray Bandha Ghorar Dim (A bunch of Horse-Eggs!). He was also the translator of Lewis Carroll's Jabberwocky. In translation, the poem is renamed 'Joborkhaki'.

Mullah Nasiruddin

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A collection of very short stories based on Mullah Nasiruddin (a fictional character from the Middle East known for his witty and comic character) was collected by Satyajit Ray and published as Mullah Nasiruddiner Galpo (Stories of Mullah Nasiruddin).

Fatik Chand

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Fatik Chand is a dramatic mystery about the adventures of a kidnapped Calcutta schoolboy, written in Bengali.[9][10] The book was made into a film in 1983 entitled Phatik Chand.[11]

Others

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Sujan Harbola (Sujan the Mimic) is a collection of fables. Ekei Bole Shooting is a collection of Satyajit Ray's experiences and reflections during the making of his films. Jakhon Choto Chilam is a memoir dealing with his childhood days. Our Films, Their Films is an anthology of film criticism. Bishoy Chalachitro is another book by Ray on films.

By Satyajit Ray

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  • Ray, Satyajit (1 January 1998). Childhood Days: A Memoir. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-025079-4.
  • Ray, Satyajit (1 January 2001). The Best Of Satyajit Ray. Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-14-302805-5.
  • Ray, Satyajit (2007). Satyajit Ray: Interviews. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 978-1-57806-937-8.
  • Ray, Satyajit (2013). Satyajit Ray on Cinema. Columbia University Press. ISBN 978-0-231-16494-8.

General

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Individual films

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Apu Trilogy

Explanatory notes

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  1. ^ Baksho Rahashya was originally made as a telefilm but later was also released at Kolkata's Nandan complex.[5][6]

References

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  1. ^ Ray 2015, pp. xiv–xv.
  2. ^ Robinson 1989, p. 387.
  3. ^ "Contributions by Ray". satyajitrayworld.com. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Being Feluda". The Telegraph. 11 December 2008. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  5. ^ "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) - Metro - Feluda". www.telegraphindia.com.
  6. ^ "Feluda reappears on silver screeen". The Economic Times. 19 January 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  7. ^ "Close encounters with native E.T. finally real". The Times of India. 5 April 2003. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  8. ^ "BANKUBABUR BANDHU & SAMUDRER MOUNA at Rangashankara". Events Bangalore. 11 October 2006. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
  9. ^ Fatik Chand et le jongleur de Calcutta. Bordas. 1981. ISBN 9782040180249.
  10. ^ Fatik Chand. Orient Paperbacks. 1983. ISBN 978-81-222-0420-9.
  11. ^ "Sandip Ray's debut film was Phatik Chand". The Times of India. 9 December 2014.

Bibliography

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