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
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).
+ KeyIndicates a television film/seriesIndicates Indicates a film
+ List of Feluda stories/novels written by Satyajit Ray Year Original title English titleForm Published in Film/Television adaptation Year Name 1965–66 Feludar Goendagiri Danger in DarjeelingShort story Sandesh 1966–67 Badshahi Angti The Emperor's RingNovel Sandesh 2014 Badshahi Angti 1967 Kailash Choudhary'r Pathar Kailash Choudhury's JewelShort story Sandesh 1970 Sheyal Debota Rahasya The Anubis MysteryShort story Sandesh 1996Sheyal Debota Rahasya Gangtokey Gondogol Trouble in GangtokNovel Desh 1971 Sonar Kella The Golden FortressNovel Desh 1974Sonar Kella 1972 Baksho Rahashya Incident on the Kalka MailNovel Desh 1996Baksho Rahashya 2001Baksho Rahashya 1973 Kailashey Kelenkari A Killer in KailashNovel Desh 2007Kailashey Kelenkari Samaddarer Chabi The KeyShort story Sandesh 2016Double Feluda 1974 Royal Bengal Rahashya The Royal Bengal MysteryNovel Desh 2011 Royal Bengal Rahashya 1975 Ghurghutiyar Ghatona The Locked ChestShort story Sandesh Joi Baba Felunath The Mystery of the Elephant GodNovel Desh 1979Joi Baba Felunath 1976 Bombaiyer Bombete The Bandits of BombayNovel Desh 2003Bombaiyer Bombete Gosainpur Sargaram The Mystery of Walking DeadNovel Sandesh 1999Gosainpur Sargaram 1977 Gorosthaney Sabdhan The Secret of the CemeteryNovel Desh 2010Gorosthaney Sabdhan 1978 Chhinnamastar Abhishap The Curse of the GoddessNovel Desh 1979 Hatyapuri The House of DeathNovel Sandesh 1980 Golokdham Rahasya The Mysterious TenantShort story Sandesh 2016Double Feluda Joto Kando Kathmandutey The Criminals of KathmanduNovel Desh 1996Joto Kando Kathmandutey 1981 Napoleoner Chithi Napoleon's LetterShort story Sandesh 1982 Tintorettor Jishu Tintoretto's JesusNovel Desh 2008Tintorettor Jishu 1983 Ambar Sen Antardhan Rahasya The Disappearance of Ambar SenShort story Anandamela 2013Ambar Sen Antardhan Rahasya Jahangirer Swarnamudra The Gold Coins of JahangirShort story Sandesh 1984 Ebar Kando Kedarnathey Crime in KedarnathShort story Desh 1985 Bosepukurey Khunkharapi The Acharya Murder CaseShort story Sandesh 1996Bosepukurey Khunkharapi 1986 Darjeeling Jomjomat Murder in the MountainsNovel Sandesh 1987 Apsara Theatrer Mamla The Case of the Apsara TheatreShort story Sandesh Bhuswargya Bhayankar Peril in ParadiseShort story Desh 1988 Shakuntalar Kontthohar Shakuntala's NecklaceShort story Desh 1989 Londoney Feluda Feluda in LondonShort story Desh Golapi Mukta Rahasya The Mystery of the Pink PearlShort story Sandesh 1990 Dr. Munshir Diary Dr. Munshi's DiaryShort story Sandesh 2000Dr. Munshir Diary Nayan Rahasya The Mystery of NayanNovel Desh 1992 Robertsoner Ruby Robertson's RubyNovel Desh 1995–96 Indrajal Rahasya The Magical MysteryShort story Sandesh
Professor Shanku stories
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
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
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), 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.
Other short stories 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 Ekei Bole Shooting Apur Panchali Toray Bandha Ghorar Dim Mollah Nasiruddin-er Galpo Brazil-er Kalo Bagh Pikoor Diary O Onnanyo Jakhon Chhoto Chilam Sujon Harbola Protikriti Bishoy Chalochitro Our Films Their Films Kanchenjungha (film script) Nayak (film script) Sakhaprosakha (film script) My Years with Apu: A Memoir Deep Focus
12 Series Ek Dojon Gappo Aaro Ek Dojon Aaro Baro Ebaro Baro Bah! Baro Eker Pithe Dui Jabor Baro
Short stories 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 Brojoburi Atithi Puroshkar Mrigankobabur Ghotona Anukul Kutum Katam Mackenzie Fruit Neel Atanka Ratan Babu Aar Shei Lokta Bhuto Bipin Chowdhury -r Smritibhrom Badur Beebhishika Gagan Chowdhury -r Studio Fritz Dui Magician Brazil -er Kaalo Baagh Mangal -i Swargo Brihochchonchu Asamanjababur Kukur Anathbabu -r Bhoy Setophus -er Khidey Barin Bhowmick -er Byaram Telephone Ishwarer -noi Lokkho Koti Naam Ami Bhoot Patalbabu Filmstar Barnandho
Anthologies 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 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 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 Fatik Chand is a dramatic mystery about the adventures of a kidnapped Calcutta schoolboy, written in Bengali. The book was made into a film in 1983 entitled Phatik Chand.
Others 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
General
Individual films Apu Trilogy
Explanatory notes
References
Bibliography
External links
SatyajitRay.org Satyajit Ray Film and Study Center: University of California - Santa Cruz