Satyajit Ray

Satyajit Ray (2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an Indian Bengali filmmaker, widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century. Ray was born in the city of Calcutta into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature. Starting his career as a commercial artist, Ray was drawn into independent filmmaking after meeting French filmmaker Jean Renoir and viewing Vittorio De Sica's Italian neorealist film Bicycle Thieves (1948) during a visit to London.

Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, calligrapher, music composer, graphic designer and film critic. He authored several short stories and novels, primarily aimed at children and adolescents. Feluda, the sleuth, and Professor Shonku, the scientist in his science fiction stories, are popular fictional characters created by him. He was awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University.

Ray's first film, Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven international prizes, including the inaugural Best Human Document award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. This film, along with Aparajito (1956), and Apur Sansar (The World of Apu) (1959) form The Apu Trilogy. Ray did the scripting, casting, scoring, and editing, and designed his own credit titles and publicity material. Ray received many major awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a number of awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Honorary Award in 1992. The Government of India honored him with the Bharat Ratna in 1992.

Literary works of Satyajit Ray

Satyajit Ray is well known for his contributions to Bengali literature. He created two of the most famous characters in Bengali: 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.

Feluda stories

Feluda (Bengali: ফেলুদা), or Prodosh Chandra Mitra, (Bengali: প্রদোষ চন্দ্র মিত্র), who also uses the Anglicised name Pradosh C. Mitter  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 with 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 into films two of the Feluda stories–Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress) (1974) and Joi Baba Felunath (The Elephant God) (1978).

Year	Original title	Form
		Short Story	Novel
1965–66	Feludar Goendagiri	Yes
1966–67	Badshahi Angti		Yes
1967	Kailash Choudhary'r Pathar	Yes
1970	Sheyal Debota Rahasya	Yes
	Gangtokey Gondogol		Yes
1971	Sonar Kella		Yes
1972	Baksho Rahashya		Yes
			Yes
1973	Kailashey Kelenkari		Yes
	Samaddarer Chabi	Yes
1974	Royal Bengal Rahashya		Yes
1975	Ghurghutiyar Ghatona	Yes
	Joi Baba Felunath		Yes
1976	Bombaiyer Bombete		Yes
	Gosainpur Sargaram		Yes
1977	Gorosthaney Sabdhan		Yes
1978	Chhinnamastar Abhishap		Yes
1979	Hatyapuri		Yes
1980	Golokdham Rahasya	Yes
	Joto Kando Kathmandutey		Yes
1981	Napoleoner Chithi	Yes
1982	Tintorettor Jishu		Yes
1983	Ambar Sen Antardhan Rahasya	Yes
	Jahangirer Swarnamudra	Yes
1984	Ebar Kando Kedarnathey	Yes
1985	Bosepukurey Khunkharapi	Yes
1986	Darjeeling Jomjomat		Yes
1987	Apsara Theatrer Mamla	Yes
	Bhuswargya Bhayankar	Yes
1988	Sakuntalar Kontthohar	Yes
1989	Londoney Feluda	Yes
	Golapi Mukta Rahasya	Yes
1990	Dr. Munshir Diary	Yes
	Nayan Rahasya		Yes
1992	Robertsoner Ruby		Yes
1995–96	Indrajal Rahasya	Yes

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.

 

Professor Shonku books

• Professor Shonku
• Professor Shonkur Kandokarkhana
• Shabash Professor Shonku
• Mahasankatey Shonku
• Swayang Professor Shonku
• Shonku Ekai Aksho
• Punashcha Professor Shonku
• Selam Professor Shonku
• Shonku Samagra (Complete Shonku collection)

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.

Tarini Khuro Series

• Doomnigar-er Manuskheko (The Man-eater of Doomnigarh)
• Conway castle-er Pretatma (The Fantom of Conway Castle)
• Khelowaar Tarini Khuro (Tarini Khuro as a Sprotsman)
• Tarini Khuro O Betaal
• Tollywood-e Tarini Khuro (Tarini Khuro in Tollywood)
• Lucknow-er Duel (The Duel of Lucknow)
• Dhumalgar-er Hunting Lodge (The Hunting Lodge of Dhumalgarh)
• Jooti (The Duo)
• Seth Gongaram-er Dhanodoulot (The treasure of Seth Gangaram)
• Galpoboliye Tarini Khuro (The Storyteller Tarini Khuro)
• Maharajah Tarini khuro (Royal Highness Tarini khuro)
• Tarini khuro o Oindrojalik (Tarini khuro & The Magician)
• Norris Saheb-er Bungalow (The Bungalow of Mr. Norris)
• Mohim Sannal-er Ghotona (The Affair of Mohim Sannal)
• Gonotkar Tarini khuro (Fortune Teller Tarini khuro)

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 Braziler 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
• kanchonjongha (film script)
• Nayak (film script)
• Sakhaprosakha (film script)
• My Years with Apu: A Memoir

12 Series

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

Short stories

• ankliya
  
• Teridactile-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
• 1st Class Kamra
• Dhappa
• Maanpatro
• Apodartho
• Sadhon Babur Sandeho
• Lakhpoti
• Needhiram-er Ichchha Puron
• Kanayi-er Kathaa
• Gangaram-er kapaal
• Nitai O Mahapurush
• Hauee
• Protikriti
• Norish 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
• Abiraam
• Sobuj Manush
• Khagam

 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

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 Carrol'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.

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