Feluda is a fictional character starring in a series of short stories created by the famous Indian film director and writer Satyajit Ray. He plays the part of private detective in Calcutta, India. Feluda first made his appearance in a Bengali children’s magazine called “Sandesh” in 1965. He was an instant hit and soon developed an adult following much like Harry Potter. Satyajit Ray wrote thirty-five Feluda stories, most of which were extremely popular among Bengali children as well as adults. He is assisted by his young cousin Tapes (Topshe) ian able lieutenant who records the cases and picks up useful snippets of Feluda's methods on the way. The two are often accompanied by Lalmohan Ganguly, an enthusiastic and cheerful companion who writes potboiler thrillers under the alias Jatayu.
In this festival movies based on Feluda directed by Sandip Ray son of legendary Indian director Satayajit Ray will be screened. Feluda's adventures offer an interesting commentary on socio-ethical change, and the deep psychological and sociological transformation due to the student unrest and political upheavals in eastern India during the later half of the 20th century. Through Feluda, its creator Satyajit Ray captured the diverse cross-segments of the Indian (and more specifically Kolkata) society, in a dispassionate manner, while remaining firmly rooted in middle class intellectual idealism and thereby subconsciously maintaining a discreet distance from the social substratum of the malefactor.
The festival will also feature several rare short films and documentaries by Satyajit Ray. The films that we are planning to screen are Two, The inner eye, Pikoo and Bala
Synopsis of movies on Feluda
1. Gosaipur Sorgorom (The Mystery of the Walking Dead):
The story is set in a place called Gosaipur where the landlord Shyamlal Mallick is having fear of being murdered by his son Jibanlal mallick. Feluda has been appointed by Jibanlal Mallick to solve the problem but not by the landlord himself. Feluda starts the investigation and finds out some new clues to the murder plan and exposes the real culprit.
2. Shiyal Debotar Rohoshyo (The Anubis Mystery):
The mystery revolves around the ancient Egyptian artifact called ‘Anubis- god of dead’. Nilmoni Sanyal, a rich art collector is the owner of ‘Anubis’ suspects a plan is mastered by the rival art collector to get hold of this precious artifact. Feluda takes up the case and finds out that the real plan is much more intrigue and the culprit is also an art collector but not the suspected one.
3. Jahangirer Sornomudra ( The golden Coins of Jahangir) :
Shankarlal Choudhury is an old aristocrat who possesses the rear twelve golden coins of ancient Mughal King Jahangir’s era. Out of twelve coins, one coin is missing. There are four suspects who can seal this coin. Three of them are Mr. Choudhury’s childhood friend, family doctor and business partner and another his own brother. Feluda solves the mystery and brings out real crocked people and the lost golden coin.
4. Kailashe Kelenkari (Killer in Kailash):
Feluda, Topse and Jatayu are set to chase the vandals who steal the ancient Indian artifacts from different heritage sites and sale off to the foreigners in heavy price. Any client is not appointing this time feluda to get involved in the case. His conscience guides him to reach ‘Kailash temple in Elora’, recovers the stolen artifact of Orisa heritage site, protects the Elora heritage and nabs the culprit.
5. Golapi Muktor Rohoshyo (The Mystery of the Pink Pearl)
The rare and precious pink pearl is stolen from a Maharaja. The client appoints Feluda to salvage the pink pearl from the culprit. While investigating, Feluda meets his old ach rival Maganlal Meghraj, who has glued his eyes on the pearl. Through a series of intense incidents, Feluda recovers the pink Pearl.
6. Amber Sen’r Antardhan Rohoshyo (The disappearance of Amber Sen):
Amber Sen, a resident in Kolkata, plans with his niece Jharna and other family members to dupe Feluda with his fake abduction story. Amber Sen requests Feluda to take up the case of his possible abduction and hides himself in disguise. Feluda steps into the mystery and not only exposes the make belief story of abduction but also nabs a family member who has been planning to run away with the ransom, which Amber Sen’s family is not aware of.
Satyajit Ray's Short Films and Documentaries
1. Two (1964)
In a fairy tale like treatment, the film shows an encounter of two boys - a rich kid living in big house and a boy living in a slum. The rich boy’s window overlooks the slum.
The film moves through the attempts at one-upmanship evident in their successive display of their toys. When the slum boy takes out a flute, the rich boy drowns its sound by his loud toy-trumpet; when the slum boy switches to a home-made mask and spear, the rich boy becomes a cowboy with a gun; when the slum boy tries to fly a humble kite, the rich boy shoots it down by his toy rifle… The slum boy gives up trying to be friends with the rich boy and the rich boy seems proud of his victory. Not for long, though…
Notes of the slum boy’s flute are heard again as the rich boys noisy toy-robot trips and breaks down. The film ends with the rich boy pondering over his unspoken defeat.
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2. The Inner Eye (1972)
At the age of 54, Binode Bihari Mukherjee, an accomplished painter, lost his sight following an unsuccessful cataract operation. He continued to create art despite his loss of sight. The documentary explores Binode Bihari’s inner eye that guides his fingers to create art.
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3. Bala (1976)
The film is portrait of a dancer of Bharata Natyam, Balasaraswati. Balasaraswathy affectionately called Bala was one of the greatest exponents of Bharat Natyam.
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4. Pikoo (1980)
This film presents a day in the life of a six year old child in Calcutta, who lives shut up in the family home, insulated from the city by a park. The father is away at work. The grandfather is alone in his room, ill and confined to his bed. The mother receives her lover. The child attempts to amuse himself, registers everything in silence before hiding out in the garden where he begins to make drawings of the various flowers. The film ends with his question, addressed to his mother, in the arms of her lover: "Shall I use black crayon to draw a white flower?"
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