Apart from being a master filmmaker, Satyajit Ray was
also a versatile litterateur known for his eloquent verse. Literature
was another avenue for the expression of his creative talents. Be it
detective fictions or film anthology, Ray's literary works bore the
hallmark of the powerful pen he wielded.
Detective sleuth Feluda is perhaps the most famous of Satyajit Ray's
literary creations. Published as a series of short stories and replete
with intriguing riddles, these fictional detective tales were a hit with
children and elders alike. Ray even narrated two of the Feluda stories
in the celluloid, Sonar Kella (The Golden Fortress) (1974) and Joi Baba
Felunath (The Elephant God) (1978).
Professor Shanku is another popular creation of Satyajit Ray. This
erudite scientist, known for his wacky inventions, was the protagonist
of a number of science-fiction stories written by Ray. Ray penned many
other short stories that were published as collections of twelve stories
characterized by a twist in the end. Ray also dabbled with poetry and
his bunch of zany limericks was published in a collection - Toray Bandha
Ghorar Dim.
Satyajit Ray's autobiography Jakhan Choto Chilam (1982) mainly
chronicles his childhood years. Ray also penned a number of critical
essays that elaborate his take on the art of filmmaking. Our Films,
Their Films (1976) by Ray is an anthology of film criticism with
discussions on Indian films vis-à-vis the works international
filmmakers and film movements. Bishoy Chalachchitra (1976) and Ekei Bole
Shooting (1979) are two another film-related books by Satyajit Ray.
