Satyajit Ray's son to bring Feluda, Prof Shanku together on big screen

Feluda and Professor Shanku, the memorable characters created by legendary director, writer and illustrator Satyajit Ray, will come together on the big screen soon.

His son Sandip Ray is planning a film that will have both the characters. The movie, however, will be in two parts. 

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According to Ray, the movie will be ready for release during his father’s birth centenary next year on May 2. 

“There will be two different stories, which I am yet to decide. Keeping in mind the total duration of the film, I will choose from immensely popular short stories,” Ray told PTI.  

Satyajit Ray had created the fictional character Feluda, a private detective, for his short stories and novels. It appeared first in a children’s magazine Sandesh in 1965.

Prof Shanku is again a fictional scientist who appeared in a series of science fiction books in Bengali created by Satyajit Ray.

Sandip Ray, who has made separate films based on Professor Shanku (Professor Shanku O El Dorado) and Feluda characters, said the pre-production work for the new film has started, but the casting and location have not been finalised. 

“Till date, I have made Feluda and Shanku as different contents. But, bringing them together in a single film will be challenging. I hope it will remain etched in the memories of the audience for a long time,” he said. 

The film, yet to be given a title, is being produced by Mahendra Soni.

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Many count Satyajit Ray among the greatest filmmakers of all time. He is known for his Apu trilogy — Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and The World of Apu (1959), and Charulata (1964), among others. 

Ray has won many awards, including many National Awards, Dadasaheb Phalke Award.  He was given the Honoraryn Academy Award in 1992.