Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Dec.18: The late iconic filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s two new book titles have been acquired by Penguin Random House India.
From 2023 onwards, these previously unpublished volumes by artiste extraordinaire will be republished under the auspices of ‘The Penguin Ray Library,’ edited by his son Sandip Ray.
“Feluda in the Golden Fortress,” the first title, is an English translation of Ray’s cult detective book “Sonar Kella.”
The book was first published in Bengali in 1971, and it was adapted for the screen in 1974, starring late cinema icon Soumitra Chatterjee as Ray’s famed ‘private investigator’ Feluda. Ray not only directed the picture, but also wrote the narrative and composed the music for it.
The ultimate Feluda book will be released in 2023, featuring line drawings and images from Ray’s sketchbook.
“Sonar Kella is my and baba’s favourite Feluda film because it was the first. The plot, setting, and characters are all fantastic. This upcoming book on ‘Sonar Kella’ will include never-before-seen archival materials from the film, including texts, illustrations, and photographs. “I am confident that this would be a pleasure for all Ray fans around the world,” said Sandip Ray, who is also the Satyajit Ray Society’s member secretary.
The second title, an extraordinary collection of Satyajit Ray articles and interviews chosen and edited by Sandip Ray, provides a rare glimpse into the maestro’s life, philosophy, and works. The untitled book will be released in 2024.
The “ultimate collection” of Ray’s previously unseen sketches, pictures, and more essays, according to the publishers, is “wonderful news” for Ray fans.
The Penguin Ray Library, which was launched in 2019, is a collection of Ray’s unpublished and curated works produced by Penguin in collaboration with The Satyajit Ray Society.
Since the premiere, Penguin has released one new title (“3 Rays”), redesigned eight previously released titles, and has four new titles in the works, all of which are part of The Penguin Ray Library.
