Jai Baba Felunath!

Recently owing to a work I was fortunate to travel all the way to Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. The visit was all about temples and falling in love with the new place but what stood apart for me was meeting a fellow Feluda fan. A mere reference to the character soon turned into a full-fledged discussion of the various books and movies and the actors. By now my ever so smart readers must have already guessed my today’s topic of chattering. Yes, I am going to talk (I know its type, but let me take some artistic liberty here), about this masterpiece by THE Satyajit Ray. No words can do justice to describe what a legend he is but this write up is all about how I found about this writer, read a novel and absolutely jumped into the madness filled worlds of professor Shonku and Feluda. So let me take you all on this journey of adventure and mysteries, the evergreen elements.

It was by mere coincidence that I came across this legends books. Being a voracious reader (my parents call me a book worm, but I prefer this sophisticated term), I was always fond of going to the school and local library and searching for books. On one such search trip I came across a book based on the chronicles of a certain professor Shonku. Intrigued by the title I picked up the book and started reading. I soon entered the world of this eccentric scientist who does a lot of experiments, some not so safe and always messes up things with his clumsy nature. His royal companion is his cat. I ate up all the books from this series. Safe to say, I was addicted to Ray’s writing.

One fine day when I was in 7^th std I picked up a small book titled the secret of park street cemetery (translated into Marathi) and then read that book in a perfect setup, that days the lights were gone and Iam not exaggerating when I say that I literally read that book under the light of a candle. I was that hooked to the story. And that was the day I hopelessly fell in love with Feluda and his various adventures. What followed was my madness to read each and every book that was available in the Marathi version. It was only when I entered college did I come across both the volumes of adventures of Feluda. There was no looking back.

I took a train with the famous trio (Feluda, Topshe and Lalmohan Ganguly aka Jatayu) to Jaisalmer and flew to Mumbai for Jatayu’s movie launch, I ate mutton curry with them in the dak bunglow of Darjeeling and saw the marvels of Kailasa temples, Ellora through their eyes. I laughed at Lalmohan’s antics and his Prakhar Rudra and marveled at the temples of Kathmandu, felt joy at seeing the beaches of Puri and felt a tinge of fear at the encounter with Maganlal Meghraj. The rainy days and presence of royal Bengal tiger was experienced as was the fear of the rattle snake in The Emperor’s ring.

The extent of my passion towards this series can be understood by the fact that I, a girl who even hates the word cigarate, lights up like a fool when I hear any mention of charminar. The colt is like a door to the wonderful memories I created while I read the series. Any mention of Feluda is incomplete without the mention of late Soumitra Chatterjee. He lived and shined as Felu baba. The depiction of Pradosh Mitra wouldn't have been perfect without him. 

Satyajit ray is known for his various works and classic movies, but this one series will always and forever hold a special place in my life because I have grown up literally living those characters and all the details.

 Now enough of my chatter. but soon I will be back with yet another author and yet another classic series.