Ascharya Pradeep

Aladin's magic lamp turns up in the heart of Calcutta - the owner in this case being Anilda (note the anagram of Aladin), the so familiar Bengali office goer barely supporting his family of three and sometimes trying to live off the income of his wife. A regular buyer of lottery ticket, never in his dreams had he hoped for fortunes that is promised by the genie. So in his enthusiasm when he gets all that the genie suggests he is yet to learn a hard truth that leaves him the same miserable fellow as he was before the lamp came to his life. Though the finale is a bit predictable with the style followed in works of master story tellers like O. Henry, Satyajit Ray, Roald Dahl, but Anik Dutta once more pulls of a fine adult comedy based on Shirshendu's short story, whose best part is the crisp script. The style being repeatitive of what had been followed in Bhooter Bhabisyat, the charm is monotonous but no less appealing. But the major problem in this Arghya Kamal Dey edited elegant presentation may be categorized in two parts. One being the last song in the movie which have been apt if sung in background and not in Saswata's lips. The second is the use of too many side plots that have been given prominence, notably the auction house sequence and the Haridas Pal sequence, which being the finest comic episodes too, but remains so detached from the main storyline that it seemed forced only. As to the acting Saswata is just magnificent closely followed by Srilekha and Rajatava. The sets are well designed with an eye to detail and Anik Dutta's acknowledgemen to the great Ray is also spelled out again. But use of some common jokes and 'do you know it' could have been done away with for a crisper narrative.

Kurie Pawa Pendrive

A holiday trip to the Himalayas proves to be more exciting for Tupur as his detective aunt Mitin stumbles across a pendrive left in a guest house. A sinister plot is exposed but the criminals seem to be off the grid. Infact the loot also seems to vanish. But Mitin picks up bits and pieces of clues and works on her hunches that seem to solve the case. Though intuitions of detectives are sometimes considered fair but in this case the clues seemed to follow her rather than she deducing where to look. Guesses click like anything and sometimes it is felt that the method is not exhaustive but it must be said that the overall mystery is quite interesting. Partha's comic relief shows signature class of Bhattacharya. So the fans of Mitin stories must have a go at this novel published by Patra Bharati. A truly cute pocket book this will effortelssy find room in a sligthly oversized pocket.

Shonku ekai 100

Robots, intelligent beings and aliens have always found a deligtful place in sci-fi. So it is only natural that Prof. Shonku will be introduced to these at some stage of his scientific adventures. The thrill of adventure mixed with the science fictions thus gave it the signature flavour but Ray's masterstroke seem to lay elsewhere. He introduced a unique character in the shape of Nakurbabu. The so ordinary Bengali accidentally gifted with not so ordinary abilities that Shonku also finds extraordinary to the extreme. This character has been a particular favourite to me and his evolution in Shonku stories has been so natural that he never seemed out of place. The stories also feature Shonku's long time associates - Saunders, a grim believer in science till he came in touch with Nakurbabu and Kroll, a scientific man but contrastingly with a strong interest in occult, voodoo and phenomenon that can't be explained by science. Another particular uniqueness of the author is the description of the well known sci-fi characters. The UFO's are of shapes that are not only characteristic but the stories actually convinces the rationale of the shapes. In fact in one of the stories I found some uncanny similarity of one of the gadgets exhibited by the UFO and its evil use (thought by Ray so long ago) that resembles the same in the film Independence Day (released quite a few years later). So the volume containing Mahakasher Dwut, Shonkur Congo Abhijaan, Nakurbabu o El Dorado, Professor Shonku o U.F.O. is again an item that collectors will crave for.

Professor Shonkur Kandokarkhana

Professor Shonku has fascinated me more and more as I grew up. He had been a magical character when I read it first but slowly as I grew up I can understand the image that he represented. The honest Indian scientist revealing to the world the brilliance of his inventions and being held in highest esteem around the globe by peers is yet so humane in heart that he cherishes his home, his cat, his servant and even the company of his fussy neighbour Abinashbabu above everything else. So when Shonku sets up on his fictitious scientific exploits we revel in the wonders that he unfolds yet never do we feel distanced from him. Illustrated by the great Ray himself the collection contains

·        Professor Shonku o Robu

·        Professor Shonku o Kochabambar Guha

·        Professor Shonku o Raktamatsya Rahasya

·        Professor Shonku o Gorilla

·        Professor Shonku o Bagdader Baksho

The stories are a mixed compilation of suspense, horror, humour and thrill balanced delicately to retain the flavor years after it was first tasted. Stories of science fiction with the first story apparently reflecting Asimov’s concern for a machine dominated society so wonderfully contrasted with the fantastic experience in the final one that an unique freshness prevails that is so absent in works of many science fiction writers. The themes of the central three are again so alien to the flanking stories yet it seems so necessary for the completeness.

A Face in the Dark and other Hauntings

This is not 007 of whom I've not read but watched only on movies, but my first flavour of Ruskin Bond is pleasanter than I thought. As revealed in the Introduction a non-believer of ghosts did not stop Bond to write some fascinating stories of the other world. The stories all can't be termed as truly of the hauntings but unexplained phenomenon predominates in almost all the stories.A fascinating blends humour and horror te book is a treasure for fans of English short stories. You read about ghosts but never get terrorized and infact begin to love some of them. Though macabre finales will haunt you but the effect of fear will wear out quickly. Filled with characters from Indian surroundings, the stories also portray some legendary fictitious and real persons too. Black humour is also not left out that seems so required for its completeness. Gory events are elegantly portrayed and the smell of rustic ambience can be felt in almost every anecdote. Infact the spirits are not all human and have twists that are more unexpected than the characters. Thus the Indian ghosts again remain paramount in

• A Face in the Dark
• The Monkeys
• The Haunted Bicycle
• The Vision
• Whistling in the Dark
• Reunion at the Regal
• Wilson's Bridge
• Topaz
• The Black Cat
• Whispering in the Dark
• The Wind on Haunted Hill
• The Ghost in the Garden
• On Fairy Hill
• Will Ashley Return?
• The Prize
• Eyes of the Cat
  
• Susanna's even Husbands
• The Trouble with Jinns
• The Haunted Bungalow
• Ganpat's Story
• Listen to the Wind
• Ghosts of the Savoy
• The Man who was Kipling
• The Daffodil Case
• Picnic at Fox-Burn
• Something in the Water
• The Family Ghost
• Night of the Millennium

Black Friday the true story of the Bombay bomb blasts

The anecdotes are a bit dry compared to Dongri to Dubai and more like reporting but the chilling facts when compiled gives us a really scary picture of the ace smugglers who orchestrated the 1993 serial blasts in Bombay. Zaidi once more portrays the masterminds of the plot and how the police force and CBI reponded after. However the poignant fact remains that thousands of innocencts suffered the communal wrath though in no way were they linked to any of the sides. The attacks and retaliations were swift but was so smeared with malice that it took decades to cool down. But the riddle of the century remains that whether real culprits ever got punishment that was due to them. I personally felt that the surprise bollywood connection shifted the attention to a lesser direction. The later blasts in Bombay once again threatened the people. The recent IM connection to serial blasts in Patna seems to reflect the same modus operandi. So the country must think for a solution to fight these crimes that are serious threats to the nation and the people who believe in the land.

Sabjanta

Mukhomukhi and Niva arts presented an exciting evening of mystery and comedy. Premiering at Tapan theatre the Soumitra Chatterjee directed Sabjanta is a wondrous presentation of wit and thrill. Poulami Basu excelled in her lead role as did Dwijen Bandyopadhyay as the audience are kept guessing in this comic whodunit. A fussy cleaner of an enterprise seemed to stumble upon a horrible murder and reports of a supposedly walking corpse who vanishes just as the police arrives. Infact the supposedly murdered man returns and makes her look completely like a fool. As she becomes the butt of ridicule, though she herself seemed least bothered, she persists in her narrative. Thus annoying the police continuously when she at last convinces them of a crime again at that moment several evidences disappear. It remains to be seen whether any crime actually happened and who is playing tricks on everybody. Slight fumbles in the part of Bandyopadhyay, which I am not sure it actually happened or not, the entire play has been wonderfully presented. Light was used correctly but a lack of background score was felt throughout. But Basu's acting remains pivotal that kept the audience glued to the seats till the lilting tunes of 'O My Darling' and the closing remarks of Dwijen announced completion only for that evening.

Chokta Sudokur

When Partha won a free trip to Singapore by cracking a sudoku square, Mitin smells something fishy in the entire scheme. But everything seems to sail smooth except for Sujit Dutta, a businessman who tries to get too friendly with them. Though the scene was about to change when Partha seemed to misplace the original authentication letter and deposited the scanned copy of the same. The agency sponsoring Partha's trip seems to insist hard on acquiring the original and a room supposedly occupied by his family is ransacked during the inmates' absence. Mitin senses a curiously sinister plot and rushes to unfold a mystery that baffled quite a few clever minds. An unusual plot blended with anecdotes of Singapore's history and descriptions of the present city Bhattacharya presents a tight narrative that uses humour in the right quantity wihtout compromising on the main theme.

Chitranatye Kisher Ingit

Being a fan of detective fictions, new detectives always hold fascination to me. So though his first impression was not so stirring (I forgot the story which I first read) Dipkaku and his niece karateka Jhinuk were quite interesting. Infact this storyline is equally gripping in the first stages. The baffling mystery surrounding the dead, the diverse characters that are later introduced, the loss of convincing rationale, the lengthy waiting time – the stage was set for an interesting climax but for the fact that the final exposure that proved a motive that was more unconvincing still. A motive so far-fetched and such convenient way to carry out the crime diverted the plot away from reality.

The Case of the White Footprints

Though I've been a fan of Throndyke's for quite some time but this short story fell really short of expectations. Showcasing Dr. Jervis in a prominent role, the clumsy clue left by a careful murderer made the story rather lame. How the crime was actually committed? How the criminal actually made his way in? The convenient evidence put forward at the right time? Some redundant sneer at coloured people.... all these made the narrative not a good mystery story.

Goenda Gargi

The stories of Gargi came to my notice in the bookfair but I never could find confidence in buying a full set of novels without sampling a few. The option came to me in Nandan where huge discounts were being given and I picked this collection from Patra Bharati. The stories by Tapan Bandyopadhyay are quite interesting and fast paced but for the fact that sometimes coincidences play important factors that are disappointing. Also incidents like finding receipts of purchases made long ago in the criminal's pocket, so convenient a clue for apprehending him makes the pieces a bit lame. But the author quite convincingly has portrayed the character of Gargi, a Maths honours student whose logical mind justifies her career and reasoning style in situations where others are baffled. The collecion contains some very chilling stories like Kinkar Hatya Rahasya, Nepathye Ek Atataee while some are quite childish in Grahantarer Pranee and Dhumketu-Rahasya. Some deals with thefts that threatens social relations like Muktor Malae Duto Hirer Tukro, Aparadhi Sanaktikaran while some like Hirer Angti, Danta Antardhan Rahasya begins on a lighter note but quickly turns serious. Dangerous murderer is exposed in Paharkhanir Hire Rahasya while astonishingly evil plots are foiled in Macbeth Antardhan Rahasya that albeit remains quite easily predictable. Maybe due to my increasing age there is an important point that strikes me in the stories which is, in most of the cases the reasoning is not convincing but depends on the actual proof that points to the truth. But in the same breath I will say that these belongs to the genre quite convincingly and must be a must read for the mystery lovers though the contents are not correctly page numbered.

Samagra Kishore-Sahitya Vol. II

Ø  Galpo

·        Bhajahari Film Corporation

·        Chaamchike aar Tickei Checker

·        Harpoon

·        Ghora-torar Byapar

·        Nababee Amaler Galpo

·        Brahmabikasher Dantabikash

·        Genghis aar Hamliner Ba(n)shiwala

·        Gh(n)uteparar shei Match

·        Tiktikir Lyaaj

·        Bearing Ch(n)at

·        Bhajaraamer Pratisodh

·        Dada howar Daam

·        K(n)akrabiche

·        Kaak-Kahinee

·        Tin Minuter Galpo

·        Honolulur Makuda

·        Tatwabodhan mane-Jeebe Prem

·        Dashaanancharit

·        Harishpurer Rashikata

·        Ekti Janala Khulte

·        Bird of Paradise

·        Pharsee Galper ek Tukro

·        Halkhatar Khawa-Dawa

·        Torch

·        Ostader Maar

·        Chatra-Charitamrita

·        Jhow-Rahasya

·        Panchananer Haati

·        Tenida aar Yeti

·        Camouflage

Ø  Koutuk-Natika

·        Tenida aar Sindhughotak

·        Bharate Chai

·        Baaro Bhute

·        Viswakarmar Ghuri

The second volume is another classic collection of unadulterated humour in its cleanest form. Comprising of several of Tenida and company’s hilarious exploits combined with mischief abound this volume has a surprise of three short dramas tuned to comedy and more. Repeating one short story from the earlier volume, the apologies of Asha Devi and Arijit Gangopadhyay in the introduction seemed redundant as a Narayan Gangopadhyay fan would never regret any fun revisited.

Wrijuda Samagra I

From the arid deserts of Africa in Gugunogumbarer Deshe to the enigmatic Albino or the vengeance in Ruaha during Africa revisited to the legendary Ninikumareer Bagh the adventure everywhere is tinged with thrill. Mystery and adventure combine as Wrijuda, Rudra with Titir, Bhatkai set on unfolding nature's various secrets. Whether it is the trail of man-eaters or combating syndicate of poachers, Wrijuda and his followers always stand tall. Added to the thrill of the adventures, nature has been redecorated by the picteresque narrative of Buddhadev Guha. Inspired by Jim Corbett's exploites and aided by his own experience of hunting, Guha has penned some classic narratives in the volume especially the final anecdote of a fascinating tracking of a man-eater rumoured to be blessed by the Holy Spirits that draws inspiration probably from The Temple Tiger. But whatever be its source, the appeal of the concept of a Bengali hunter-cum-adventurer has made this volume as unique as it can be. Written from the point of view of Rudra the stories are blended with a contrasting yet healthy humour that makes portions of it more realistic and enjoyable.