Hemendrakumar Rachanabali Vol - XV

The Hemendrakumar Rachanabali starts with a collection of horror stories, the first being Mohanpurer Sashan. Besides the title story in contains several others which will give you the creeps as you go through them. But in Jeebanta Mreetadeha the details are more about one of the great floods at Contai where the plight of a family and their visitors are described. The collection ends with Abhishapta Murti that relates how a cursed statue found half-buried in Konark terrorizes a family. As the horror series ends begins the adventure Jakshapatir Ratnapuri as observed from the perspective of Bimal, in which a chance incident at Calcutta directs Bimal and Kumar on an exciting trail of ancient treasure whose clue is planted in a curious little riddle. Next comes the best Digvijayee Napoleon, that is nothing short of a magnificent ode written in prose for one of the greatest emperors of all times. Not only was the emperor in Napoleon has been detailed but his astute war tactics, his intellect, his erudite soul and his passionate patriotism blended with his misfortunes and fortunes – all have been narrated with a passionate zeal in this prose. The next again brought back cherished memory of my childhood as Firoza-Mukut Rahasya was a whodunit that I had earlier read in a book of collection of mystery stories. The best part of the story was that the evidence against the supposed criminal was so strong it was left upon Jayanta’s sharp intellect to look beneath the strata of the apparently straightforward events and unearth the real culprit and the stolen fragment of the seemingly priceless Firoza crown. The detective’s adventure continues in the collection Jayantar Adventure that contains a handful of short stories with Jayanta-Manik and Sundarbabu in action solving curious crimes as narrated by Manik. It starts with the murder mystery in Bansai Rahasya that the sleuth solves humoring the police force. In Kamrar Mamla, the intriguing plot is shrewdly solved by Jayanta but the escape of the murderer after the crime was not very convincing. The next Double Mamlar Hamla was a plot where an apparent suicide turned into a cruel murder mystery. It is followed by the short but stylish Aprilasya Pratham Dibase whose title itself provides the clue to the entire story. The making of a sleuth is Jayanta at his younger days is depicted in the next, Revolver whose title and the opening few lines are sufficient to provide the main plot of the tale.

Rajar Chithi 1942

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Pagla Saheber Kabar

The seemingly good-for-nothing Haribandhu was admitted much against his wish to a reformatory school at Motiganja so as to improve on his academic skills that seem to be limited to only Bengali poetry. As he started his days on the new school, from the very first day onwards, he seemed to be on the wrath of several of the older students whose ragging continued even after school hours and outside the school premises. Only one of his classmates, Gopal befriended him and protected him from the rest. Haribandhu also was offerred wisdom from Patal, apparently a common thief, but possessed wondrous martial arts' skills. Above all these was the mysterious mad Englishman - a legend - nobody knew whether he was living or dead - who appeared on his galloping white horse whenever somebody at Motiganja needed help. Infact he saved Haribandhu on several occassions. The presence of this apparition not only intrigued Haribandhu but also his legend haunted him likewise. Queer people seemed to protect the legend from sinister forces at Motiganja. Several attempts were made on the life of Haribandu and his well wishers. As Hari tried hard to cope with these along with the snags in his studies suddenly he finds himself central to everybody's attentions. Can he understand the reason for these and will he manage to do the undoable? As the plot gradually unfolds, the author presents an enjoyable adventure for both the old and the young!

K(n)aatae K(n)aatae - VI

The collection contains

·        Dress Rehearsaler K(n)aata

·        Monalisar K(n)aata

·        Ishkabon-Bibir K(n)aata

·        Haripada Keranir K(n)aata

of which the last couple are undoubtedly adapted Christie pieces, which I’ve read and so can’t give any credit to the originality. But the other two are really good though it seemed a bit complicated. But as I am continuously reading the author’s detective creations it is becoming increasingly like a school teacher’s talk rather than a narration. Also the use of quotations and references from famous literary pieces is sometimes too much for an ordinary reader like me. The main thing that is very much disheartening in these pieces is unlike Holmes, Marple, Byomkesh, Poirot, Father Brown or for that matter Feluda stories, the crux of analysis and detection seems diluted by uncalled for humour and incessant use of metaphors. The stillness of the analytical mind, unperturbed by the disquiet ambience is never felt rather forced into believing by the author, so uncharacteristic of mystery novels that I am used to.

K(n)aatae K(n)aatae - V

P.K. Basu’s four exploits are compiled in this volume starting with Bisher K(n)aata, whose naming itself is a pointer to the clue of a murder that takes place in the very heart of Calcutta. Two vengeful ladies, an irritating lover, a doctor with a revolver all seems to have a reason for murder. But who had dealt the fateful blow – it is for the detective to uncover! The next in the series Darpane Pratibimbita K(n)aata was an old one for me and so won’t bore with its summary that I’d earlier depicted. It is followed by Sakal K(n)aata Dhanya Kore, which could have been easily be said to be the best creation of the author in this collection, but for the fact that it is just a straight adaptation of a foreign novel. So, no credit for the author for the plot but for the way of adaptation with the ambience shifted from European backdrop to an Asian one without harming the mood of the story. The story actually gets its name as the Basus become granddad and grandmom when Sujata gives birth to a daughter. The next one Ch(n)aparanger Murshidabadi Sareer K(n)aata also could have been a classic but for its abrupt ending and some over simplified rationale. The father of the murdered victim seemed so less emotional and Basu’s inferences seemed bordering clairvoyance sometimes. This said, it is again very much irritating to find not only Basu but his clients and associates are also so much happy to dress like Europeans. Sanyal’s characters in his Basu novels are all so alike one another that each lacks any kind of individuality. The intelligence level of the important characters, barring Basu who can be considered no less than a living encyclopedia, is almost always the same, all are so adapt in engineering idioms, everybody loves to speak in riddles and metaphors. These may seem appealing at the beginning but the limitation is very much apparent for this style as it automatically restricts variation in the manner of storytelling. Also, a detective story, according to me, must focus mainly on the mystery and detection with only subtle touch to emotions and the rest. But Sanyal’s way of getting carried off at the emotional moments very often squeezes the very essence of suspense and intrigue. Finally a complain to the compilation as, contrary to the belief, I suddenly discovered that the compilations are not at all chronological and reference to previously unread chronicles may act spoilers and also change the otherwise fast paced tempo of the primary story.

The Complete Professor Challenger

I don’t know what attracted me most during ’97, the title that I came across for the 1^st time or the appealing price tag so much encouraging as to coax my parents easily into buying this for me. At that point of time Conan Doyle, to me, was the creator of Sherlock Holmes and a few spine chilling terrifying anecdotes. What I didn’t know was that he was equally brilliant in the realms of science fiction and when it comes to merge the limitless imagination that science offers in literature, none other than Sir Arthur will come as one of the greatest in the British literature.

Professor Challenger had been a creation of Conan Doyle whose brain matched Holmes (both Sherlock and Mycroft) and whose curiosity in the field of science seemed to match none than his own enterprising soul. On one hand his pride prevented him from mixing with the common man on the other hand a logical brain was all welcome for him. All these combined, we start with this brilliant professor as he guides an apparently odd crew of the adventurous and ever cool Lord John Roxton (very much reflecting in appearance and mannerism to Sherlock Holmes), the apprehensive professor of Comparative Anatomy, Summerlee and the young and daring Edward D. Malone of the Daily Gazette in their epic exploration of The Lost World near the perilous seclusion of the Amazon that seemed to crawl in the Jurassic Age with the pre-historic dinosaurs and the missing links abound. The plateau built on the remains of a dormant volcano offered adventure of the highest degree that gives the readers a glimpse to the age so remote that we can only imagine in our dreams. The narration was so vividly exciting and the descriptions of the flora and fauna so realistically done that one can only crave for more once the narrative ends. Mixed with the usual humour of Conan Doyle’s, the novel uses Edward Malone’s views of the adventure. This bold young man’s exploits as he discovers the new land and also his true self is most enjoyable in the sense that the readers – the new beholders in the strange land – discovers the uniqueness right with him and thus the surprises and awes that is felt by Malone transmits well to the readers. Though this had been a second read by me but still surprises blossom once more as if I was reading it anew.

The next in the series is one of the peaks of imagination in which the author so easily dwells that exposes the Earth in a shroud of The Poison Belt which pervades the world and all that is living causing apparent death to the entire living race except amoebas which though promises life in a future million year. The ingenuity of Challenger seems to delay the onset to his friends but that too for a few hours before which their living self seemed sure to perish. But the ultimate revelation of the story is sure to bring relief from a sheer tension that gradually builds to its maximum by the classic penmanship of the writer. Another important aspect of the narrative is the introduction of Mrs. Challenger in the proper sense that her personality had come to fore. Mixed with the same feeling of awe and wander the narrative once more promises an adventure of a different type that though is curious but surely enjoyable.

Following these two adventures is another most curious and more convincing in The Land of Mist where spiritualism challenges the erudite Challenger. The adventures begin with Malone as he delves as the representative of the press into the realms of various spiritual circles, both at home and abroad. Challenger, obviously is irritated at this but Malone, after being convinced of the truthfulness of the afterlife tries to persuade the professor on the path of spiritualism. Lord Roxton, a sympathizer to the cause, also joins in. Romance also is a part of the novel that goes hand in hand with the adventure. Conan Doyle has added some significant incidents in the Appendices that, along with the story itself, will no doubt, convert many a non-believer to a believer. The patient but firm way is which several of the supernatural events have been established bears the fact that the author was not only a believer but also participant in several of the rescue circles, séances and experiments concerning spiritualism. It is also noted that his wife was a medium and along with her, he had joined in several sessions of séances that helped clearing out any doubts that he may have felt. Some very remarkable experiences and evidences are being shared that will also help in establishing the truth that lies behind the misty land where the traditional scientific brain hesitates to traverse.

The fourth in the series is The Disintegration Machine, where we find Professor Challenger less as a scientist than a dutiful citizen. Requested to investigate a seemingly fantastic yet dangerous scientific invention, prudence prevails till the climax and a classic twist reflects a part of his character yet unknown to the beholders of his exploits.

But the best, at least my favourite, is When The World Screamed that at once tells us the height of fascinating imagination that the author was capable of. Truly a marvelous work of fiction this piece alters the perspective of the reader about the nature of our very own earth. The rationale seemed a little simplified and a bit less elaborate to convince the critical reader but its style of presentation is quite wonderful. Narrated from the perspective of an artesian boring expert, Peerless Jones with Malone enjoying the show as the genius’s sidekick, the adventure is aimed to find out the true nature beneath the earth’s crust. Scattered with humour the piece is a classic that I cherish fondly though I’ve read it more than once.

The entire compilation is a revelation of Conan Doyle’s versatility as several, including me before going through it, of the readers always associate him with Sherlock Holmes only. In fact, after reading Holmes I was a fan of the detective but reading this I became a fan of the author.

Coma

The first time I'd come across this book was in a second hand bookstore and knowing its popularity I'd at once picked it up. But a rude shock was in store for me when, after flipping through first few pages I found that several of the pages were blank white sheets. Grossly dissapointed as I returned it to the store, no other copy was available of it. Though the story remained unfinished for me but the suspense had already been sensed. So when I came across the narrative a second time, I wasted no time but started on it voraciously. Being already  familiar with Cook's novels, from the very first page the story absorbed me fully and the thrill mounted in a monotone that was rather enjoyable but for the very climax that seemed too much abrupt. The medical terms that crowd Robin Cook's novel, never seemed, in this one, a botheration as the medical rationale was established at each instance. The bad thing was using the terms while describing the simplest of incidents where it seemed too much of an overhead. Though the thrill was very well equated with no compromise on the actual storyline certain events appeared too much of an oversimplification with coincidences playing quite a major part. But overall the medical mystery and adventure makes it a classic thriller.

The Case of the Velvet Claws

The 1st Perry Mason novel brings a rich client trying to save her name from being publicized. But just before she was ushered into Mason's room, his secretary Della Strait had a hunch about her identity and as she spoke her mind to Mason he employed the detective Paul Drake to tail her. Thus from the very initial chapters, suspense sets in and the chase continues throughout. The case, that had started innocently enough compared to what is matamorphosed into finally, takes an ominous turn at the murder of a business tycoon that posed a threat to Mason himself as he was implicated indirectly as being the murderer. As Mason was trying to pile up evidences against the implication, time seemed his only enemy. The alert Drake came useful more than once and Mason finally seemed to uncover the truth after some breaks whose coincidences may disappoint the reader but were very much a relief to the lawyer. As Mason extracts himself from the velvet claws of a very shrewd woman and turns the tide in his favour while revealing the criminals, he takes refuge to a web of aptly designed bluffs interspersed with truth. As the confessions come one by one and the mystery is solved, the author is to be complimented for his clearer understanding of human psychology that forms the basis of the events that he portrays. The consistency of the characters throughout the novel is another point to note which is very difficult to maintain in detective stories. The story is fast paced with several twists in the plot that ultimately reaches the peak with the startling climax. Though the final chapter is a bit on the romantic side but on the whole the entire narrative is filled with enjoyable thrill.

Hirer Angti

The story starts with the common thief Sasthi planning on robbing a stranger of his priceless diamond ring. But as he learnt that the person is would be guest of the revered and respectable Ratan Banerjee, he pauses for a moment in his endeavour. But the lust for the ring seemed to get the better of his self as he conspires with others to steal it anyhow. However, surprises seemed in store for him and his comrades as not only did they fail three times in a row, but each time their own possession changes hands. As the infuriated Sasthi, bent on revenge, enters the feared boundary of the Banerjee mansions he becomes witness to yet another revelation, that of a possible treachery and assassination. The adventures that follows him and the inmates of Banerjee mansion remains to be enjoyed by the reader, both old and young, but one thing is certain  - Shirshendu had once more penned an entertainer filled with thrill, wit, suspense and humour. Essentially categorized as children’s book, with a varied mix of strange characters abound, the story is crisp, compact and enjoyable with an underline message, beautifully conveyed for readers of all age.

The Secret Adversary

Tommy and Tuppence's first adventure is both a thrilling chase and comedy interspersed. Tommy's practical views and the intuition of Tuppence matches the villaniously shrewd brain of the antagonist as the Young Adventurers set upon to unearth a long lost secret threatening the future of an entire nation. The document seemed to have changed hands from a secret agent to a civilian but all traces to the latter apparently vanished with the sinking of the ship where both were travelling. Five years after as the Government tries hard to recover it the sinister Mr. Brown with his commonplace appearance seems to outwit the professionals at every stage. As Brown and his associates plans a coup it is upto Tuppence and Tommy to outwit the criminals. In this help comes from Julius Hersheimmer, the American cousin of Jane Finn, the civilian in whose possession the papers are allegedly kept and James Peel Edgerton K.C. But the young sleuths are not sure whom to trust and whom to not as murder happens in front of their eyes and each step they take seem to fall in one sort of trap or the other. As Tommy and Tuppence tries to uncover the true face behind each mask the countdown starts for the coup. An excellent twist, as always in these mystery novels, awaits the readers near the finale but the way it has been set up speaks highly of the master writer. Though the subtelity of her later novels is a bit missing but this one is sure to bring enjoyment to the readers. A baffling mystery with a touch of romance makes this story a welcome premiere for two new adventurers.

Eker Pithe Dui

My favourite of Ray's assortment of a dozen short stories with horror, ghost, sci-fi, adventure and a mystery blended in the hardback. the content runs as

• Anukul
• Telephone
• Aami Bhut
• Kaagtarua
• Lakhpati
• Ganesh Mutsuddir Portrait
• Nitai O Mahapurush
• Kutum-Katam
• Nidhiraamer Icchapuran
• Raamdhaner B(n)ashi
• Master Angshuman
• Bosepukure Khunkharapi

The best part of the collection is the usual thrill of the twist at the climax is heightened by extreme fiction that has been masterfully masked till the finale. The stories include a humanoid robot with senses more like humans, a call from the land of the mist, narrative by a ghost that has been followed by a curious dream, the transformation of a proud soul, extraordinary skill of an artist, a horror adventure, a funny metamorphosis, a terrified ghost, a short adventure in Master Angshuman, my favourite in my younger age and the pick of the lot and finally the mystery surrounding the murder and the family of an opera artist. The stories are so designed as to keep its impression lasting for years if not decades.

Jonathaner Barir Bhut

Suchitra Bhattacharya weaves suspense as alleged poltergeist activities haunts an Anglo-Indian family. Shaking furniture and a host lot of other troubles terrorizes the infabitants and Mitin and Tupur enters the scene with the everdear Partha accompanying them. As Mitin searches up clues a new mystery evolves hinting to a lost treasure with a riddle left behind to solve it. The evil seems to lurk in the deep recess of the minds of the seemingly innocent ones and Mitin is determined to unmask them. A good story for the young minds with multiple plots never complicating the flow the writer presents a graphic narration of detection and mystery. Only one major complain that I noticed is during an irrelevant remark of Mitin whers she tries to relate a procedure with its digital analogue but the logic is so very erroneous that it leaves a scar on the intelligence of the detective.

Music with a Hope: Arindam Das launches album ‘Swapno Sambhab’

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K(n)aatae K(n)aatae - II

The second volume in the series contains three stories, one adapted from Gardner’s novel and the other two from that of Agatha Christie. These Indianised versions are nicely woven with the suspense kept alive till the very last chapters but the first two Uler K(n)aata and A-Aa-Kaw Khuner K(n)aata seemed to have ended very hurriedly and not at all like the third one Sarmeya Genduker K(n)aata. The way the first two plots unfold and the way the climaxes are reached are quite at different paces in the first and the second pieces.

Keeping the sleuthing and adventure part aside, which are of course as good as the originals and also the erudition of the narratives, there are certain features that are irritatingly monotonous. The writer, being and Engineering graduate and a quality scholar could not resist the temptation of using analogies that may only be appreciated by a few and this may exclude the most ardent lover of mystery. Without compromising on the mystery that may have been made more and more complex, if required, the writing could have been more easily refined. Secondly is the use of too much flowery language that shifts the interest to literature rather than mystery. Thirdly is some undue use of humour at places that again lightens up the thrill of the adventures. Finally but more importantly is the tendency of creating a British ambience everywhere. Starting from referring the mere elderly individuals as ‘Saheb’ to focusing on breakfast habits, after dinner drinks and finally making an entire story based on a Christian town - the basic idea of presenting an Indianised detective version of the Western counterparts, that the author stressed upon in the earlier volume, seems to vanish completely. The romance which is due to any detective story, here seems to be more artificially generated than that which naturally evolves in this genre. The characters are different as regard profession but the same sense of humour in most actually robs the narrative of reliefs. The characters seem only to differ in their sense of responsibility and intellect. Most of the individuals show the same degree of refined schooling. Also there is an aggressive use of historical accounts whenever a scope presents itself. Sharing of facts no doubt enriches knowledge but irrelevant sharing mars the actual reading. Let’s see what the other volumes have in store!

Badal Sircar ....... evang Third Theatre

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Mama Samagra II

The content of this book is

• Shasti
• Baromamar Swapna
• Sob Bhalo Jaar Shesh Bhalo
• Gharei Jamai
• Shiulir Gandha
• Meghamallar
• Tadanta
• Kheyal
• Baikuntha
• Mirjafarer Chata
• Baromamar Ashirbad
• Nitaikaku
• Sadhak Baromama
• Gandhari
• Ajnyatabas

In one word, the book can be said as beatifully written as any other adjective doesn't seem to describe it fully. A lighter read, sometimes tending to become philosophical and often becoming monotonous yet you cannot complain haughtily. But problem will be for those readers who had bought the book based on the 1st volume. The humour of that volume seems to be curoiusly lost in a major way and also the continuity is very much affected when we find the name of Baromama has changed from Sudhanshu Mukherjee to Bimal Mitra while that of the Maashi remains unchanged. This seemed so unnecessary a change and could have been easily avoided. Also the philosophical and sometimes abrupt endings will not make a deep impact to the reader's mind. But the signature style of the author to wander away from the introductory theme, though may feel irritating initially, but sometimes it has made the stories finish with a nice note.

Gourer Kabach

In my childhood days, the story "Gourer Kabach" used to fascinate me due to its queer mix of comic incidents in a tragic backdrop, the matter-of-fact way in which the eccentric people are introduced, the simpleness of the protagonist Gour and finally the good prevailing over the bad. Maybe I would have felt the same had it not been the fact that certain points came to my notice this time. The most prominent being the overwhelming amount of printing errors that have marred the entire novel and is very much irritating for an avid reader. Next is the abruptness of the final chapter that also doesn't seem to satisfy the minds that are a bit more oldish among its target of young readers.
But apart from these two the story will continue to attract the young minds for the fantastic adventure of Gour and his friends. Magic, hypnotism, action combine to produce exciting moments throughout and will bring smile to the reader's face. Also strange characters abound, the novel is filled with comic incidents that makes the most serious moments equally enjoyable. Ghosts also find their proper place but are not so prominent as are the humans with their super powers.

Icche

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Delhi Belly

The adult comedy with just that much adult touch as necessary is a hilarious ride through the capital's dingiest of lanes, the poshest of hotels, the messiest of bachelor's establishments and the scummiest of the underworld enterprises! And the cause of all these - a collection of smuggled diamonds that gets replaced with a stool sample.

Well saying these I don't think it will be no short of a spoiler to elaborate the rest that takes you through a riotuous ride where the life of three young men is held between the guns of the goons, unpaid rents, cheat traders, daring journalism, the perennial water problem and a stomach that never seems to get well.

The crisp package directed by Abhinay Deo, written by Akshat Verma and produced by Amir Khan et al focusses on the concept rather than the character and thus produces a fascinating drama of fun and action. Beautifully edited by Huzefa Lokhandwala the film promises enjoyment to the fullest. Vijay Raaz (the smuggler Somayajulu), Paresh Ganatra (landlord Manish) gives their performance the realistically comic touch and the protagonists in Imran Khan (Tashi) and Kunal Roy Kapur (Nitin) backs it up with the most restrained yet professional performance but my personal favourite is Vir Das (Aroop) whose expressions of the warm-hearted and obstinate friend, the cheated and frustrated lover, the annoyed and irritated employee and the daring but comical adventurer easily calls for applause.

The Mystery of the Stuttering Parrot

Have you heard of a parrot who stutters? If you haven't, then you must read this one. Add to this is a treasure hunt with a trail of riddles and the trio named Jupe, Pete and Bob. The second in their series and turning mature at every step of crime solving the three investigators will take the young readers through a frightful yet enjoyable ride of mystery and secrecy. Clues held by avian allies, the trio launches on a terrifying ride dodging art thieves to reach the place where the treasure is hidden. The feathery friends talk in riddles and it is upto the research and intel of the three friends to solve the puzzle. Full of mystery and suspense, this is one of my schooltime favourites that is intensely enjoyable and is full of twists. The most important part is that coincidences are so tactfully handled that the readers will not feel themselves cheated of the suspense and will no doubt love these adventures as do Worthington, the chaeuffer who misses the mystery a bit.

Laal Sabuj

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Bhuture Ghori

The story of an alien wristwatch that threats the existence of the world seems to be the key of the power struggle between alien forces. Shirshendu's traditional use of science fiction, ghost story and comedy are cleverly intertwined to present the young readers with a merry-go-round of adventure. A collection from my childhood days, the story is a plesant time pass as I read it now. Starting with the aged Haranchandra, a connoisseur in losing watches, the watch found its way to Jatai Tantrik, then to Haran's wife and finally to Haran's favourite grandchild Latu who seemed to decide on its rightful owner as both its creator and its master make their claim. The intense power field of the watch makes the ordinary clocks in its vicinity to go anticlockwise, helps its bearer to see in the dark, makes photography of any object except itself impossible and causes many other strange events. Puzzling the entire neighbourhood where it resides, the secret is finally revelated to Latu who seemed to understand the power of it and was left to decide on its final fate. Shirshendu's typical story telling will make this book an enjoyable read for the children and the funny side will also heighten its charm. The concept of alien technology is also another attraction but a bit more elaboration would have made it more interesting. The characters has their own peculiarity which makes most of them lovable to the readers. Ghost also is introduced in the narrative but doesn't play a prominent part but the rest is an enjoyable read no doubt.

Double Feluda

Some stories lose their appeal too soon, some doesn't at all but there are some that has an increasing appeal as we grow old. Ray's works are like that as the young readers in us miss certain details while reading it the first time and enjoys the adventure of Feluda stories while when it is read at a later date, since the mystery is already know the focus is on the other aspects of the story. The various characters that are introduced, how their true nature evolve in the eyes of the investigator, how coincidences become necessary for the writer to concise the converging events - all these are better appreciated. Double Feluda with its pack containing Apsara Theatreer Mamla and Bhuswarga Bhayankar was such a revelation to me especially the later one where the beauty of Kashmir has been revealed and the mysterious backdrop is created with the utmost care. While in the first one, the mystery involves threats, disappearances and murders of stage actors of Apsara group at Calcutta the second one centres at the picturesque Kashmir with murder happening at quite a later stage and the introduction part increases the appeal and the complexity by quite a great deal. The first case is one where Feluda's observation power seems to be established once and for all as he solves the crime just by sitting at his home, the sleuthing being mostly done by Tophse and Jatayu. But the other case sees the researcher in him as a he travels in Kashmir is search of information so needed to find the criminals.
Ray's penmanship once again portrays the characters with such precision that the situations evolve succinctly before the eyes. Only one point where my personal dissatisfaction lies was in the person in Feluda who sees murder to be a graver crime no doubt, but when it is done as a rightful vengeance then also he doesn't show mercy. So much different from Byomkesh maybe Ray did this as his target seems to be children and he took the utmost care to prevent any shred of doubt to creep into the young hearts as to the wrongfulness of murder. An enjoyable read no doubt, the latter part can easily pass as a travelogue as well.

Ranjana Aami Aar Aashbona

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Darjeeling Jomjomat

Feluda returns to the place from where he started on his first investigation but this time accompanied by Jatayu and on the invitation of the famed Bollywood director Pulak Ghoshal on his venture of picturisation of one of Jatayu's adventure novels. But as it always happens that adventure seems to chase the trio even on a supposed pleasant vacation to the hill station. This time it was homicide of the aged Birupakhya Majumdar on whose grounds several of the film shots were being taken. The motive seems to be many that includes the theft of a priceless idol of BalGopal, an unsolved crime of the past and a hushed up incident that Mr. Majumdar wants to keep to himself in a veil of secrecy. One of the servants, Lokenath also goes missing after the murder and the police suspects him to be the culprit. But soon Jatayu and Topshe stumble upon the servant's deadbody that again gives a complex turn to the mystery and the event also coincides with an attempt on Feluda's life. As the film company laments on the catastrophe that withholds their shooting and also limits their movements, Feluda, Topshe and Jatayu sets on the mission to solve the crimes amidst the picturesque backdrop of Darjeeling that has been so fascinatingly painted in words and sketches by Satyajit Ray. The final chapters are as expected, full of thrill and drama but certain points (that I now seem to observe, going through it after several long years) defies logic and puts question marks on the detection system. First of all though their was a hint of poisoning during the murder that never seemed to be clarified by the police and Feluda too doesn't seem to suggest forensics to clear the doubt. Also the second deadbody was found by sheer coincidence that is too much for an avid mystery reader. Thirdly the identity of a mysterious trespasser remains unsolved. Thus though the writing is freshening and the novel a classic one but as a mystery story this doesn't satisfy all.

Manaschakkhu

http://calcuttatube.com/manaschakshu-2011-bengali-play-review/151999/

Mama Samagra

This is another of my favourite collections that I bought only recently though most of the stories had been read by me at a very early age that again belonged to those that gave me the flavor of humour in literature for the first time. Mama Samagra, a collector’s edition elaborating the happenings in the bustling mamabari of the narrator with a whimsical doctor as Baromama, an equally eccentric Chotomama who is also a professor and the only sensible person in Mashima responsible for applying the reins to this crazy pack. Added to these are the scores of pets including dogs, cats, birds and cows and a whole lot of characters that either reside there or appears in a story out of nowhere. Baromama’s fantastic visions with underlying noble thoughts form the theme of most of the stories which ultimately opens the door to chaos and mess. Almost always ridiculed by his own doings, the ever optimistic Baromama carries on his endeavours unabated and in this he gets the support of the narrator much to the dismay of Chotomama and Mashima. Chotomama, almost everytime, forms the chief opposition to Baromama’s concepts and with his own fantastic logics defies his brother’s whims. But ultimately it is Mashima who puts the brakes to her elders and maintains discipline in the most rational way.

All said and done it must be mentioned that all the chief characters in the narratives are loving and inspires optimism in this increasingly cynical world and breaths freshness with each story. The collection contains

·         Morning Walk

·         Guptadhaner Sandhane

·         Bardar Beral

·         Ekada Ek Bagher Golae

·         T(n)etul Gaache Doctor

·         Nijer Dhak Nije Petale

·         Baromamar Mosha Mara

·         Baromamar D(n)aat

·         Utpater Dhan Chitpate

·         Avatar

·         Abishkar

·         Ghush

·         Baromamar Menagerie

·         Baromamar Cycle

·         Baromamar Beral Dhora

·         Mejoke Baror Juto Daan

·         Langarkhana

·         Gorur Result

·         Baromamar Bike

·         Physiotherapy

·         Bama Khepar Chela

·         Gomukhyu Goru

·         Saape aar Neule

·         Mahaprasthan

·         Bipashae Dui Mama

·         Rupor Maach

·         Baromamar Saap-Ludo

·         Sonar Palak

Though categorized as comedy but the stories markedly differ both in structure and presentation from Saape aar Neule where the themes turn from comedy to philosophy though it is never monotonous and always lively. Going through the pieces, I could not but guess that Sanjib Chattopadhyay’s recent bend to The Divine may have begun from the same time that he penned stories starting from Saape and Neule.

As to the structure of the presentation, a complaint is due to Pushpa publication that the pagination from Saape and Neule are a bit erroneous. But barring this the copy remains a cherishable collector’s item with a complimentary art support by Anup Roy, Debashish Deb, Sankar Basak and Pranab Hazra. It could have been made more orderly if the chronological order of the events had been followed as sometimes it becomes very much obvious that a story actually must appear late in the series while some may have come first. Also the author often changes the name of the narrator which doesn't look good once the characters are considered part of a continuous series.

Chalanta Chhaya

I always had the urge to read the fictions that first time introduced original detective stories to the Bengali readers. Infact one of my maternal uncles had a huge collection of Bishwa Chakra series but not being of age I didn't have the permission to read them during my visits there while I was young. Then as I grew old the deluge of Feluda, Byomkesh, Kiriti, Holmes, Father Brown, Poirot, Marple, Tommy & Tuppence, Parker Pyne novels seemed to erase me of the urge until very recently I chanced upon a site that was distributing free ebooks by Swapan Kumar. The dormant wishes seemed to get the better of me this time and I tried to gather as many of them as was available.

Now that I started with the 4th in the Bishwa Chakra series namely 'Chalanta Chhaya', I seem to be introduced to an entirely new age of detective fiction whose glimpses remained in Kiriti and Byomkesh. Set in the British India the adventure begins in the morgue of the Calcutta police where a deadbody was carried off by a cleverly planned scheme. That was the start after which a strange theft and several kidnappings raised a great hue and cry in the city. But these times, the society that carried out the operations left notes signed as Chalanta Chhaya. Soon private detective Deepak Chatterjee was summoned by police and he also receives a threat from the society Chalanta Chhaya both of which, no doubt, influences the investigator to carry on with the case with support from his freind Ratanlal. Then is the usual detective adventure though adventure gets the upper hand and there is nominal detection but the most notable part of the story is the fantastic concept that forms the main plot. The concept is fantastic enough if we remember the era when it was contrived and sitting at an age when adventure and mystery in fiction seemed to become synonymous with hollywood, I cannot but appreciate the originality of the plot that had, surely, hit the best seller category for the young readers.
Also the inside cover of the story bears a note of age restriction for the readers which is another revelation about the values and culture of that age.

Boxer Ratan

A wonderful science fiction for the young by Shirshendu that has not lost most of its charm while I read it today, several years after I'd first gone through it. The ever lovable peculiar characters that are a must in Shirshendu novels are though absent but the strangeness of the plot and the mystery that surrounds it will no doubt enthrall the young mind.

Ratan, a passionate boxer, on the night of his national title win returns home, a confused man who just had the most remarkable of revelations about his father's past. Infact the confusion gives way to devastation when he finds his father missing on his return. His father had once been a great scientist and visionary on the verge of a revolutionery discovery, aimed to solve the world's energy crisis, when he suddenly lost his memory in a laboratory mishap. But now it seemed that all that was a conspiracy to devoid his father from the success of his experiments and now some evil international dealers kidnapped the old scientist for the formulas that he hid somewhere. Ratan was approached by strangers claiming to be from another international agency who wanted to save his father but he was confused as to whom to believe.

The story now takes a turn at the seas and the adventure continues to a final battle of wits and strength that increases the excitement even more.

A master of story telling, Shirshendu had excelled himself in the sense that the minute details of a boxer's moves during fight sequences are critically explained without loosing a single pulse of the moment.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Captain Jack Sparrow is back with a new adventure and new characters - the legendary Blackbeard with his zombi henchmen on board the Queen Anne's Revenge, the Spanish Armada, a host of mermaids with the attitude of the vampire and with them comes the old comically sinister Captain Barbossa, this time serving as the privateer in the service of the British with the interfering British fleet, all heading towards the Fountain of Youth and the many secrets that surround it!

As always, plots intersperse and suspense deepens as each new scene unfolds a new secret. After Jack impersonates a judge to save a confused Gibbs from the gallows in the court of London, he is tricked and ushered in the royal dining room where he is charged with rumours of his lookout for a ship for sailing to the Fountain of Youth. A confused Jack, though improvises an escape but is soon being confronted by his father Captain Teague who warns his son about the Fountain's tests. He soon meets his old flame the exotic pirate lady Angelica who was found to impersonate Sparrow and soon she tricks him to join the crew of Queen Anne's Revenge captained by his father the Blackbeard - who uses voodoos and a host lot of magic to terrorize and keep reign over the crew. Blackbeard wanted eternal life and Jack had the compass to locate the fountain and thus they set sail for it.But two more groups were on their way. The first were the Spanish bent on destroying the Fountain as they considered it to be an abomination against God and the British to outrun them under Captain Barbossa who had a secret motive of his own which was to strike revenge on Blackbeard to whom he had lost the Pearl and his leg.

Magic dominates on board the Queen Anne's Revenge and the crew gets a taste of it while a mutiny initiated by Sparrow is turned down mercilessly by Blackbeard. Thus the terrified crew are lead towards the Fountain as both Spanish and Barbossa nears it, the former guided by a map and the later by Gibbs who destroyed Sparrow's map in a bid to save himself from the British and memorized it so as to strike a deal.

The saying goes that the water from the Fountain of Youth was to be drunk by two persons from two chalices of Juan Ponce de Leon and one must contain the tear of the mermaid. The person who drinks from the cup with the water and the tear will gain the years of the other that drinks from the second cup.

Blackbeard sets up a trap for the vicious mermaids and manages to confine one in a glass coffin but one of his prisoners, the missionary Philip falls in love with her and names her Syrena and attempts several futile tries to free her.

Angelica, in the meantime, showed Sparrow that Blackbeard had miniaturized and stored the Pearl inside a bottle and he conspires with Barobossa and leads him to Blackbeard only to meet him at the Fountain as the Spanish army marches in. A fight ensues as always and it remains to be seen what happens next.

The 3D effect was superb, it was only my second view of a full length movie and thanks to the director Rob Marshall, sequences are really intelligently designed for the full appreciation of the 3D. Sparrow's escape from the British Royalty, the climax, the waves, the fights and the sets all are vividly enjoyable in the extra dimension. This is the shortest film of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and though a compact one but seems a bit less on the adventure part as do the excitement during the finishing scenes. However, the sets at Hawaii were fascinating (equally fascinating as the Caribbean sets of the earlier chapters) and the background scores of Hans Zimmer inspires the magic of the franchisee once more and overall this Jerry Bruckheimer production of the Walt Disney Pictures is a must watch for the fantasy lovers.

The Secret of Terror Castle

In my school days when adventure started to unfold its truest meaning to our young souls, the books that mostly gave a thrilling company comprised mainly of adventures shrouded in a veil of mystery. Thus it was no doubt the Three Investigators franchise held a special place in my mind and still now I continue being a fan of the Jupiter Jones, Peter Crenshaw, Robert Andrews and the ever-friendly Worthington, the chaeffeur of the gold plated Rolls Royce that Jupe won as a free rental service in a competition that challenged everyody's intelligence. The apparently spooky phenomenon they were introduced to appealed to my fascination even more.

Initially, I was under the misconception that Alfred Hitchcock was the writer and my young mind was even more confused when several author's name cropped up in various volumes. But finally I understood that the serial was continued by various author at different times.

The Secret of Terror Castle was penned by Robert Arthurr Jr., who created the sleuths and engaged them to a case for investigating a haunted castle purportedly for Alfred Hitchcock. The brainy Jupe, the athletic Pete and the researcher Bob thus form the group and tries to hunt the ghosts of a castle whose owner, a renowned movie star of the silent movie era specializing in scary movies, had apparently committed suicide. As they started investigating they are threatened by eerie messages and the ghostly activities inside the castle itself seem too much for all except Jupe whose motto was to solve anything and everything. Thus the investigation are sure to thrill the young minds and also are enjoyable even today when I took the opportunity to go through it once more.

The novel finishes off with a promise for the next case which was again presented to them apparently by Alfred Hitchcock and thus even when the final chapters are done with the excitement remains for the next!!

Dishari Chakrabarty: interview

http://calcuttatube.com/dishari-chakrabarty-musical-journey-classical-fusion-music/149889/

Ghandasamagra I

The contents of this wonderful collection runs as

• Ghanadar Galpo
• Masha
• Poka
• Nuri
• K(n)ach
• Maach
• Tupi
• Chari
• Lattu
• Adwitiya Ghanada
• Dada
• Phuto
• D(n)aat
• Ghari
• H(n)aas
• Suto
• Aabar Ghanada
• Dheel
• Ch(n)uch
• Shishi
• Ghanadake Vote Deen
• Ghanadake Vote Deen
• K(n)echo
• Machi
• Ghanadar Nitya Natun
• Jol
• Chokh
• Chata
• Ghanda Kulpi Khan Na
• Ghanadar Juri Nei
• Tel
• Bhasha
• Maap
• Maati

Premendra Mitra had created maybe one of the unique personalities in the world of fiction in Ghanada whose exploits narrated in first person (in general) though are filled with thrilling suspense but the underlying humour and a trace of twist makes each episode livelier with its hilarious finishes.

His four avid listeners-cum-fans, Shishir, Gour, Shibu and the author, the inhabintants of a mess in 72, Banamali Naskar Lane enjoys listening to Ghanada narrating his exploits that involves unmasking international criminals and his hobnobs with the American and British intelligentsia which proves to be their ultimate enjoyment during the leasurly weekends. Ghanada's stubborn logics justifying his claims of the mess rights sometimes proves too much for them but they are easily soothed by the fantastic events that he narrates as a way of justification. The stories that he weaves from the slightest provocation, though seems to be all bluff but sometimes some surprising revelations pose a serious question to the listeners - isn't Ghanada really a bundle of talents? The quad sometimes poses some deceptive traps for Ghanada but his high IQ, a trivial opportunity and sometimes his remarkable intelligence helps him to maneuver the traps quite easily.

These exploits, though if we consider to be all bluffs, contain all accurate facts and infact Surajit Dasgupta's introduction quite correctly summarizes one very universal truth about Ghanada novels - it was Premendra Mitra's interest of inspiring the youngs with science that he created this unique personality. Also several of the writings addresses the pollution and serious scarcity of natural vegetations and also extinction of species that really makes these a class apart in Bengali literature. The stories that will ultimately make you a fan of Ghanada and Co. all mask some very interesting scientific events that can be expected to eventually inspire some on the course of research on the topics.