Satyajit Ray was a master storyteller, and his creative genius reflected in both his literary writing and in his films. Besides the Netflix anthology ‘Ray’ comprising four short stories, which was based on Satyajit Ray’s timeless classics, surprisingly, there are just a few mainstream Hindi films or shows that are inspired by his writings.
For that reason, we have compiled a list of another four short stories written by Satyajit Ray and each of them deserves to be adapted for the screen.
Since Netflix has already done that beautifully in ‘Ray’ Season 1, we suggest the streaming giant can do it again, this time with the following four handpicked Satyajit Ray’s short stories:
Ratan Babu and That Man
In this chilling drama, the titular protagonist Ratan Babu is portrayed as a simple, middle-aged reclusive man, who makes a visit to another town where he meets his doppelganger – his spitting image in a man called Manilal Babu.
Initially, Ratan Babu is fascinated to find his exact lookalike. However, subsequently, the intentions of the protagonist are revealed which catches the reader off guard.
The Two Magicians
The story revolves around the relationship between a gifted but indigent magician Tripura Babu and his ambitious protégé Surupati Mondol.
One day, the now rich and famous magician Surupati is visited by the long-lost Tripura Babu on a train, after many years. The magician’s mentor asks his student to accept a bizarre request that could adversely affect his career. Will he still accept it?
Mr. Eccentric
The story revolves around a mysterious man called Mr. Eccentric who lives in Darjeeling. He got his name because of his peculiar habit of collecting old and seemingly random objects like a button, a needle, shoe-brush, torch-cells, etc. He stores them safely as his prized possessions.
Mr. Eccentric claims that he has the supernatural ability to witness the unnatural deaths that are connected to these objects. Whether or not he is telling the truth and to what extent he goes to collect these objects, forms the rest of the story.
Pikoo’s Diary
A unique story by the creative genius that is told from the innocent perspective of a diary maintained by a six-year-old child called Pikoo. The boy describes the events around him as he sees them. Although he does not understand the actual significance of his writings. For instance, through his diary, we realize that her mother is having an extramarital affair amidst an unhappy married life.
Long back in 1980, the story was adapted for the screen by Satyajit Ray himself for a short film titled ‘Pikoo’. It would be quite interesting to see modern filmmakers with contemporary actors in an adapted version of the profound story.
We earnestly hope that the above four short stories written by Satyajit Ray will be noticed by the concerned people to be adapted for the screen for the second season of the Netflix Anthology ‘Ray’.
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