Joi Baba Felunath (film): Difference between revisions

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{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name           = Joi Baba Felunath
| name         = Joi Baba Felunath
| image         = Joi Baba Felunath poster.jpg
| image       = Joi Baba Felunath poster.jpg
| caption       = A Poster for ''Joi Baba Felunath''
| caption     = A poster for ''Joi Baba Felunath''
| director       = [[Satyajit Ray]]
| director     = [[Satyajit Ray]]
| producer       = R.D.B. Productions
| producer     = R.D.B. Productions
| writer         = [[Satyajit Ray]]
| writer       = [[Satyajit Ray]]
| starring       = [[Soumitra Chatterjee]],<br />[[Santosh Dutta]],<br />[[Siddartha Chatterjee]],<br />[[Utpal Dutt]],<br /> [[Haradhan Bandopadhyay]], <br /> [[Biplab Chatterjee]]
| starring     = [[Soumitra Chatterjee]],<br />[[Santosh Dutta]],<br />[[Siddartha Chatterjee]],<br />[[Utpal Dutt]],<br /> [[Haradhan Bandopadhyay]], <br /> [[Biplab Chatterjee]]
| distributor   =  
| distributor =  
| released       = {{Film date|1979|1|5|df=y}}
| released     = {{Film date|1979|1|5|df=y}}
| country       = [[India]]
| country     = India
| runtime       = 112 minutes
| runtime     = 112 minutes
| language       = Bengali
| language     = Bengali
| budget         = [[Rupee|Rs]] 6 lakhs
| budget       = [[Rupee|Rs]] 6 lakhs
| gross         = [[Rupee|Rs]] 7 lakhs
| gross       = [[Rupee|Rs]] 7 lakhs
}}
}}
{{Infobox book <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
{{Infobox book <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books -->
Line 34: Line 34:
| followed_by  = [[Ghurghutiyar Ghatona]]
| followed_by  = [[Ghurghutiyar Ghatona]]
}}
}}
'''''Joi Baba Felunath''''' (The Elephant God)<ref name="Robinson1989">{{cite book|author=Andrew Robinson|title=Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye|url=https://archive.org/details/satyajitrayinner00robi_0|url-access=registration|access-date=10 December 2012|year=1989|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-06946-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/satyajitrayinner00robi_0/page/237 237]–}}</ref> is a 1979 Indian [[Bengali language|Bengali]] [[mystery film]][[Bengali language| ]] by director [[Satyajit Ray]], featuring [[Soumitra Chatterjee]], [[Santosh Dutta]], [[Siddartha Chatterjee]], [[Utpal Dutt]] among others. The film is based on the famous [[Feluda]] novel of the same name written by Ray himself. It is the second film of Feluda as well as the sequel of ''[[Sonar Kella]]'' directed by Satyajit Ray. After the demise of Santosh Dutta (Jatayu), Ray remarked that it was impossible to ever make a Feluda film again without Dutta.<ref name="RayCardullo2007">{{cite book|author1=Satyajit Ray|author2=Bert Cardullo|title=Satyajit Ray: Interviews|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQYs4X5d9WAC&pg=PR35|access-date=10 December 2012|date=1 March 2007|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-57806-937-8|pages=35–}}</ref>
'''''Joi Baba Felunath''''' ({{lit|''The Elephant God''}})<ref name="Robinson1989">{{cite book|author=Andrew Robinson|title=Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye|url=https://archive.org/details/satyajitrayinner00robi_0|url-access=registration|access-date=10 December 2012|year=1989|publisher=University of California Press|isbn=978-0-520-06946-6|pages=[https://archive.org/details/satyajitrayinner00robi_0/page/237 237]–}}</ref> is a 1979 Indian [[Bengali language|Bengali]]-language [[mystery film|mystery]] film directed and written by [[Satyajit Ray]]. Featuring an ensemble cast of [[Soumitra Chatterjee]], [[Santosh Dutta]], [[Siddartha Chatterjee]], [[Utpal Dutt]] amongst others, it is an adaption of the eponymous [[Feluda]] novel and serves as the sequel of ''[[Sonar Kella]]''. Shortly after the demise of actor Santosh Dutta who portrayed Jatayu's role, Ray remarked that it was impossible to ever make a Feluda film again without Dutta.<ref name="RayCardullo2007">{{cite book|author1=Satyajit Ray|author2=Bert Cardullo|title=Satyajit Ray: Interviews|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fQYs4X5d9WAC&pg=PR35|access-date=10 December 2012|date=1 March 2007|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-57806-937-8|pages=35–}}</ref>


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
[[Feluda]], his cousin Topshe and the thriller writer [[Lalmohan Ganguly|Jatayu]] visit Benaras during the pujas. There they meet a Bengali family, the Ghosals. Upon hearing that Feluda is a private investigator, the Ghosal family head entrusts him with the task of finding out the thief of the attempted theft that took place in their house. Meanwhile, the arrival of a saint by the name of 'Machhli Baba' inBenaras rouses the excitement of the local people.
Pradosh C. Mitter (a.k.a [[Feluda]]), his cousin Tapesh (a.k.a Topshe) and the thriller writer [[Lalmohan Ganguly]] (a.k.a Jatayu) go to [[Varanasi]] during the [[Durga Puja]] for vacation. There they meet a Bengali family, the Ghosals. Upon hearing that Feluda is a private investigator, the Ghosal family patriarch entrusts him with the task of finding out the thief of the attempted theft that took place in their house. Meanwhile, the arrival of a saint by the name of 'Machhli Baba' in Varanasi rouses the excitement of the local people.
 
A very valuable property of the Ghosals, a golden [[Ganesh]] statue, about three inches in height, was the target of the thief. On the other hand, Maganlal Meghraj, a wealthy [[Marwaris|Marwari]] businessman, had his eyes on the Ganesh for a very long time. He learns about Feluda's involvement in this case. He invites the trio to his house and tries to bribe Feluda with Rs.2,000 in order to stop the investigation. Feluda refuses to do so, which angers Maganlal, and he sets up a [[knife throwing]] show, using Jatayu as bait (much to the viewer's amusement). After the incidents in Maganlal's house, Feluda takes a vow - either he'll avenge Jatayu's harassment, or he'll quit his job of being a detective.


A very valuable property of the Ghosals, a golden [[Ganesh]] statue, about three inches in height, was the target of the thief. On the other hand, Maganlal Meghraj, a wealthy [[Marwaris|Marwari]] businessman, had his eyes on the Ganesh for a very long time. He comes to know about the involvement of Feluda in this case. He invites Feluda, Topshe and Jatayu to his house and offers Feluda Rs.2000 so that he abandons the case. Feluda refuses, which angers Maganlal, and he sets up a knife throwing show, using Jatayu as the bait (much to the viewer's amusement). After the incidents in Maganlal's house, Feluda takes a vow - either he will avenge Jatayu's harassment, or quit being a sleuth.
Although warned by Maganlal, Feluda didn't lose interest in the case, and deduces that Machhli Baba is actually a [[fraud]] working for Maganlal. A member of the Ghosal family, Bikash Singha, was also bribed by Maganlal to steal the Ganesh and hand it over to him. Feluda gets hold of Bikash and makes him confess his involvement in the theft. But Bikash states that when he went to steal the Ganesh, it was not there. Several questions arise in Feluda's mind. Where is the Ganesh, then? Why was the innocent idol-maker of the Ghosals, Shashibhushan Pal, murdered brutally? What plan did the Ghosal family head hatch upon with his grandson to save the Ganesh?


Although warned by Maganlal, Feluda did not lose interest in the case, and deduces that Machhli Baba is actually a fraud working for Maganlal. A member of the Ghosal family, Bikash, was also bribed by Maganlal to steal the Ganesh and hand it over to him. Feluda gets hold of Bikash and makes him confess his involvement in the theft. But Bikash states that when he went to steal the Ganesh, it was not there. Several questions arise in Feluda's mind. Where is the Ganesh, then? Why was the innocent idol-maker of the Ghosals, Shashi Babu, murdered brutally? What plan did the Ghosal family head hatch upon with his grandson to save the Ganesh?
Finally, everything is revealed: Umanath Ghoshal's son, Rukminikumar (a.k.a Ruku) got to know that Maganlal was planning to steal the Ganesh statue, so he hid the Ganesh statue in the idol of Maa Durga's Lion. Shashibabu, while painting the lion got the statue and handed it to Bikash—without knowing his involvement with Maganlal—before going home because of his sudden illness. Afraid that Shashibabu would reveal everything and would unintentionally ruin his plan, Maganlal sends a henchman with Bikash to liquidate Shashibabu. The henchman with the help of Bikash, tracks down Shashibabu, murders him brutally by stabbing him and disposes off the knife in the [[Ganges]]. Subsequently, after an intricately planned [[sting operation]], Maganlal and Machhli Baba are arrested by the Varanasi police.


The story has two aspects.  On one hand, it is the story of the acquisitive instinct of a greedy [[Marwaris|Marwari]] businessman, who would spare no expenses or ways to get what he desires, even if it is at the cost of murdering innocents and bribing the willing.  On the other, it is also the tale of cautionary foresight exercised by the family head.
The story ends with Lalmohan Babu realising that Ruku's plan of hiding the statue inside Maa Durga's Lion idol actually came from one of his own thriller novels and Feluda praising him for creating such an idea.


== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Soumitra Chatterjee]] as [[Feluda]], the Bengali sleuth from [[Calcutta]]
* [[Soumitra Chatterjee]] as [[Feluda]], the Bengali detective from [[Calcutta]]
* [[Utpal Dutt]] as Maganlal Meghraj, a Marwari businessman, the main antagonist of the film
* [[Utpal Dutt]] as Maganlal Meghraj, a Marwari businessman and the main antagonist of the film
* [[Santosh Dutta]] as [[Jatayu (Lalmohan Ganguly)]]
* [[Santosh Dutta]] as [[Lalmohan Ganguly]] a.k.a Jatayu.
* [[Siddartha Chatterjee]] as Topshe, Feluda's cousin and assistant
* [[Siddartha Chatterjee]] as Tapesh a.k.a Topshe, Feluda's cousin and assistant
* Jit Bose as Ruku
* Jit Bose as Rukminikumar a.k.a Ruku  
* [[Haradhan Bandopadhyay]] as Umanath Ghosal, Ruku's father
* [[Haradhan Bandopadhyay]] as Umanath Ghosal, Ruku's father
* [[Biplab Chatterjee]] as Bikash
* [[Biplab Chatterjee]] as Bikash Singha
* [[Kamu Mukherjee]] as Arjun, the knife thrower in Maganlal's house (cameo)
* [[Kamu Mukherjee]] as Arjun, the knife-thrower in Maganlal's house (cameo)
* [[Monu Mukherjee]] as Machhli Baba (cameo)
* [[Monu Mukherjee]] as Machhli Baba (cameo)
* Panineeta Bandhyopadhyay
* Panineeta Bandhyopadhyay
* Subhadra Devi
* Subhadra Devi
* Satya Banerjee (P.L.T.) as Niranjan Chakrabarty, 'the hotel manager'
* Satya Banerjee (P.L.T.) as Niranjan Chakrabarty, the hotel manager  
* Indubhushan Gujral as Inspector Tiwari
* Indubhushan Gujral as Inspector Tiwari
* Moloy Roy as Biswasree Gunomoy Bagchi
* [[Moloy Roy]] as Biswasree Gunomoy Bagchi, a [[bodybuilder]]
* Santosh Sinha as Sashi Babu, the idol maker
* Santosh Sinha as Shashibhushan Pal a.k.a Shashibabu, the idol maker
* Bimal Chatterjee as Ambika Ghosal, head of the Ghoshal family
* Bimal Chatterjee as Ambika Ghosal, the Ghoshal family patriarch


<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/us-academy-has-restored-ray-films-see-them-at-film-festival/382543/ | title=US academy has restored Ray films, see them at film festival |access-date=7 November 2008 |agency=The Indian Express}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/us-academy-has-restored-ray-films-see-them-at-film-festival/382543/ | title=US academy has restored Ray films, see them at film festival |access-date=7 November 2008 |agency=The Indian Express}}</ref>
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[[Category:1979 films]]
[[Category:1979 films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Satyajit Ray]]
[[Category:Films directed by Satyajit Ray]]
[[Category:Bengali-language films]]
[[Category:Bengali-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian detective films]]
[[Category:Indian detective films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Films set in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Films set in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Satyajit Ray]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Satyajit Ray]]
[[Category:Best Children's Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Children's Film National Film Award winners]]
[[Category:1970s Bengali-language films]]
[[Category:1970s Bengali-language films]]

Revision as of 01:33, 23 June 2022


Joi Baba Felunath
A poster for Joi Baba Felunath
Directed bySatyajit Ray
Produced byR.D.B. Productions
Written bySatyajit Ray
StarringSoumitra Chatterjee,
Santosh Dutta,
Siddartha Chatterjee,
Utpal Dutt,
Haradhan Bandopadhyay,
Biplab Chatterjee
Release date
  • 5 January 1979 (1979-01-05)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali
BudgetRs 6 lakhs
Box officeRs 7 lakhs
Joi Baba Felunath
AuthorSatyajit Ray
Cover artistSatyajit Ray
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali
PublisherAnanda Publishers
Media typePrint
Preceded byRoyal Bengal Rahashya 
Followed byGhurghutiyar Ghatona 

Joi Baba Felunath (lit. 'The Elephant God')[1] is a 1979 Indian Bengali-language mystery film directed and written by Satyajit Ray. Featuring an ensemble cast of Soumitra Chatterjee, Santosh Dutta, Siddartha Chatterjee, Utpal Dutt amongst others, it is an adaption of the eponymous Feluda novel and serves as the sequel of Sonar Kella. Shortly after the demise of actor Santosh Dutta who portrayed Jatayu's role, Ray remarked that it was impossible to ever make a Feluda film again without Dutta.[2]

Plot

Pradosh C. Mitter (a.k.a Feluda), his cousin Tapesh (a.k.a Topshe) and the thriller writer Lalmohan Ganguly (a.k.a Jatayu) go to Varanasi during the Durga Puja for vacation. There they meet a Bengali family, the Ghosals. Upon hearing that Feluda is a private investigator, the Ghosal family patriarch entrusts him with the task of finding out the thief of the attempted theft that took place in their house. Meanwhile, the arrival of a saint by the name of 'Machhli Baba' in Varanasi rouses the excitement of the local people.

A very valuable property of the Ghosals, a golden Ganesh statue, about three inches in height, was the target of the thief. On the other hand, Maganlal Meghraj, a wealthy Marwari businessman, had his eyes on the Ganesh for a very long time. He learns about Feluda's involvement in this case. He invites the trio to his house and tries to bribe Feluda with Rs.2,000 in order to stop the investigation. Feluda refuses to do so, which angers Maganlal, and he sets up a knife throwing show, using Jatayu as bait (much to the viewer's amusement). After the incidents in Maganlal's house, Feluda takes a vow - either he'll avenge Jatayu's harassment, or he'll quit his job of being a detective.

Although warned by Maganlal, Feluda didn't lose interest in the case, and deduces that Machhli Baba is actually a fraud working for Maganlal. A member of the Ghosal family, Bikash Singha, was also bribed by Maganlal to steal the Ganesh and hand it over to him. Feluda gets hold of Bikash and makes him confess his involvement in the theft. But Bikash states that when he went to steal the Ganesh, it was not there. Several questions arise in Feluda's mind. Where is the Ganesh, then? Why was the innocent idol-maker of the Ghosals, Shashibhushan Pal, murdered brutally? What plan did the Ghosal family head hatch upon with his grandson to save the Ganesh?

Finally, everything is revealed: Umanath Ghoshal's son, Rukminikumar (a.k.a Ruku) got to know that Maganlal was planning to steal the Ganesh statue, so he hid the Ganesh statue in the idol of Maa Durga's Lion. Shashibabu, while painting the lion got the statue and handed it to Bikash—without knowing his involvement with Maganlal—before going home because of his sudden illness. Afraid that Shashibabu would reveal everything and would unintentionally ruin his plan, Maganlal sends a henchman with Bikash to liquidate Shashibabu. The henchman with the help of Bikash, tracks down Shashibabu, murders him brutally by stabbing him and disposes off the knife in the Ganges. Subsequently, after an intricately planned sting operation, Maganlal and Machhli Baba are arrested by the Varanasi police.

The story ends with Lalmohan Babu realising that Ruku's plan of hiding the statue inside Maa Durga's Lion idol actually came from one of his own thriller novels and Feluda praising him for creating such an idea.

Cast

[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Andrew Robinson (1989). Satyajit Ray: The Inner Eye. University of California Press. pp. 237–. ISBN 978-0-520-06946-6. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  2. ↑ Satyajit Ray; Bert Cardullo (1 March 2007). Satyajit Ray: Interviews. Univ. Press of Mississippi. pp. 35–. ISBN 978-1-57806-937-8. Retrieved 10 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "US academy has restored Ray films, see them at film festival". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 November 2008.

External links

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