Professor Shonku to come alive on film

■ Satyajit Ray’s son Sandip to direct movie, release likely in 2018

SVF, Eastern India’s largest production house, on Wednesday announced that it would bring alive on celluloid Professor Shonku, one of the most popular characters in Bengali science fiction. It will produce the Bengali film featuring the fictional scientist created and popularised by legendary writer- filmmaker Satyajit Ray.

The film, an adaptation of one of the most spell- binding stories in the Professor Shonku series called Nakur Babu O El Dorado, will be directed by Ray’s filmaker son Sandip Ray. The film’s shooting begins early next year. It is likely to release by the end of 2018.

Veteran actor Dhritiman Chatterjee will play the lead role of Professor Trilokeshwar Shonku ( his full name). Subhashis Mukherjee will play Nakur Babu. The title of the film isProfessor Shonkhu o El Dorado.

SVF co- founder Shrikant Mohta said, “We are elated to make a film on Professor Shonku, who, over the years, has delighted and captivated fans of all ages, especially children and teenagers, through a series of science stories that have defied beliefs. The stories written by Ray will come alive at the hands of director Sandip Ray. We at SVF will ensure that the first Professor Shonku film sets new standards for the creative and technical excellence that are the hallmarks of all our content.” Mr Ray said, “I have always wanted to make a film on Professor Shonku. Such a character is unparalleled in our science fiction. Books, with the written word, are like the theatre of the mind, and every reader conjures her or his own picture of their favourite character. In that sense, therefore, it will be an interesting challenge to take the fictional character of Professor Shonku, the highly talented inventor with quirky manner.”