Title: Satyajit Ray Kathegalu Translated by: N Srinivasa Udupa Publishers: Prism Books Pvt Ltd 1865, 32nd Cross, 10th Main, BSK II Stage, Bangalore-70 Pages: 226+12; Price: Rs 165 Satyajit Ray, a well-known name in Indian and international cinema, was also famous for his short stories. Through special characters Feluda and Prof Shonku, he had written a series of detective and science fiction.
He also penned many short stories without using these famous characters. N Srinivasa Udupa, writer, critic and Kannada poet, is a peculiar combination of science and literature. He studied mathematics and English literature and retired as English professor. Fascinated by the short stories of Satyajit Ray, Udupa had translated 11 of Ray’s stories into Kannada.
Ray’s stories are known for their simplicity in structure and complex theme. He deals with humanism and simultaneously takes it to universality. He tells stories in the most unassuming way and ends suddenly with a startling revelation. The story leaves the reader amazed at the sudden twist in the tale.
The stories selected for translation are mostly built around middle class families and people, their dreams and realities. Ray has the peculiar ability to make the reader believe in the fantasies in his stories, making it appear very real.
Aman changes into a snake, a ghost recreates an incident for the writer, the story of a rare bird or the unicorn or a rare computer which can think independently and converse with humans – all these take the reader to a world of dreams. Ray had told these stories in such a perfect and logical way that the reader is left bewildered as to whether the incidents narrated were real or imaginary. Srinivasa Udupa had recreated these stories in Kannada with equal perfection and without losing the original vigour.
The translation has all the peculiar styles of Ray’s stories. The stories are so perfect that they don’t look like translations. Srinivasa Udupa has given these stories in a very straightforward and lucid way into Kannada.
He has captured Ray’s humanism and simplicity in a perfect manner. The book is worth preserving since the stories are thrilling and enjoyable always.