<p><b>Satyajit Ray</b> (1921-1991), polymath, polyglot, novelist, short-story writer, illustrator, designer, music composer, was one of the most eminent film directors of world cinema. His <i>Pather Panchali</i> (Song of the Little Road, 1955) established his position as a major film director, winning numerous awards. Recipient of the Lifetime Academy Award in 1992 'In recognition of his rare mastery of the art of motion pictures and for his profound humanitarian outlook, which has had an indelible influence on filmmakers and audiences throughout the world', Ray took Indian cinema to a grand platform hitherto unachieved by any Indian film director. "Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means,' said Akira Kurosawa, 'existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.'<br><br>While Ray's films are fairly well-known, his writings-fiction and non-fiction-written in Bengali and English continue to attract attention. His illustrations, design works, comic strips, science fictions, detective stories are gems of Indian literature. Ray's non-fictions are gems, which bring to lights his thoughts on film-making, film appreciation, composition of music, art, design and screenplay, among others. 'The Penguin Ray Library' is an endeavour to open a window to the master's writings to a wide spectrum of readers.<br><br>From the ever-popular adventures of Ray's enduring creation, the professional sleuth Feluda to the chronicles of Professor Shonku; short stories; writings on filmmaking; and thoughts on world as well as Indian cinema, among others, this anthology, a two-volume boxset, <i>The Best of Satyajit Ray</i> is not only a treat for the Ray enthusiasts but also a collector's edition.</p>

Satyajit Ray (1921-92) was one of the greatest film-makers of his time. In 1992, he was awarded the Oscar for Lifetime Achievement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In the same year, he was also honoured with the Bharat Ratna. Ray was also a writer of repute, and his short stories, novellas, poems and articles, written in Bengali, have been immensely popular. He has published several books in Bengali, most of which became bestsellers. He is also the author of the famous Feluda stories, the translations of which have been made available by Penguin.

Publisher’s Notevii
Forewordix
Bonku Babu’s Friend1
The Pterodactyl’s Egg15
The Hungry Septopus30
The Small World of Sadananda49
Anath Babu’s Terror62
The Two Magicians74
Shibu and the Monster87
Patol Babu, Film Star101
Bipin Chowdhury’s Lapse of Memory116
The Vicious Vampire126
Indigo137
Khagam151
Danger in Darjeeling168
The Emperor’s Ring193
Kailash Chowdhury’s Jewel271
The Key299
The Locked Chest329
The Mystery of the Walking Dead352
Alias Indir Thakrun394
The Making of a Film: Structure, Language and Style400
Aspects of Art in Bengali Cinema415
OnCharulata421Publisher’s Noteix
Forewordxi
Short Stories
Big Bill3
The Attic19
Bhuto29
Stranger42
The Maths Teacher, Mr Pink and Tipu55
Spotlight70
Uncle Tarini and Betal82
Chameleon97
The Citation113
Sadhan Babu’s Suspicions122
Gagan Chowdhury’s Studio132
A Duel in Lucknow145
The Millionaire155
I Am a Ghost166
The Two Comedians174
A Dream Come True183
Nitai and the Holy Man189
Uncle Tarini, the Maharaja197
The Scarecrow208
Kutum-Katam215
The Promise221
The Case of Mriganko Babu229
Professor Shonku Stories
Dr Danielli’s Discovery239
Prophecies by Don Christobaldi253
The Tree with Golden Leaves274
Feluda
Napoleon’s Letter317
Tintoretto’s Jesus362
The Disappearance of Ambar Sen428
The Gold Coins of Jehangir452
Crime in Kedarnath481
The Acharya Murder Case528
Murder in the Mountains575
The Case of the Apsara Theatre640
Peril in Paradise664
Shakuntala’s Necklace709
Feluda in London753
The Mystery of the Pink Pearl789