Enter the world of downloadable Ray from Thursday through a new website, satyajitrayworld.com. Founded by the Satyajit Ray Society, the website allows Ray lovers to download and print rare posters, book-covers, music notations, sketches and illustrations done by Satyajit Ray, an integral part of his film-making.
Among the posters you can download are the ones drawn by Ray himself-“Debi”, “Joy Baba Felunath”, “Apur Sansar”. “We want that younger audiences across the world should be aware of the multi-faceted talent that Ray was. Some rare downloadables available on the website from Thursday are a picture of costumes of Hirak Rajar Deshe, original music notations of a song from Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and the set design for Sonar Kella”, Arup K De, CEO of the Satyajit Ray Society told Hindustan Times.
This official site on Ray also offers surfers two new stories written by the maestro, “Syaldebota”, a Feluda tale and “Patalbabu Filmstar”, a story translated by Ray into English. What is also going to be important for hordes of Ray fans is a special section called “Ray news” which stocks up on all key Ray events across the world.
“Portugal recently honoured Ray with with a posthumous lifetime achievement award, followed by an exhibition of Ray memorabilia by Spain where Charulata’s saree worn by Mad habi Mukherjee in the film and clothes worn by the great master were exhibited. The Ray Society, on request, sent the items”, De said.
{{/usCountry}}“Portugal recently honoured Ray with with a posthumous lifetime achievement award, followed by an exhibition of Ray memorabilia by Spain where Charulata’s saree worn by Mad habi Mukherjee in the film and clothes worn by the great master were exhibited. The Ray Society, on request, sent the items”, De said.
{{/usCountry}}The website also offers a piece on Ray by Kathleen O Connell, who teaches a course on Satyajit Ray at the University of Toronto. O Connell, in her piece, narrates the story of her meeting with Ray and how she got to translate some of his works into English.
The Satyajit Ray Society is also collaborating with the Academy of Motion Pictures, California on the restoration and preservation of Ray’s films. The search is also on for a local vault to preserve a copy of the films which the Academy is gifting to the Ray society.
“We are also planning to launch a nationbal awareness campaign on Ray. The funds may be forthcoming from the Ford Foundation”, said DN Ghosh, President of the Society.
Rare stuff on the site:
Wes Anderson: Remembering Sonar kella
A page from Pather Panchali folder
Ray’s comic strips from Sandesh
Picture of Ray and Kurosawa
The 4 typefaces invented by Ray