Satyajit Ray will come alive in my book, says actor-author Barun Chanda

Veteran actor and author Barun Chanda is all set to release his book Satyajit Ray: The Man Who Knew Too Much.

Chanda was also a part of a panel discussion about the late legendary filmmaker along with Shyam Benegal and Shantanu Moitra. It was a part of the inauguration of a gallery dedicated to Ray at the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai. 

Speaking about the occasion and his book, he said, “I am overwhelmed to be at this spectacular museum, and the gallery dedicated to Satyajit Ray is a great tribute to the legend. I have penned a book on Ray. You can call this book ‘the return of Ray’ for in its pages Ray comes alive as it were like never before.”

Moitra added, “It was a great moment to be part of a panel alongside the legends Shyamji and Barunda and to speak on Ray, his cinema and music. Ray’s cinema is unique in itself and the Satyajit Ray Gallery set up at the museum looks amazing.” 

Chanda is known for playing the lead character Shyamalendu in Ray’s Seemabaddha (1971). During the discussion, Chanda recalled that Ray initially didn’t give him the script of the film since he expected him to know his role. 

Three years ago, Chanda was present at the launch of author Amitava Nag’s book on the late filmmaker, Satyajit Ray’s Heroes And Heroines. While speaking at the launch, he had narrated an anecdote about Seemabaddha. 

Chanda had said, “After the reading session of Seemabaddha, one day he called me to his place and said, ‘Listen, Barun, since I have given you the role of Shyamalendu, I am considering that you are competent enough to play the character. However, if I ever feel that you are bringing into the picture something contrary to my vision then you will have to do that my way’.” 

Benegal recalled that Ray had given him 30 minutes of his time when he went to meet him. But the late filmmaker spoke for hours and it eventually culminated in the documentary titled Satyajit Ray, which was released in 1982.