GoOPy gYNe BaGHa bYNe...
A Classic By Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
Highly Recommended
Age group 6 - 100.
Genre - Comedy, fantasy, adventure
Language - English, (Obviously read the bengali one if you can read in bengali)
Introduction
Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne is a famous comedy fantasy adventure Children's Movie in Bengali made by the Renowned Satyajit Ray. In-spite of not being a Bengali myself I have seen the movie several times. This Children's Classic that was released in 1969 (i wasn't even born then) won critical acclaim and International awards of repute.
They say "Don't Judge the Book by its Movie" but what happens if you pick up the book because you have loved the much acclaimed Movie.
I picked up this book " Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne" by Upendranathkishore Ray Chowdhury. The book obviously is originally in Bengali. I picked up this book which is a English translation of the book. And yes, I cant read Bengali yet in-spite of being in Bengal for more than 2 decades and marrying a bong. YET! They say the true essence is lost if you read Bengali text in English. I have no choice. But here I am with a lovely book.
It has a foreword by Ruchir Joshi. I generally find myself skipping the introductions in my haste to get to the book itself, BUT, this time I read it and its a very Interesting foreword.
The two absolutely funnily lovable characters Goopy and Bagha are singer and drummer. They undergo some very comic fantasy adventures. It has 'comedy'; it has 'magic', It has 'fantasy' ; and it has 'adventure' seamlessly intertwined in the finest manner. The story displays Passion and Aspirations. It shows Persistence of following your dreams in a funnily comic manner. You will fall in love with absolutely adorable Goopy and Bagha.
About the Author
Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was a person with multiple talents. He was a famous Bengali writer, painter, violin player and composer, printing technologist and entrepreneur. He is the Father of the Famous writer Sukumar Ray. And he is the Grandfather of the even more famous Satyajit Ray - who made the much acclaimed movie!
Yes!
Oh! and who didn't know that!!
Well, I didn't!!
More about him here
The Book
Coming back to the book which is publish by Penguin/Puffin. It has been translated wonderfully by Swagata Deb. Though the recommended age group is 9+, my almost 7 year old is totally enjoying the book , giggling all the way. It has 200 pages and is published in 2015.
Description of the book by the publishers :
This book is a selection of the best of stories by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, and the most fascinating of his characters: Goopy and Bagha, dedicated but unsuccessful musicians who are cast out of their homes because their music drives their families and neighbors crazy; Tuntuni, the little bird; the clever fox; Majantali Sarkar, the cat; the intrepid Granny Hunchback; and many others. Swagata Deb s vibrant translation brings Upendrakishore s unique magic to a wider audience, giving a new lease of life to these evergreen tales.
The book is available in Starmark and Eurekabookstore (here) and Amazon (here)
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