Original English Film Scripts

Contents: Introduction. 1. Two. 2. Shatranj ke Khilari. 3. Sadgati. 4. Shakha-Proshakha. 5. Pikoo. 6. Ordeals of The Alien. 7. The Alien. 8. Banku Babu\'s Friend. Selected Notes.

Satyajit Ray started the creative process of making a film with the screenplay. This collection of film scripts and treatments written originally in English by Satyajit Ray is intended for both his fans and a reader new to Ray’s works. The collection consists of the scripts of Ray’s well-known feature and TV films as well as some lesser known works. Also included are a science-fiction script Ray wrote for a Hollywood studio and an early version of the idea of a space traveler who lands in an Indian village.

The Introduction by Sandip Ray and Aditi Nath Sarkar discusses the importance of these film scripts in Ray’s film-making and some of the key themes which recur in these scripts.