Kolkata band The Radical Array Project has released a six-minute video as a tribute to the films and music of Satyajit Ray. The animated video includes key scenes from Ray’s films Pather Panchali (1955), Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969) and its 1980 sequel, Hirak Rajar Deshe, the Feluda films Sonar Kella (1971) and Joy Baba Felunath (1979), and Ghare Baire (1984).
The instrumental song includes recreated versions of Ray’s film compositions such as the Feluda theme and the song Aha Ki Anondo from Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne clubbed with original melodies and rhythm sections.
The five-piece band comprises Arijit Paul (vocals), Anupam Pyne (keyboard/vocals), Swapnabha Roy (bass guitar), Suanjito Dutta (drums and percussion), and Bhaswar Sen, who, in addition to playing the viola and violin, is in charge of arrangements and composition.
Iconic moments from Ray’s films such as Apu and Durga seeing a train roll by the fields in Pather Panchali, the statue of the evil king being taken down in Hirak Rajar Deshe and the dance of the ghosts from Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne have been animated.
A clever moment includes Udayan Pandit, the teacher and social activist played by Soumitra Chatterjee in Hirak Rajar Deshe, lecturing the band members in a circle.