Change is the only constant in life, they say, but Feluda aka Prodosh C. Mitter’s charm and our love for him have remained unchanged. A brainchild of Satyajit Ray, this popular fictional private investigator appeals to each age group and every individual in different ways. He could be a friend to an eight-year-old, an undisputed hero for someone who’s 18, a crush at 28 or someone to turn to all your life for a dose of adventure.
Feluda never grows old either. He is still in his late 20s. He still explores the many corners of this city, goes to New Market and Park Street, starts the day with yoga and shuts himself in a room, immersing himself in a book till the doorbell rings and a new client comes unannounced at 21, Rajani Sen Road, Kolkata 700029. He still dresses as sharp as his mind, acing panjabi or suit with ditto aplomb. He continues to fascinate us every single time we read or watch him.
So, here’s a mini trail to experience a slice of his life — by visiting his favourite restaurants and shops in the city, adding a few musts to the wardrobe, doing things that he enjoys, because today is the birthday of the man because of whom we got our Feluda. Read on…
Food for thought
The many adventures of Prodosh C. Mitter are an integral part of Bengali literature’s detective story genre. But across his stories are also several mentions of Kolkata restaurants and shops that have shaped the culinary heritage of the city over the years. Nizam’s is as dear as Trincas, and Abar Baithak, something that did not exist in Ray’s time, has made a special place in our hearts for the love of this man known for his magajastra.
Faluda's favourite, Sabitri Dalmoot Store
Sabitri Dalmoot Store at Hogg Market: Remember the deadly trio aka Felu Mittir, Topshe and Jatayu visiting Hogg Market and stopping by at Sabitri Dalmoot Store for some snacks, eventually meeting the twin Batras resulting in Joto Kando Kathmandute? So, when you are in New Market, not visiting this more than 125-year-old shop will be a crime in Feluda’s eyes, no? Also, since this was a favourite of Ray too, a halt becomes all the more inevitable.
Nizam's mutton roll
Mutton rolls at Nizam’s: A Bengali can outgrow many habits, but not having mutton roll is an offence. Period.
Interiors of Trincas Restaurant & Bar
To Trincas, with love: Feluda found an important clue on his visit to Trincas in Gorosthane Sabdhan, where he stumbled upon Thomas Godwin’s successor. Blue Fox might be extinct now, but Trincas stands tall carrying its legacy in the heart of the city. A visit sometime soonish sounds like a plan.
Abar Baithak Cafe
Abar Baithak cafe: A cafe in Feluda’s para — aar ki chai! Abar Baithak is one of the hottest sip-stops on Rajani Sen Road. You can simply stroll around the neighbourhood as you imagine Feluda showing up from somewhere and calling your name, asking you to hop onto a cab for a quick visit to the Park Street Cemetery or Esplanade on a quest for a clue or two. Or, you can sip a warm cuppa of Makaibari tea, another Feluda fav, and go back to re-reading Feludar Goyendagiri or Badshahi Angti.
Slay it like Feluda
A 6’2" feet man with sharp eyes, sharper wit and sharpest presence, wearing a panjabi with trousers is what can be best described as a time, traffic and even planetary movement-stopping situation. While it might be a bit of taboo for some to imagine Feluda setting the mercury soaring, well, he does. So, for all the men out there who openly worship Feluda and secretly wish to add some extra oomph like him, these fashion cues may come handy.
Effortlessly Bong: A minimalist panjabi, preferably in white, paired with blue denims is an eternal fashion statement that simply cannot go wrong. A Kolkata-based brand whose fits you can check out for the lookbook — this khadi panjabi with sleek embroidery from Dorji is perfect with a white or off-white pyjama, ripped or regular denims or trousers. Add a watch, put on the sunnies and while you cannot embark on an adventure, you can surely go on a date feeling Feluda-esque in your own way.
For the love of shawls: For most of us, our first encounter with Feluda happened in childhood. The importance of a good shawl in the wardrobe was not something that mattered back then. But with time and with many actors playing the role, the shawls left an imprint on us. You can slip into a monochrome kurta and throw a shawl from Pashmina Stories on your shoulder, light a cigarette (if you can manage a Charminar for the feels, but remember, cigarette smoking is injurious to health) and feel like Feluda, who cares even if it is just for a few moments.
Follow Feluda’s suit: Be it Parambrata, the newest Feluda on the block, who has graduated from being Topshe, Tota Roychowdhury, Sabyasachi Chakraborty or Soumitra Chattopadhyay — from where it all started, Feluda’s suit collection (without the tie) has been impeccable both in Ray’s sketches and in cinematic adaptations by Satyajit Ray, Sandip Ray, Srijit Mukherji or Arindam Sil. If you are binge-watching old movies or the new ones (Shabash Feluda is slated to release this week), note the specifics of a suit you liked on Feluda, get hold of the fabric of your choice and get it stitched by a tailor. The journey of joining bits and pieces and turning into something what he has worn is like a mini adventure, and curating the look is a special experience.
Live it up like PCM
Picking up lifestyle choices will come naturally, if you are pulling a Feluda on Feluda, i.e. observing him up close. We love to travel, but do we research about places like Feluda does? We hit the gym on some days and skip it on others, but Mr. Mitter never skips his yoga even when he’s sleep deprived. We love music, but don’t read encyclopaedias cover-to-cover to know everything. We don’t do a lot of things until this minute, but there can always be a start to take the little lessons from Feluda’s life and imbibe some in ours, perhaps as a tribute?
Travel like Feluda: Feluda’s love for exploring places has not been limited to crime scenes or mysteries. He started off his detective journey in Darjeeling, where he was vacaying with Topshe, but has explored places like Bombay to Panihati, Puri to Benaras, Gangtok to Nepal, nailing one mystery at a time with his magajastra. The sleuth has never limited himself to just finding clues, but has always taken a moment to marvel at what the place had to offer. He even laments not being able to experience the inexpressible feeling of watching the Kanchenjunga to Lalmohan babu in Darjeeling Jomjomat. While it is not advisable to hunt for crime, we can make a travel trail and visit all the places he has been to — the landmarks, lanes and bylanes that Ray penned and Feluda went to.
The knack towards finesse: Feluda is an avid reader. He reads Munshir Diary and Mahabharata with similar dedication and tenacity. He can have conversations on stamps, art and football and what not! He can dive deep into the encyclopaedias (kindly loaned by Jatayu in Bose Pukurer Khoon Kharapi) to know more about music and marvel at musical instruments. He can equally appreciate a golapi mukto or an Egyptian Anubis. Having varied interests is one of the many qualities that adds to his intriguing personality and observant mind, giving us an impetus to follow his footsteps.
Still from Srijit Mukherji-directed 'Feludar Goyendagiri' Hoichoi
Fishy affair: Feluda has an aquarium. Do we need any other reason to opt for one?
Fitness first: Foodie Feluda might enjoy what’s on his plate, but the yoga enthusiast also keeps himself fit at all times. While his patience does not wear off in front Maganlal Meghraj, in Joy Baba Felunath, he shows his fighting chops in Napoleoner Chithi, sprint skills in Badshahi Angti — leaping from a tonga near Lucknow station — practically giving a live demo on the importance of yoga-induced flexibility. While we scoop out some extra ice cream because, well, it’s summer, how about doing a few surya namaskars and kapalbhati too, just for the love of Feluda?
