Chander Pahar (franchise)

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Chander Pahar
caaNder paahaadd' Logo.jpg
Created by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
Original work Chander Pahar (1937)
Print publications
Novel(s) Chander Pahar (1937)
Chander Upatyaka (2015)
Rajhangsir Sarobar (2017)
Comics Moon Mountain (2014)
Amazon Obhijaan (2017)
Films and television
Film(s) Chander Pahar (2013)
Amazon Obhijaan (2017)
Audio
Radio program(s) Chander Pahar (Sunday Suspense)
Soundtrack(s) Chander Pahar (2013)
Amazon Obhijaan (2017)

Chander Pahar is an Indian Bengali language franchise consisting of novels, graphic novels and a film series. The original work is a 1937 novel [1] named Chander Pahar , written by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. [2] It was translated to English in 2002 by Santanu Sinha Choudhuri and Pradeep Kumar Sinha, published by Orient Blackswan. The English version of the novel was titled Mountain of the Moon. Bandyopadhyay’s story was adapted into a Graphic novel and a live-action film in 2013. [3] A sequel to the 2013 film Amazon Obhijaan , written by the director of the first film Kamaleswar Mukherjee, is released in Christmas 2017. [4]

Contents

Original novel Chander Pahar (1937)

Plot

This novel tells the story of an ordinary young Bengali man, Shankar Roy Chowdhury, as he adventures in Africa in the years 1909 and 1910. After graduating from college at 20-years-old, his family's financial struggles almost force him take a job in a jute mill in Shyamnagar — a prospect he absolutely loathes.

Because loves the subject of geography, he wants to follow the footsteps of renowned explorers like Livingstone, Mungo Park, and Marco Polo. He wants to explore the wilderness, passionate for learning about African forests and animals. By a stroke of luck, he gets a job as a clerk at the Uganda Railway and rushes to Africa without a second thought.

After a few months laying rail tracks, he encounters the first of many dangers in pre-World War I Africa: a man-eating lion. Later, he takes up a job as station-master in a desolate station amidst the Veldts, where he to narrowly escapes a deadly black mamba. While at this post, Shankar encounters, rescues and nurses Diego Alvarez, a middle-age Portuguese explorer and gold/diamond prospector. Alvarez's arrival becomes a turning point in Shankar's life.

While recovering, Alvarez describes his exploits in Africa with his friend Jim Carter. He explains that, lured by the prospect of a priceless yellow diamond from a Kaafi village chief, Alvarez and Carter searched for these yellow diamond caves, on the Mountain of the Moon (Chander Pahar) in the Richtersveld. Rumors suggested a mythical monster, the Bunyip, guards the mine. The explorers set off into the dense jungle, much against the villagers' advice, and Carter was gruesomely killed, supposedly by the Bunyip.

Shankar, inspired by Alvarez's exploits, resigns from his job and accompanies Alvarez to venture again for the mines. They meet hardships, like a raging volcano. Eventually, they get lost in the forests where Alvarez is killed by the Bunyip. Demoralised, Shankar tries to return to civilization. He finds the Bunyip's cave and the diamond mines by accident. Almost getting lost, he finds the remains of the Italian explorer, Attilio Gatti, and learns that the cave is in fact the diamond mine.

Leaving, he becomes lost in the deserts of Kalahari and nearly dies of thirst. Fortunately, he is rescued by a survey team and taken to a hospital in Salisbury, Rhodesia, from where he sets sail for home. Before going back, he writes his account in a newspaper, earning him money. He names the volcano after Alvarez. He ends the book saying that he will return to the cave one day with a large team, and continue the legacy of Alvarez, Carter, and Gatti.

Sequels by other writers

Chander Upatyaka (2015)

Prasad Das Bandyopadhyay is now at Brazil and doing rubber business. Where Shankar was called by him to take a part in that business. Soon Shankar finds that he has been called here for a different reason. He learns, the treasure of last Inca king Atahualpa was hidden somewhere in Amazon. He tries to explore the place.

Rajhangsir Sarobar (2017)

Prasad Das Bandyopadhyay is now at Russian jail. A mysterious lady invites Shankar to Russia to hel Prasad Das. After arriving Russia Shankar gets involved into a conspiracy, which might led to a worldwide devastation.

Characters

Introduced in Chander Pahar

Introduced in Chander Upatyaka

Introduced in Rajhangsir Sarobar

Graphic novels

Moon Mountain
Date15 Feb 2014
Page count160 pages
Publisher Penguin India
Creative team
Writers Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
Saurav Mohapatra (essay)
Artist Sayan Mukherjee
CreatorBibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
Original publication
LanguageEnglish
ISBN 9780143332589

Moon Mountain (2014)

Moon Mountain is a 2014 Graphic novel adapted from Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's classic Chander Pahar. The graphic novel is published by Penguin Books India, has its script written by Saurav Mohapatra with illustrations by Sayan Mukherjee [6] [7] [8]

Amazon Obhijaan (2017)

Amazon Obhijaan is a 2017 Graphic novel based on the film of the same name. [9] The graphic novel is written by film's director Kamaleswar Mukherjee, and available in two languages - English and Bengali. [10] The graphic novel acts as a promotional activity for the film. It is released on 11 November 2017. [11]

Films

Chander Pahar (2013)

A film based on the novel, directed by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee was released on 20 December 2013 (27 December 2013 in all over India). [12] The film, poorly received by critics and the Bengali audience,[ citation needed ] was produced by Shree Venkatesh Films and has been shot on locations across Africa. It was reportedly being made with a budget of nearly 150 million (US$1.9 million), making it one of the most expensive in the Bengali film industry.

Director Kamaleshwar Mukherjee mentioned Chander Pahar as his "Dream Project". The film has reportedly incorporated CGI and visual effects at par with Hollywood and Bollywood standards. Dev plays the role of the main protagonist, Shankar. [13] Most of the other cast members are from South Africa. According to the crew members, it took a considerable time to decide who would play the role of Diego Alvarez, and South African actor Gérard Rudolf was selected. The first theatrical trailer of the film was released by Shree Venkatesh Films, at the Kolkata Nicco park on 14 November 2013.

Shooting locations include Kruger National Park, the mountains of Drakensberg, and the deserts of Kalahari. [14]

Amazon Obhijaan (2017)

According to a Bengali magazine, director Kamaleshwar Mukherjee is already penning the script, taking the story forward from where it left and Dev has been quoted as saying that the next location, after the African safari, will be the dense forests of Amazon rainforest. [15] The film has been titled Amazon Obhijan. [4]

The story of the film is original, written by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee with some character reprising their roles from the original Chander Pahar . Reportedly it will be made with a budget of whopping 20 crores. [16]

The shooting of this film has been started from May 2016 and ended in July 2017. [17]

Shankar's Next Adventure (TBA)

A sequel to Amazon Obhijaan is instantly announced after the release of the film. Commonly referred as Shankar's Next Adventure the film announced along with 24 more films of 3 upcoming years. [18]

Cast and characters

CharacterFilm
Chander Pahar
(2013)
Amazon Obhijaan
(2017)
Shankar's Next Adventure
(TBA)
Shankar Roy Chowdhury Dev
Shankar’s mother Laboni Sarkar
Shankar’s father Tamal Roy Chowdhury Tamal Roy Chowdhury
(Photo only)
Diego Alvarez Gérard Rudolf Mentioned only
Jim Carter Martin Cito Otto
Turumal Appa Nabeel Khan
Attilio Gatti Andrew Stock
Albuquerque David James
(cameo)
Zulu Chief Peter Moruakgomo
Zulu King Matthew Monika
Patel Rafiq Jibhay
Prasad Das Keith Gendagoo
Dan Mabiru Luthuli Dlamini
Masai Chief Ramambila Muladelo
Bunyip Animated character
Marco Florian David James
Ankoma Eduardo Munniz
Anna FlorianSvetlana Gulakova
DoctorAugusto Cesar

Crew

OccupationFilm
Chander Pahar
(2013)
Amazon Obhijaan
(2017)
Director Kamaleswar Mukherjee
Producer(s) Mahendra Soni
Shrikant Mohta
Screenplay Kamaleswar Mukherjee
Story Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay Kamaleswar Mukherjee
Composer(s) Indraadip Das Gupta
Debojyoti Mishra
Indraadip Das Gupta
CinematographySoumik Haldar
Editor Raviranjan Maitra

Release and revenue

FilmRelease dateBudgetBox office revenue
Chander Pahar 20 December 2013150 million (US$1.9 million)200 million (US$2.5 million) [19] [20]
Amazon Obhijaan 22 December 2017200 million (US$2.5 million) [21] 486.3 million (US$6.1 million) [22] [23]
Total350 million (US$4.4 million)
Two films
686.3 million (US$8.6 million)
Two films

Awards and nominations

Chander Pahar

YearAward NameResult
2014 Filmfare Awards East for Best Film – Bengali [24] Won
Filmfare Awards East for People's Choice Best Actor – Global - (Dev) for Mountains of the moon Won
Filmfare Awards East for Best Director – Bengali - Kamaleshwar Mukherjee Nominated
Filmfare Awards East for Best Actor Male – Bengali - (Dev)Nominated
Tollywood National Award for Best filmWon
Tollywood National Award for Best film in criticsWon
Tollywood National Award for Best Actor (Male) (Dev)Won
Star Jalsha Entertainment Award for Best Film of the yearWon
Star Jalsha Entertainment Award for Best Actor (Dev)Won
Zee Bangla Gourab Somman Awards for Biggest Superhit film of the yearWon
Zee Bangla Gourab Somman Awards for Best Actor (Male) (Dev)Won
Zee Bangla Gourab Somman Awards for Best Director Kamaleshwar Mukherjee Won
Kalakar Awards for Best Actor (Dev)Won
Kalakar Awards for Best FilmWon
Kalakar Awards for Best Director (Kamaleshwar Mukherjee)Won

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mountains of the Moon (Africa)</span> Legendary mountain range in east Africa

Mountains of the Moon is a legendary mountain or mountain range in east Africa at the source of the Nile River. Various identifications have been made in modern times, the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo being the most celebrated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay</span> Indian Bengali author (1894–1950)

Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay ; 12 September 1894 – 1 November 1950) was an Indian writer in the Bengali language. His best known works are the autobiographical novel Pather Panchali, Aparajito (Undefeated), Chander Pahar and Aranyak.

Mountains of the Moon may refer to:

<i>Chander Pahar</i> 1937 adventure novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay

Chander Pahar is a Bengali adventure novel written by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and published in 1937. The novel follows the adventures of a young Bengali man in the forests of Africa. The novel is one of the most-loved adventure novels in the Bengali literature and is one of Bibhutibhushan's most popular works. It spawned a media franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saurav Mohapatra</span> Writer and filmmaker

Saurav Mohapatra is a filmmaker and writer based out of San Francisco, California, USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dev (Bengali actor)</span> Indian actor, producer, politician

Deepak Adhikari, known by his stage name Dev, is an Indian actor, producer, singer and screenwriter, known for his works in Bengali cinema and more recently, a politician. He owns the production house Dev Entertainment Ventures.

<i>Meghe Dhaka Tara</i> (2013 film) Indian Bengali film by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kamaleshwar Mukherjee</span> Indian Bengali film director and actor

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<i>Chander Pahar</i> (film) 2013 Bengali film by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee

Chander Pahar is a 2013 Indian Bengali-language action-adventure film based on Chander Pahar by Bengali novelist Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, directed by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee and produced by Mahendra Soni and Shrikant Mohta under the banner of their production house Shree Venkatesh Films. It features Bengali actor Dev in the lead role as Shankar. This is the first collaboration between Dev and Mukherjee, the latter having made only two films before: Uro Chithi and Meghe Dhaka Tara.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shankar Ray Choudhuri</span> Fictional character of Bengali novel

Shankar Ray Choudhuri is a fictional character and the hero of the novel of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Chander Pahar, a young Bengali man from a village in undivided Bengal, India. He is a smart, brave person who has a penchant for adventures. A franchise has been adapted from the novel which features Shankar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diego Alvarez (character)</span> Fictional character in a Bengali novel

Diego Alvarez is a fictional character in the Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay novel Chander Pahar. He is a Portuguese explorer and Gold / Diamond Prospector. He acts as a friend and mentor to Shankar Ray Choudhuri, and together they try to explore the deepest reaches of Richtersveld for the Mountain of the Moon. His name isn't really Portuguese but Spanish, the correct form in Portuguese would have been Diogo Álvares.

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