Prodosh Chandra Mitra, or Feluda as he is also known, is a fictional detective in Bengali literature created by Satyajit Ray. There are a series of short stories and novels starring Feluda which have impressed Bengali readers. This quintessential Bengali sleuth lives at Rajani Sen Road, Ballygunge, Kolkata, and West Bengal, India. In the year 1965, Felu Da made his first appearance in a Bengali children`s magazine called Sandesh. His first escapade was Feludar Goendagiri. In almost all his cases Felu Da is accompanied by his cousin Topshe and in the later part of the series, a popular thriller writer Jatayu (Lalmohon Ganguli) entered the scene.
The character of Felu Da had been made into films at different times, where Soumitra Chatterjee and Sabyasachi Chakraborty played the lead role.
Development of the Feluda Character
The first story of Feluda was published in the year 1965 in Sandesh, a children`s periodical founded by Ray`s grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray Chauduri and edited by Ray himself. In the series that followed, the super Bengali sleuth, to solve cases, mainly relies upon his superb analytical ability and observation skill, referred mostly as `Magajastra` or brain-weapon, instead of using physical strength or weapons.
While taking up cases, he is indeed very choosy and goes for the ones that are cerebral and requires the use of `Magajastra`. He is a proud owner of .32 Colt Revolver but he doesn`t use this weapon frequently. He also has through knowledge of martial art and he put that skill to use for solving couple of cases. He is good at disguises too.
On a more personal note, FeluDa is a regular Bengali living with uncle and his cousin, Topse. His father was Late Jaykrishna Mitter, who was a Mathematics and Sanskrit Language teachers at Dhaka Collegiate School. Before taking up the profession of private detective, Prodosh Chandra Mitra taught in a school. He always enjoys giving class room like lectures and finds an enthusiastic listener in the form of his cousin Tapesh. He also uses his oratory skill to cajole the culprit in confessing their crime. He is an early riser and starts his day with yoga. Though he is very conscious about his health, Feluda enjoys smoking Charminar cigarettes and chewing betel leaves. Like most Bengali he is also lover of delicious food, famous movies and music and books.
Other characters
While reading a Feluda story, there are other essential characters that one may come across. Two of the most significant characters are Tapesh Ranjan Mitra and Jatayu, Lalmohon Ganguli or Lalmohon Babu. The character of Topse is based on the Arthur Conan Doyle`s conception of John Watson. Topshe is the quintessential assistant and devotedly records each of Prodosh Mitra`s exploits. Feluda lives with Topshe`s family. He is extremely fond and very protective of him.
Jatayu, Lalmohon Ganguli or Lalmohon Babu, is a close associate of Prodosh Chandra Mitra, and is portrayed as the novelist of a Bengali crime thrillers series, composed under the pen name `Jatayu`. His crime stories are typically scoffed as amazing, given that his protagonist superhero Prakhar Rudra is six-and-a-half foot tall.
Following is a list of hard cover edition books with some details:
| Name | Name in English |
| Badshahi Angti | The Emperor`s Ring |
| Gangtokey Gandagol | Trouble in Gangtok |
| Sonar Kella | The Golden Fortress |
| Baksho Rahashya | A Mysterious Case/ The Mystery of the Kalka Mail |
| Kailashey Kelenkari | A Killer in Kailash |
| Royal Bengal Rahashya | The Royal Bengal Mystery |
| Joi Baba Felunath | The Mystery of the Elephant God |
| Feluda and Co. - Collection Containing : | Feluda and Co. |
| Bombaiyer Bombete | The Buccaneers of Bombay |
| Gosainpur Sargaram | The Mystery of the Walking Dead |
| Gorosthaney Sabdhan | Trouble in the Graveyard |
| Chhinnamastar Abhishap | The Curse of the Goddess |
| Hatyapuri | The House of Death |
| Jato Kando Kathmandutey | The Criminals of Kathmandu |
| Tintorettor Jishu | Tintoretto`s Jesus |
| Feluda One Feluda Two- Collection Containing : | Feluda One Feluda Two |
| Ebar Kando Kedarnathey | Crime in Kedarnath |
| Napoleon er Chithhi | Napoleon"s Letter |
| Darjeeling Jamjamat | Danger in Darjeeling |
| Double Feluda - Collection Containing : | Double Feluda |
| Apsara Theatre er Mamla | The Case of the Apsara Theatre |
| Bhuswarga Bhayankar | Peril in Paradise` |
| Nayan Rahashya | The Mystery of Nayan |
| Feluda Plus Feluda- Collection Containing : | Feluda Plus Feluda |
| Golapi Mukta Rahashya | The Mystery of the Pink Pearl |
| London ey Feluda | Feluda in London |
| Robertson er Ruby | Robertson`s Ruby |
