Firhad opens park themed on Satyajit Ray's Sonar Kella

Firhad Hakim, state Urban development minister on Saturday launched the Sonar Kella Udyan , a park dedicated to Satyajit Ray in New Town.

This is the only park in the state that has been developed after the theme of a feature film directed by Roy. The film was released on December 27, 1974. Sonar Kella was produced by the then state government headed by Siddhartha Shankar Roy, when Subrata Mukherjee was the state Information and Cultural Affairs minister.

The film had bagged the national film award for best feature film in Bengali and Mukherjee had gone to New Delhi to receive the award on behalf of the state government. Sonar Kella is Ray's only film which does not have a female character.

Prodosh C Mitter, alias Feluda, Roy's immortal creation of a private detective had made his debut in Badshahi Angti, a Bengali detective story which came out in 1969.

The famous desert scene of Sonar Kella where Feluda, Topse his nephew and Jatayu were crossing the desert on camel back has been recreated with the help of models. In the park, there are cacti which are associated with Jayatu's famous question to Feluda whether camels eat cacti after segregating thorns. There are date palm trees, wall paintings depicting some scenes from the film and many more things. The desert of Rajasthan has been created impeccably. The park has once again proved New Town's slogan: There are no dull moments in New Town. Here you can keep expecting the unexpected.

New Town, which is coming up as a green city, has a number of parks including those for senior citizens, children and even for pets. A park for specially-abled children will be constructed soon. The green cover has been increased and Eco Park, an urban park has received a footfall of over 75 lakh people.