Srijit Mukherji is taking audiences behind the making of Satyajit Ray’s beloved classic ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’ with his new film ‘Maharaja Tomare Selam’, exploring the pressures, choices and political atmosphere that shaped one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated works.
According to Variety, the National Award-winning filmmaker has cast Jeetu Kamal, Ritwik Bhowmik, Rudranil Ghosh, Satakshi Nandy, Sairity Banerjee and Arijit Dutta in the film. Hoichoi Studios and Friends Communication are producing it with Piyali Films Pvt Ltd, the original producer of ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’. Principal photography will begin in January 2027.
‘Maharaja Tomare Selam’, also the title of a song from Ray’s film, centres on Ray himself. It follows the challenges he faced while bringing the 1969 fantasy to life against the backdrop of a politically charged Kolkata.
“I am just trying to tell the incredible true story of how one of the greatest classics of Indian cinema, ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’, was conceived and made,” Mukherji said.
Released on 8 May 1969, Ray’s film followed two inept village musicians, Goopy and Bagha, played by Tapen Chatterjee and Rabi Ghosh. Banished from their homes, they received magical powers from the King of Ghosts and used them to prevent a war between two rival kingdoms. Beneath its fantasy, the film explored class and the role of art, themes Ray later turned into sharper political satire in the 1980 sequel ‘Hirak Rajar Deshe’. His son Sandip Ray completed the trilogy with ‘Goopy Bagha Phire Elo’ in 1992.
Ray’s career spanned more than three decades and produced landmarks including ‘Pather Panchali’ and ‘Charulata’. In 1992, shortly before his death, he received an honorary Academy Award for lifetime achievement, becoming the first Indian filmmaker to receive the honour.
Mukherji, known for his engagement with Bengali culture, won the National Film Award for best director for ‘Chotushkone’. His other notable films include ‘Jaatishwar’ and ‘Baishe Srabon’.
‘Maharaja Tomare Selam’ also follows a growing tradition of Bengali films revisiting Ray’s legacy. Anik Dutta’s ‘Aparajito’ portrayed the making of ‘Pather Panchali’, with Kamal playing a character modelled on Ray. Kaushik Ganguly’s ‘Apur Panchali’ explored the later life of Subir Banerjee, who played Apu in the film. Mukherji’s debut feature, ‘Autograph’, paid homage to Ray’s ‘Nayak’.
