Kolkata, Feb 9 (IANS) Noted Bengali actor Sabyasachi Chakraborty, who essayed the role of super sleuth Feluda penned by maestro Satyajit Ray, has said it was his dream to play the role of the middle-class private detective that has mesmerised generations of Bengalis since the 1970s.

'It was my dream to play the role of Feluda which was effectively portrayed on screen by the maestro's son Sandip Ray,' said Chakraborty, who plays the role in the eponymous film 'Kailash-e Kelankari', subtitled in English 'A Killer in Kailash'.

'Feluda is like a role model for every Bengali and I am glad to play the role in the Feluda series,' Chakraborty told reporters during a felicitation ceremony here during which the crew of Sandip Roy's 'Kailash-e Kelankari' was felicitated by Amway India on completion of its 50 days at the box office.

Chakraborty had earlier played the role of Feluda in 'Bombaiyer Bombetey' four years back.

On the occasion, each member of the film unit was presented with a traditional 'uttorio' (shawl) and a memento. A large memento of 'Kailash-e Kelankari', crafted in wood, was presented to the team by Amway India vice-president (East) Diptarang Bhattacharjee.

'Kailash-e Kelenkari' was penned by Satyajit Ray in 1974, more than 30 years after he visited the Kailash temple at the Ellora caves. The story revolves around the blatant smuggling and illegal trading in ancient sculptures across the country. Detective Feluda steps in to solve the crime and nab the culprits. His nephew Topshe, and Lalmohanbabu, the writer of detective novels who goes by the name of Jatayu, assist him in his work.

When Satyajit Ray was a student of arts at Santiniketan, he was a disciple of painter Nandalal Bose. His mentor Bose gave him a letter when Ray wished to visit the famous Ellora Caves near Aurangabad in Maharashtra around 1940-41. Ray, an art student, had not gone there just to see the caves like a tourist, but also to sketch and draw the sculptures and the murals of the caves.

After getting off at Aurangabad station, he had to cover the distance of 32 km in a cow-drawn cart. It had taken him one full day to reach the caves. Ray was so fascinated with the beauty of the Kailash temple in the caves that it came back to him when he penned his crime thriller.

The film was shot in the Ellora caves of Maharashtra.

Sabyasachi had played Feluda in a Bengali television series made by Sandip earlier.

While actor Shashi Kapoor - a misfit for the role evidently - had played Feluda in a Hindi television series, the Bengali audience always loved veteran actor Soumitra Chatterjee as Feluda for his brooding expressions and refinement.

Chatterjee had immortalised Feldua films like 'Sonar Kella' and 'Joi Baba Felunath' in the 1970s under the able direction of Satyajit Ray.