Tarini Khuro

Tarini Charan Bandopadhyay
Tarini Khuro character

Tarini Khuro – an old mane face with spectacles in eyes and pipe in mouth

Tarini Khuro
Created by Satyajit Ray
Portrayed by Paran Bandyopadhyay
Information
Nickname(s) Tarini Khuro
Gender Male
Spouse(s) Unmarried
Religion Hinduism
Nationality Indian

Tarini Khuro is a fictional character created by Satyajit Ray.[1] Literally it means respected uncle Tarini. Khuro in old colloquial Bengali means paternal uncle. The full name of Tarini khuro is Tarini Ranjan Bandopadhyay. Tarini khuro's adventure stories have a touch of supernatural forces in them. His earlier creations were Feluda and Professor Shanku. This character is central to about Fifteen stories written by Ray.

The character

Tarini khuro is an aged bachelor living Beniatolla Lane, at College Street in Kolkata (or what was then Calcutta).He first lived in Dhaka from there he was known to the father of the story-teller (Paltu). His full name is Tarini Charan Banerjee. He is a very efficient story-teller. He tells stories supposedly based on his long professional life. The audience is a bunch of 5 young guys.

The range of the stories are varied — from ghost stories (many of which are not horror stories though) to comedy stories. Most of the stories portray the quick wit of Tarini khuro in the face of imminent problems/dangers whereas some stories depict how Tarini khuro had some close shaves by the stroke of luck. Tarini khuro has worked fifty six different trades, both business and service trades, in thirty-three cities all over India. This has resulted in his unending stock of stories full of strange incidents which can easily surpass two volumes of The Arabian Nights. There is a little exaggeration in his storytelling for the sake of art. He has not stayed in the same job for more than a period of one year. At the age of 64 he has settled down in a flat in Beniatola Lane in Kolkata.

It may be observed here that like Premendra Mitra's Ghanada, Tarini khuro likes to tell tall tales, although unlike Ghanada, there is no way of ascertaining the veracity of these stories. Also unlike the caste-less Ghanada, Tarini is an upper caste twice born Brahmin. He has had an adventurous life and has (like his creator Ray) largely steered clear from the tremendous political (and social) upheavals that were so much visible in twentieth century India. Although Tarini is apparently born in a Bengali middle class family and is well-to-do in terms of inheritance and social networks, he seeks out occupations all over India (in other words, he does not limit himself to Bengal) for the sheer joy of doing so. And although it is clear that he does not enjoy the benefits of a pensionable service or an annuity or insurance policy, he has to tell tales to get his afternoon tea and snacks. It is also interesting to note that his audience consists of five school children in a middle class dual income Bengali family, who do not have time to spend with their children during the afternoons or evening.

The book

Tarinikhuror Kirtikolap (Meaning The Feats of Tarini Khuro) is a book written by Satyajit Ray which is the compilation of eight Tarini khuro stories. The book was first published in September, 1985 by Ananda Publishers. Later all the stories of "Tarini Khuro" were included in "Golpo 101" (Meaning One Hundred and One Stories),a book by Satyajit Ray. And there is a book, Tarini Khuror Abhijan (Meaning "The Adventure of Tarini Khuro") contains some stories of Tarinikhuro.

The plot

Paltu is a teenage boy who is the storyteller. Tarini khuro is not Paltu’s uncle, but from Paltu’s childhood he has seen Tarini khuro visit their place quite frequently. Before Paltu was born, Tarinkhuro and his family were neighbours in Dhaka. Hence, he was called khuro or uncle by Paltu’s father. He has remained khuro or uncle for Paltu and his five friends as well. Napla, one of the five friends of Paltu once called him grandpa only to be scolded by Tarini khuro. He asked him to call him uncle or khuro since he was fitter than a lot of young men.

Tarini khuro visits Paltu’s place and at once the news goes out to the other five friends. They all gather to hear the amazing stories from khuro. Tarinikhuro tells his amazing stories while enjoying the tea without milk as preferred by him, which is delivered by Paltu’s servant Lakshman. He also smokes his favourite brand of export quality bidi.

The adventures

Below are excerpts from a few of Tarini khuro's adventures.

Tarini khuro goes to Ajmer to work as a secretary of Seth Gangaram who is a patient of his uncle and very wealthy. Gangaram was a trader of jewels and has wealthy items like the locket of Jahangir. Gangaram appointed Khuro as the teacher of his notorious youngest son Mahabir. Mahabir did not like him at first and went on to throw scorpions at him but Khuro with his courage won his heart. Later on dacoit Tota Singh robbed Sethji and incidentally looked exactly like Khuro as Khuro had a Rajasthani style moustache at that point in time. The police were tipped of about Khuro being the dacoit and came to arrest him. But Mahabir saved Khuro by giving him sleeping pills in his drink and shaving his moustache and head as he was asleep.

Tarini khuro is appointed as the secretary of Virendrapratap Singh, king of Martandapur in Uttar Pradesh. Virendrapratap's father Rajendrapratap used to be a skilled cricketer in his day and had gone to England to watch the great Ranjitsinhji play. Ranjitsinhji had presented him a bat of his with which he had scored 202 runs for Sussex against Middlesex. Khuro has to play in a match against the British Planters' team for the Martandapur Cricket Club at the king's special request. Ranjitsinhji's amazing bat does the trick as khuro feels Ranjitsinhji himself has come inside him to play and eventually they win the match despite having a weaker team.

Tarini Khuro Series

Other characters

In other media

Radio

In Sunday Suspense series of 98.3 Radio Mirchi (Kolkata), many Tarini Khuro stories has been performed by Poran Bandopadhyay, Mir Afsar Ali, Deep (RJ), Richard (DJ) and various other artists.

Film

References

  1. ↑ "Tarini Khuro's screen saga". Times of India. 7 June 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "Ray's Tarini Khuro set for Bollywood debut". Retrieved 19 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Ananth Mahadevan to adapt Satyajit Ray's short story into film". Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  4. ↑ "Paresh to tell Ray's story". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
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