Bollywood

Ray trailer review: Netflix presents Satyajit Ray’s classic stories with a modern twist

Ray trailer: Manoj Bajpayee and an ensemble cast that inlcudes Kay Kay Menon, Gajraj Rao, Shweta Basu Prasad, Anindita Bose, and Harshvarrdhan Kapoor, star in Netflix’s new anthology series, based on the works of Satyajit Ray.

This week in trailers, Netflix dropped the trailer of its upcoming anthology Ray, based on filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s short stories. On the other hand, a new documentary titled Roadrunner sheds light on the life and legacy of chef Anthony Bourdain. The trailers of Vidya Balan-starrer Sherni, Kirti Kulhari’s Shaadishthan were also released earlier this week.

Helmed by Abhishek Chaubey, Srijit Mukherji and Vasan Bala, the anthology also features Gajraj Rao, Ali Fazal, Shweta Basu Prasad, Anindita Bose, Kay Kay Menon, Bidita Bag, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Radhika Madan, Chandan Roy Sanyal, and Akansha Ranjan Kapoor, among others.

Watch the Ray trailer here:

The trailer gives a glimpse of all four stories, and seems to be scored to the same song that Marvel has been using in the Black Widow promotions. We see Manoj and Gajraj’s characters, as they interact on a train journey; we see Harshvarrdhan as a ‘typecast actor’; and Ali as a ‘cutthroat corporate shark’.

In a statement, Chaubey said about his film, Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa, “I’m drawn to stories that twist with whimsy and humour. Hardly anyone crafts those better than Satyajit Ray and a chance to tell this story is a great opportunity for me. With Manoj Bajpayee and Gajraj Rao playing off each other on screen, Hungama Hai Kyon Barpa, I hope is as much of a joy to watch as it was to make. Super stoked about the show and can’t wait for people to watch it!”

Srijit Mukherjee, who directed two installments – Forget me Not and Bahrupiya -said, “Satyajit Ray has been a big inspiration in my life. After faithfully bringing two stories of Ray to life in Feluda Pherot, it is an honour and very fulfilling to reinterpret two more stories of Ray in a decidedly darker space. I also got the opportunity to work with a brilliant cast including actors like Kay Kay Menon, Ali Fazal and Sweta Basu Prasad across the two stories. I’m excited to see how the viewers will react to these imperfect and somewhat broken characters.”

Vasan Bala, who directed Spotlight, said, “Spotlight is inspired by the prolific and illuminating works of Ray. An opportunity that led me to collaborate with wonderful talent. It’s a pulpy, quirky, music-filled tale of some very interesting characters. Harshvarrdhan Kapoor, Radhika Madan, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and Chandan Roy Sanyal are in crackling form. Can’t wait for the audience to watch and react to it.”