Exclusive! Feluda on stage: Maganlal Meghraj, aka Jay Badlani, recounts his meeting with Utpal Dutt

On September 16, Ankur Natyadal Kolkata will stage its adaptation of Satyajit Ray’s 1989 novel Golapi Mukta Rohosyo. Shoumo Banerjee will be seen as Feluda, while Jay Badlani will play the character of Maganlal Meghraj. The play is directed by Subhadip Chakrabarti, who will also play Lalmohon Ganguly, aka Jatayu. Topshey will be portrayed by another group member, Chayan. Before the show, Jay Badlani talked to OTTplay about his meeting with legendary Maganlal Meghraj, Utpal Dutt. 

Also read: Exclusive! Feluda on stage: Shoumo Banerjee to play the sleuth and Jay Badlani, Maganlal Meghraj 

Talking about their first meeting, Jay said, “When I walked into a makeup room for the first time in my life, I saw him (Utpal Dutt) sitting there and reading a book. He looked up and asked in his baritone, ‘Ki Chai (What Do you want)?’ I explained that I was supposed to act in the same film. He said, “Part kora hochhe (So, you are acting)!’ We were in that makeup room for 45-odd minutes, and I was so scared of his personality. It was Sukhen Das’ Nyaydando – my debut. It was the debut for Arjun Chakraborty also.” 

Despite being an ardent admirer of Utpal Dutt, Jay said that he wanted to bring his own input as an artiste in playing Maganlal Meghraj. “I watched Utpal Dutt and others playing Maganlal. It is an iconic character. From the beginning, I made sure that my portrayal did not look like a copy of anyone. I thought a lot about the character and I am trying to make it my own Maganlal Meghraj,” said the actor. 

Also read: Shoumo Banerjee on playing Feluda: It is like a dream-come-true moment for me | Exclusive 

It was radio jockey Agnijit Sen – one of the key characters of the theatre group – who approached Jay to portray the character. “We were working on Sudipa Basu’s Drishti Konya. I thought it would be a golden opportunity for me,” he said. 

The stage rehearsals with light and makeup took place on September 8 and 9. “After these two days, I will be travelling to Mumbai. After I come back, we will stage the play,” he said.