Legendary actor Dhritiman Chatterjee will play the title role while Subhasis Mukherjee will be seen as Nakur Babu on screen.
Director Sandip Ray said, "I duly took the permission from Nakur Babu (indicating Subhasis) before changing the name."
Dhritiman Chatterjee said, "Somehow I have a power to understand the depth and formation of a character but flesh out Professor Shonku is going a little bit time taking for me too."
Sandip Ray informed that he from the very beginning was confident about casting Chatterjee. Ray also said that he would definitely keep in mind what his father had written. It's sometimes becomes as a very tough job to execute and bring a character to life which has as a cult image people's minds.
"It's a weird mentality Bengali people and Bengali media have nurtured. Actually there must be a thin line between literature and film. A film is not a translated version of literature. We have seen Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock; did he looks-wise match with Doyle's imagination? I think no. We recently saw Kenneth Branagh as Hercule Poirot in 'Murder on the Orient Express' whereas earlier we saw Albert Finney in an adaptation of a same Christie story. So what?", adeed Chatterjee on the context.
Subhasis, who will portray the character of Nokur Babu said that it's a challenging role for him as Professor Shonku is a household name for every Bengali. As per the character created by legendary Satyajit Ray, Shonku has an international approach as he is a scientist with many friends abroad. He knows 69 languages and Ray formed the character based on Doyle's Professor Challenger and his father legendary poet Sukumar Ray's Hesoram Hushiar.
Shonku has a servant named Prohlad and a pet cat Newton and both will also be seen in the film. Sandip Ray said, "There was 'Ek Shringo Abhijan' in my wishlist but VFX part will be toughest to make thee, so I am making El Dorado first and if the results come out positive and satisfactory then next time 'Ek Shringo Abhijan' will be the definite choice."
He also added that he wants the film to go on the floor within the first half of March. Shooting schedules have been planned in Giridih, Kolkata and then Brazil and for having important supporting cast they have already sent the sketches of the characters to Brazil for the proper casting continuity. In context of casting Ray included that there are too many actors here who frightened to speak fluent English but for Dhriti da it will never happen as he is known to be one of the most noted and educated actors we ever have in Bengal.
"I have to learn Portuguese now," included Chatterjee in a very satisfying manner. Professor Shonku, earlier only had been published as a graphic novel and adapted on radio, but has been totally untouched by any audio-visual medium. It is finally going to hit big screen by the coming winter.
Initially, there was a plan to make the film bilingual, and initially, it will array in Bengali and then most of the dialogues will be in English. For the urban and suburban audience, the English part will be duly dubbed in Bengali with English subtitles.
Shrikant Mohta, co-founder of SVF said, "We had a dream to make Feluda and we succeeded, we also have a dream untouched of making Professor Shonku and we are elated that our dream is going to take shape finally."
As the production house earlier produced film like 'Chander Pahar', 'Yeti Obhijaan' and 'Amazon Obhijaan' which is all set to hit the screen this Christmas, is further going to shoot in South America's most fearful and unexplored jungle for 'Professor Shonku o El Dorado'.
Mohta agreed that it will be a plus point for the team to shoot in the Amazon again and this time it may be better as they gathered lots of experience last time. Notably, after 'Amazon Obhijaan', Soumik Halder will be behind the lens this time too. The music of the film will be in Sandip Ray's very own style. Like our dream projects like 'Chander Pahar', 'Yeti Obhijaan' or 'Amazon Obhijaan'; this time too budget will not be a problem. So Professor Shonku is also going to be a 'no problem budget' film which will definitely give Bengali cinema a new dimension.
