| Taranath Tantrik | |
| First: | Tarnath Tantrik-er Golpo by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay |
| Last: | Abar Taranath by Taradas Bandyopadhyay |
| Full Name: | Taranath Tantrik |
| Occupation: | Astrologer Practitioner of Occult Practices |
| Home: | Mott Lane in Central Kolkata (Previously Vagabond Saint) |
| Family: | Chari (Daughter) |
| Religion: | Hinduism |
| Nationality: | Indian |
Taranath Tantrik is a fictional character of Bengali literature created by the legendary Bengali novelist Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. Later his son Taradas Bandyopadhyay wrote several more stories featuring the character.[1]
Taranath Tantrik is a mystic figure and practitioner of occult. He lives with his daughter Chari in a house of Mott lane in central Kolkata after having lost most of his supernatural powers because of misuse of Tantra. The person looked like a man in his mid fifties. He is an astrologer by profession and had many encounters with the supernatural forces in his extensive travels throughout the Bengal.[2] He shares those experiences with two friends in his Mott lane house over cups of tea and cigarettes. It is stated that the writer is a regular visitor at Taranath's house, sometimes with his friend, sometimes alone.
In 1940, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay created the character Taranath[3] but he wrote only two short stories featuring this character and much of Taranath's life is displayed prominently through these two stories-
After Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, his son Taradas Bandyopadhyay continues writing stories featuring Taranath Tantrik. He wrote total six stories and novels. All the stories are supernatural and paranormal, based on dark arts, mystery and magic realism.[4]
Stories of Taranath was broadcast in Sunday Suspense at Kolkata Radio Mirchi.[5] Many stories of Taranath Tantrik were also aired later on Goppomir er Thek a podcast directed by Mir Afsar Ali. Bengali filmmaker Q alias Qaushiq Mukherjee has made Hoichoi web series named Taranath Tantrik based on the stories of Taranath. Koushik Roy and Jayanta Kripalni played the title role.[6] [7] [8] [9] The character was reimagined as TNT for a series of graphic novels by Shamik Dasgupta.[10] [11] In the year 2016, actor Tota Roy Chowdhury played as Taranath in Taranath Tantrik, a TV Series of Colors Bangla.[12] [13]