Satyajit Ray, the doyen of Indian films

jyotirmoy

Thank you bhai edwardseco if you had liked the post I would consider the effort on my part well spent. At this age recollecting these is a tremendous task and typing? Ask my weary fingers !!!

Scandojazzbuff

Watched 36 Chowringhee Lane recently and have to disagree with you about 'not in the same league as them masters'. It's a masterpiece movie, IMO, and truly great acting by the Anglo woman. Very impressive and sensitively done.

Aishah

Interesting background story, Jyoti, and I've learned a few things from it that I didn't know. Strange coincidence - yesterday I posted in 'Who's read...thread about the Satyajit Ray story I read at lunchtime - in a collection of stories for young people published by the National Book Trust. I love his writing, particularly the detective ones.

__________________
"Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

jyotirmoy

Aishahji are you digging in to Ray's Felu da seies?
Some quite funny and not so funny incidents took place while shooting Soner kella(Golden fort) in and around where you stay.
I am trying to recollect and will write soon.

Aishah

Please do - I have read most of the Feluda stories about four years back including the Sona kella one. This would be interesting to hear, Jyotiji.

theyyamdancer

Well, I really liked the film of Sonar Kellar starring Feluda. I realize it was based on a well-known book. What I don't know is whether that book (or the others in the series) are translated? Aishah? Jyoti?

brishti

i agree to disagree



:brishti

brishti

yyam:
the entire feluda series is available in english its actually available in an omnibus now. a great read... get it on your next trip here!
ray's magazine articles were also magnificent...

remember, ray visualised/designed for ad agencies - he designed the first wills/navy cut cigarette packet - the red band across was his signature!
[ the band that ITC has done away with now ]



:brishti

jyotirmoy

Gautam, Rituparna and Buddhodeb Dasgupta are al talented and serious film makers.
Buddhodeb's Kaalpurush is a wonderful film.

Tapan Sinha who enthralled me in my young days with very enjoyable films has been awarded Dadasaheb award. A month or two ago I watched his Hate bazare after ages and my daughter saw it for the first time.

theyyamdancer

Oh, wonderful, thanks Brishti!

Aishah

Yes, mine was in a collection of about 5 of his Feluda stories that I found in the English lang. cupboard in our Jaisalmer library! Haven't been there for 5 years now - the librarian never added any books except the ones I donated and I read the 'cupboard' in 3 and a half years.

jyotirmoy

In Soner Kella detective Felu da’s car broke down due to an act of sabotage by villain Monder Bose. The desperate team comprising Feluda, his assistant Topse and writer of detective fiction Lal Mohun Babu had to hire camels and rush to the nearest railway station to catch the train to Jaisalmer. To shoot the train sequence it was necessary to find a stretch of track which must run through wilderness and a metalled road next to it. The camera would be mounted on a car which would run along with the train.
The entire stretch of the route from Jaisalmer & Jodhpur was examined and only one such stretch could be found around eighty kilometers from Jaisalmer towards Jodhpur. I can not recollect the name of that place now.
There used to be a train in the morning that went from Jaisalmer to Pokhran and it was decided to use this train for the shooting. But for some reason, may be a sudden rise in the cost of coal this train service was discontinued before the shoot.
Ray himself went and met senior railway officers and explained how important this sequence was for the film. The officers agreed to loan a train to Ray for his shoot but Ray would have to pay for the coal which Ray accepted.
The plan was that the train would arrive at Pokharan at 11 AM next day for the shoot. The film crew & Ray had been staying in Jaisalmer, courtesy Maharaja of Jaisamler. Ray and the crew travelled to Pokhran by car from Jaisalmer.
At 11 AM there was no sign of the train although the camels were there fully decked up. When Ray was about to pack up around 2:30 PM the train was sighted. This was during winter so the sunlight would start fading soon. The engine driver was explained what was to be done and at what speed he should drive the train. The first take would be the train chugging along spewing a thick coloumn of black smoke against the sky.
The train chugged on, camera started rolling and reached the desired spot. The stoker was so engrossed in watching the shooting that he forgot to put fresh coal before the stretch so only a thin wisp of smoke came out of the chimney. The train had to be stopped made to go back and start again. Just to be sure a crew member travelled in the engine. This time the stoker did his job well and the shot was taken. Soon after this the sunlight became yellow orange so it was pack up time.
Next day the train arrived in time and shooting commenced. In this shot the trio Feluda, Topse and Lal Mohon babu on camel back would spot a train and rush to the track waiving handkerchiefs shouting “roko,roko”….. Halt halt but the train would chug away leaving them. The driver heard Soumitra shouting “roko,roko” and stopped the train. A few hundred feet of colour stock got wasted.

Aishah

Fascinating stuff - I must look out for that stretch of rail line next time I go to Jodhpur by car. i know there is a section after Chandan towards Pokhran but from the sounds of it this stretch is closer to Pokhran. The trials and tribulations of film shooting indeed!

nayan

Theyyam

see this link in amazon... there are other similar links.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Adven.../dp/0141000147

Scandojazzbuff

What is your opinion of Ray's Mahapurush? How does this stack up against his other work?