Satyajit Ray, the doyen of Indian films

Scandojazzbuff

Why is that, Jyoti?

theyyamdancer

Scando,

You asked whether Satyajit Ray had written any stories. Well, he was first and foremost known as an illustrator.

He was also famous for the translations he made of his father Sukumar Ray's Nonsense Poetry, Abol Tabol. If you do a search on IM you'll find other threads on this subject, in particular "Nonsense Thread" started by Paagla Dashu, here:


http://www.indiamike.com/india/kolka...thread-t21548/


with contributions on the subject by Jyoti and Natasha Chanda Acharya, amongst others.

Take another look at the thread I started "City of Satyajit RAYdiance" where various people have written about Sukumar, from memory I think mousourik and Khak and Kabaary.

Satyajit Ray also wrote a number of short stories, the most famous of which feature the detective Feluda, and which have been translated into English (see a recent discussion I had with Aishah and Nayan on the book thread - who's been reading what, etc.).

He also wrote a series of science fiction stories with a character called Professor Shondu, I mean Shonku.

I would like to talk about Nayak but am waiting for Jyoti to write something first.

nayan

Professor Shonku.

theyyamdancer

Thanks, Nayan, for correcting me. Please tell us more!

jyotirmoy

Dear Scando,
Let me repeat that Nayak is a neatly made good film but to quote Andrew Robinson from his book The Inner Eye " Of course, it is alright, in fact it is first-rate by ordinary standards of cinema - it is just not Ray at his best." This is the concluding line of his treatise on Nayak.
If you look at the worries and tension of the star shown thru jumpy flasbacks you will find them too predictable. Uttam's presence didn't help much in fact in my opinion he failed to project the star in a conclusive and acceptable manner. Sophistication & elan are missing. The shot showing him and Sharmila facing each other in the restaurant car shot in profile Utttam appears insufficiently masculine for an idol.
These are few of the reasons why I said it is not a favourite of mine.

theyyamdancer

Personally, I liked "Nayak" a lot. The enclosed space of the train (not unlike the "Doll's House" of the domestic space in Charulata) makes for an interesting confrontation between the journalist played by Sharmila Tagore and the Uttam Kumar film-star. In normal life they would never have met, but here in the 'huit clos' of the train, for the duration of the journey, they meet on equal terms, and each in turn drop their 'masks' that they usually wear in society. They talk to one another on equal terms, free of caste or sex discrimination. He admits his fears to her and she is ultimately unable to exploit his confidences and tears up her notes, leaving their conversation private and confidential. Each has been enriched by the meeting.

Scandojazzbuff

Yes, I think you hit it squarely on the head. Ray loves to get 'personal' in his movies, usually focusing on a particular theme and developing the story. Both Brishti and Jyoti seem not particularly impressed with the movie. It makes me wonder if the cultural association of the Bengali script has meaning we cannot understand as 'outsiders'. And, as Indians, whether certain themes hold more interest to them than others, or hit certain notes in their background that they respond to more deeply. We are at the mercy of the subtitles and its translator. Makes me want to kick the subtitler of Charulata.

Watched 'The Edge of Heaven' last night. Fatih Akin directed. German/Turkish movie by same director as Gegen Die Wand, a very wild film. Very good movie.

jyotirmoy

I couldn't find Brishti's post on Nayak so I don't know what her views would be.
I would add some more to the adda but our Saturday dinner had been luchi, aloor chenchki(a potato preparation flavoured by mustard oil & panch phoron only) and Kasha Mangsho ( a semidry preparation of mutton)... the luchis are being fried in Gawa Ghee (aromatic cow milk ghee) and I have the dhani lankas... midget chillies offering to uniniated could land you in jail for manslaughter so join you after the grub

brishti

have seen nayak many moons ago... dont really remember it well enough to comment on it.
only thing i do remember however, was seeing uttam kumar in a ray film
heck, whatcanisay... uttam kumar was always this suave gent in white dhoti + white shirt... and then suddenly he's this suited-booted dark glasses kinda guy...



:brishti

jyotirmoy

Shall we discuss the next phase of Ray's films when he moved to the detective stories... Felu da written by him?

mousourik

yes, absolutely, the most intelligent character who solves mysteries with magojastro (brain-power).

jyotirmoy

I think Soner Kella was the first one.... and Lal Mohun babu what a character

theyyamdancer

Just noticed this discussion! Yes, Sonar Kella and Joi Baba Felunath are great. As well as Chiriakhana.

Is it true that Feluda was a little bit autobiographical? Soumitra Chatterjee who plays Feluda once made this remark to Satyajit Ray.

Scandojazzbuff

Such a subtle title for this Ray thread Jyoti. I almost missed it! Unfortunately, I have not caught up to this period. In fact, watched Pather Panchali this afternoon. What a wonderful movie. So lovingly crafted. I think it is going to take me some months to be able to contribute any meaningful thoughts to these discussions, but, I am now looking forward more than ever to viewing all his films.

theyyamdancer