Directed by: Satyajit Ray
Cast: Sharmila Tagore, Kaberi Bose, Simi Garewal, Soumitra Chatterjee, Rabi Ghosh, Subhendu Chatterjee, Shamit Bhanja, Pahadi Sanyal, Premashish Sen, Dibyendu Chatterjee, Samar Nag and Aparna Sen.
If I’m asked to name just one movie directed by THE Ray as my personal favorite then the title keeps changing depending on my mood, it varies from Nayak(1965) to Ganashatru(1989), sometimes it’s Mahanagar(1963) and most of the times I name Charulata(1964), but such is Ray’s cinematic appeal that it’s difficult to select just one! Right now depending on my mood it’s his classic tale Aranyer Din Ratri(1970), a timeless classic that somehow never fades or gets old.
Four young men in their late 20s and 30s from Calcutta set out on a weekend Escapade out in the wilderness, they bribe the housekeeper at a Dak Bangla to get rooms and embark on exploring the woods and a virgin village. Here each of these men is different from the other, though bonded with friendship and brotherhood their personalities, views and approach towards life is different, except love for alcohol. During their brief stay they encounter various experiences involving the local tribal folk as well as a family in the neighbourhood that subconsciously bring out the darker, hidden and noticeable changes in these men, while some accept the positive outlook there are some who are unable to comprehend the repercussions. When they leave the forest area to go back to Calcutta they visually appear unaffected by the day and night experiences they have had during the vacation.
Ray adapted famed author Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novel and any aspiring film maker should watch this to understand how a novel can be beautifully conceptualised into a movie without compromising in the name of cinematic liberty. Ray’s brilliant and sensitive handing makes the entire tale turn into a masterpiece on screen. Sprinkled with intrigue and human emotions it’s sheer pleasure to watch the conversations between the characters, so realistic devoid of drama or filmy Masala, the camaraderie between the four men is as real as reality should be.
One can’t judge Ray’s direction, a genius he has brought the onscreen proceedings visually alive, beautifully handled the sensitive and intimate sequences, love making never looked so aesthetic as Ray has portrayed it on the celluloid. Soumendu Roy’s cinematography is eye appealing and a visual treat, you don’t seem to miss the colour in this black and white classic.
The cast is magnificently fabulous, the best being the inimitable and handsome Soumitra Chatterjee as Ashim, splendidly awesome! Tagore is femininity personified, the vulnerability of her character is marvellously conveyed by her and even more convincingly portrayed by Ray, my personal favourite is also the lovely Rabi Ghosh as Shekhar.
Ask me in another two hours and I’ll name some other Ray gem as my favourite, the favourites keep changing but what remains constant is the love for a genius legend called Satyajit Ray.
P.S. isn’t there some Bollywood superstar who made an announcement that he would “allow” his heroine’s name to be billed before his during the opening credits of his movies, ahem just for the information the three primary female actors in this 1970 Ray movie are given a higher credit billing during the opening credits much before the men, hmm wouldn’t you term that true feminism? he was such a “Ray” of hope in Indian cinema!
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