My View on Anik Dutta’s Aparajito: The Undefeated (Bengali)🎥🎞️🎟️

Genre: Biopic

Directed by Anik Dutta

Writing and screenplay by Utsav Mukherjee

Cinematographer Supratim Bhol

Music by Debojyoti Mishra.

Cast: Jeetu Kamal, Saayoni Ghosh, Anjana Bose, Anusua Majumdar and others.

Theme: Renowned filmmaker invited in a talk show organised by All India Radio where he shares his experience about his debut film the struggle and hurdle they faced while filming.

Anik Dutta came with yet another masterpiece “Aparajito” biopic on the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Where the director shows the initial stage of Ray before entering into the world of Cinema. Many movie lovers know that Satyajit Ray used to work in ad agency where used to make sketches for books and different brands.

The entire film was shot in Black and white mode to bring a retro vibe in audience and Dutta successfully manage to create the exact vibe of Pather Panchali (Debut film of Satyajit Ray) in this film. Background score is perfect.

If I talk about the screenplay then it’s becomes slow in some scenes but that’s not a problem because sometimes to build a story on screen, screenplay has to slow down for the sake of good film.

Performance: In terms of performance Jeetu Kamal played the role as Aparajito perfectly on screen. There will be a battle in between audience and their mind whether they are seeing Satyajit Ray or an actor who’s portraying the filmmakers role undoubtedly perfect.

On the other side Saayoni Ghosh who portrayed as a wife of Aparajito Ray in the film and undoubtedly she performed very well it also gives us the message that behind success of every men there’s a women who stand behind him as a great support.

Other cast of the film did very well in their respective film. Anik Dutta showed each and everything in detail from casting to costume and making, art and background score. All Aparajito is worth to watch.

As I came to conclusion I want to share my experience firstly I have watched Bengali film in theatres after ages which made me nostalgic and secondly, when I visit to theatre what I noticed that audiences are approaching regional cinema more than bollywood films. Right now 5 regional films are running in theatre namely: Saunkan Saunkne(Punjabi), Aparajito(Bengali), Dharmaveer(Marathi), Sarkaru Vaari Patta(Telugu), Don(Tamil) and audiences are choosing their native language films and this made me very happy that people are supporting regional cinema and this legacy must continue.

101 Not Out Satyajit Ray: The One Man Industry.

Legends never die they come to this world to rule forever.

May 02, 2022 marks the 101 birth anniversary of none other than the renowned filmmaker, music composer, editor, Producer, screenplay writer Satyajit Ray The One Man Industry.

His contribution and achievements is not unknown to anyone. He took Indian Film Industry to the next level Indian Films got the global recognition somehow it won’t be wrong to say that he had a major contribution in this.

Satyajit Ray brought a new trend in Indian Film Industry the trend of making films on the Social Issues facing by our society. Jane Aranye(1976), sakha prasakha(1990), Apur sansar(1959), Aparajita(1956), Nayak(1963) and many more. Unemployment, Women empowerment, malnutrition, Dictatorship was his main focus.

It is needless to say that Satyajit Ray was one of those filmmakers who brought the trend of sequels. The Apu Trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Apur sansar), Teen Kanya(Postmaster, Manihara, Samapti), Goopi Bagha Trilogy(Goopi Gayen Bagha Bayen, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Goopi Bagha Phire elo) . All these movies covered recent scenario of the Society out of three, two films are adapted from the novels of renown writers and poet Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay and Rabindranath Tagore. In the initial days of Ray’s Filmy Career he used to make films adapted from novels mainly Rabindranath Tagore and Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay.

List of films adapted from the novels of greatest writers of the Indian literary society.

1. Aranyer Din Ratri by Sunil Gangopadhyay (1970)starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore, Shubhendu Chatterjee, Simi Garewal, Samit Bhanja and others

2. Charulata by Rabindranath Tagore (1964) starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Madhabi Mukherjee, Shailen Mukherjee.

3. Chiriyakhana: the zoo by Saradindu Bandopadhyay (1967) starring Uttam Kumar, Shubhendu Chatterjee.

4. Ghore Baire by Rabindranath Tagore (1984) starring Soumitra Chatterjee, Swatilekha Chatterjee, Victor Banerjee.

Apart from filmmaking he also wrote number of short stories and novels. Feluda still rules in the hearts of every generation some of his famous Feluda books are Sonar Kella, Badshahi Angti, Gangtoke Gondogol, Royal Bengal Rahasya, Chinnamastar Abhishap and many more. Apart from Ray other filmmakers have also tried their hand in making films or webseries on the based of these novels. Sandip Ray son of Satyajit Ray who followed his path and he is also famous for making films which has an essence of Satyajit Ray most of the Feluda films or tele films directed by Junior Ray.

Before I conclude I must add that writing about Ray is unstoppable cause no matter what how many times you research and write about him it’s still feels like I have missed something.

মহারাজা….. তোমারে সেলাম। Oh King….. I Salute.

5 Bengali comedy classic films you should not miss.

Bengali film industry which is also known as Tollywood has proved to be one of the successful film industry in India. It’s contribution for Indian Cinema is Infinite and special mention to Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Hrithik Ghatak. There was an era mainly 60s and 70s when Bollywood directors especially Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee used to make there films based on Bengali classics. Thriller and Rom-Com is the most successful genre that still audience of Bengal loves to watch.

Today I am going to discuss 5 Bengali Comedy Classics which you should watch atleast once in a lifetime.

5. Dhonni meye (1971)

**Dhonni meye** directed by Arabinda Mukherjee stars **Uttam** **Kumar**, **Jaya** **Bachchan,** **Partha** **Mukherjee** and others.

Synopsis: Bogola (Partha Mukherjee) is a captain of a football team Sarbamangala Club managed by Kali Dutta (Uttam Kumar). The team goes to a village Hardbhanga to play in the finals of a Manchester Shield . Gobordhan Chowdhury (Jahar Ray) is the president of the local football club and after losing the ancestral “Manchester shield” (named after his father, Manchester Chowdhury); decides to forcefully marry off Monosha (Jaya Bachchan) and Bogola to Keep the “Shield” in the family.

4. Mouchak (1974)

**Mouchak** directed by **Arabinda** **Mukherjee** stars **Uttam Kumar, Ranjit Mallick, Sabitri and Mithu Mukherjee**

Synopsis: Sitish Roy (Ranjit Mallick) an eligible bachelor lives with his elder brother Nitish(Uttam Kumar) and sister-in-law(Sabitri Chatterjee). He gets a job in a jute mill. Few days later, Sitish becomes frantic with the marriage proposals from local residents. Everyone including his office boss coaxes him to marry his aged daughter and numerous funny incidents start rolling

3. Basanta Bilap (1973)

**Basanta Bilap** directed by **Dinen Gupta** stars **Soumitra Chatterjee, Aparna Sen**, **Chinmay Ray, Rabi Ghosh** and others

Synopsis: Basanta Bilap is all about a hilarious clash between four boys and four girls. The whole story propagated through the sweet and sour relationship between those two groups.

2. Jamalai jibonto manush (1958)

**Jamalai Jibanta manush** directed by **Prafulla Chakrabarti** stars **Bhanu Bandyopadhyay** and others

Synopsis:- This film, based on the novel of Dinabandhu Mitra in the same name, Sidhu(Bhanu) is mistakenly sent to hell while he is still alive. He starts a revolution in hell and heaven, and chases Yamraj and Chitragupta. He eradicates outdated rules and norms that were framed by the Hindu God of Death, Yamraj, and his head clerk Chitragupta, while Bichitragupta assists him.

1. Gupi Bagha series (1969,1980,1992)

**Gupi Bagha Series** directed by **Satyajit Ray** stars **Rabi Ghosh, Tapen Chatterjee**

Synopsis: The story revolves around Gopinath Gyne alias Goopy and Bagha Bayen. Goopy sings terribly without melody, rhythm on other hand Bagha has been exiled for playing the drum badly. They soon make a team after encountering a tiger and start singing and drumming, but in the process attract a group of ghosts who are fascinated by their music. Happy with their performance, the king of the ghosts gives them three boons, all of which are only available to both all the time.

After eleven years of Goopy Gyne and Bagha Bayen Satyajit Ray made a sequel named Hirak Rajar Deshe(1980) and after twelve years of Hirak Rajar Deshe Sandip Ray son of Satyajit Ray made third instalment Goopy Gyne Bagha Bayen series named Goopy Bagha phire elo(1991)

There are many Bengali comedy classics which I haven’t mentioned here for that I’ll write another blog till then. Thank you

Source:

Wikipedia, IMDb, Cinestaan.