Thursday, January 12, 2012

PATHER PANCHALI


Why do we watch a movie? For different reasons all right! But the most basic reason is that we want to have a good time, relax, enjoy and unwind from a tiring day and the most important element we look for in the movie is entertainment. How often do we watch a movie for the sheer brilliance of the maker and for the splendor of his creation! Which is why, I am very happy that I watched Pather Panchali last week. I had tried watching it a month ago but couldn’t and eventually returned the movie. I am glad it gave me a second chance by getting into my line of sight at the library last week again. Otherwise I would have been deprived of what is considered as one of the greatest films ever made.   

The movie starts with a cute little girl stealing guavas from an orchard (that was once theirs). She then comes home and silently hides it in her grandmother’s basket. The expression in the face of the old lady (who has been neglected by everyone else), when she sees that fruit is one gem that wouldn’t leave your memory soon. And I tell you: Not many movies make me cry. Well, Pather Panchali means “Song of the Road” or “Lament of the Path”. To me it is a beautiful song of a loving family, filled with joy and pain, love and anguish. It is the best human document I have ever seen!

The story is a painful chapter in the lives of an impoverished family living in the decrepit ancestral home in a small village. The father, Harihar, is a simpleton who earns a meager living as a priest and is easily exploited by others. But he is very talented and dreams of being an author of scholarly plays and poems. His wife’s character Sarbajaya, is a beautiful portrayal of a struggling embittered woman who carries the family along, listens to the taunts of her neighbors and perennially worries about their future. You hate her when she asks the old lady to leave the house, but you feel for her when she tells her husband that she also had dreams. Her struggle to make ends meet everyday is a painful tale, remarkably told.

And then there are Durga and Apu. They bring you the smiles. And then the tears! They are the doting and playful brother and sister. They share the simple joys of life, such as sitting quietly under a tree, chasing each other, running through the fields to catch a glimpse of a speeding train, running after the candy man who passes through the village, watching a famous play and viewing pictures in a bioscope shown by a traveling vendor. To me, Pather Panchali is a story of Durga. Her touching relationship with her granny, her playful love and motherly affection towards Apu, her longing to be a woman and her fascination for marriage, her penchant to stealing: all make her a fascinating character that is at the heart of this story. She melts your heart when she covers Apu as they are getting drenched in the rain and says: “Rain rain go away”. And when she eventually dies of fever, storm, incessant rains and lack of medical or financial help, all the pain, suffering and misery that grip the family will engulf you and you will feel a lament deep down in your soul! 


Finally there is the old aunt who seeks refuge in the house. The hardships faced by the old lady in the house will prick your heart. That was the reason I gave up on this movie a month ago. I just couldn’t bear her predicament. The way she is questioned, scolded and ill-treated will melt your heart. It is torturously painful to see her shuttle between the two houses for shelter and food and then eventually die, abandoned, under a tree. The scene where she is asked to leave and she waits with a longing look in her eyes hoping against hope to be called back is just too much to handle. And all this with no drama, exactly how it happens in real life, which is what makes it even more shocking and disturbing.

I can go on but will not. There are several memorable scenes in the movie that will just mesmerize you. They are very simple but have an amazing depth in portraying the ever so complex human emotions and hence are very compelling. They leave you spell bound. The scene towards the end of the movie where Apu finds a necklace that Durga had earlier denied having stolen and throws it into the pond is very deep and intriguing. The soul-stirring music and the brilliantly shot scenes, artistic and realistic at the same time, filled with little nuances of human emotion lend a poetic brilliance and lyrical realism to this movie which in the end ceases to be one. All you see is life unfolding in front of you. The final sight of the family leaving the village in an ox-cart with the sad memory of a lost one in their hearts will stay in your eyes and hearts forever!

28 comments:

  1. this is how movie "review" (i know this is not exactly a review as in 'review' but i find no other apt word) ought to be. they should bring alive the stellar moments in the film to your mind's eye. you have done it brilliantly here.

    of course the movie in question is none other than Pather.

    i haven't watched it. but when i do, i am sure, this post will be at the back of my mind

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. You are exactly right. I didnt intend this to be a review but I think it fits the bill. I would be so glad if u watch the movie and even happier if u remember what i wrote about it. :)

      Delete
  2. Loved this one. That is what makes old movies and those by a master like Ray special. Also what makes me avoid such movies now that I am growing older and want to take refuge in make-believe and fairy tales. I like to watch and read children's stuff because I can't go through experiencing the pain of a movie that is so close to real life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally understand why you avoid such movies and I totally agree. Even I tend to do that many times. After all we watch movies to feel good and happy. :)

      Delete
  3. Sounds, my kinda movie...Will try watching it. I know my husband will love it! Thanks Raj...:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Definitely Saru. Do watch it. It is an awesome movie. And let me know how you liked it. :)

      Delete
  4. It is so difficult to believe from watching the movie or reading the screenplay that this was a first time effort by Ray. Your "review" more than does justice to this masterpiece. This is a must watch for any lover of cinema and for anyone remotely wishing to make a film or write a script someday! The entire trilogy is like one huge favorite for me, and itis hard to pick out one scene or sequence and mark it as more outstanding than any other. Great post, Raj.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yeah Subhorup. The man is a genius. And the movie is a must watch for movie lovers. And yeah.. I loved the trilogy. :)

      Delete
  5. Pather Panchali is indeed beautiful..If you like Ray see another gem of his called 'teen kanya' it is an adaptation of 3 of Rabindranath's short stories..absolutely brilliant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Maitreyee for the recommendation. I will definitely watch it. Rabindranath is another all time favorite of mine. So wont miss it. :)

      Delete
  6. Wonderful review. A great movie from the legendary Satyajit Ray

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much Arun. Glad you liked it. And a very warm welcome to you. :)

      Delete
  7. Pather Panchali is my old favourite, after so many viewings, it still has that same old magic

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes Sunil. Very true. It is a gem. I definitely plan to watch it again. :)

      Delete
  8. It took me three viewings to understand the genius of it all. Every nuance, subtlety and angle tells a story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A very warm welcome to you Gyanban. You are absolutely right. So many nuances. Every scene is so rich. Certainly needs more than one viewing to appreciate it better. :)

      Delete
  9. one of the best movies i categorize as "movies to watch before you die"...

    do you know that train scene delayed the making of this movie by 1 year because the first shot was not good and they have to wait for whole year to re-take that particular scene as the train only crosses through there once every year...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A very warm welcome to you Rahul. I didnt know that about the train scene. Wow.. that makes it even special. And it shows how much dedication went into the film. Absolutely brilliant! :)

      Delete
  10. Oh my goodness, I wanted to cry just reading your synopsis of the film!! It sounds amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah... It is a really touching film that brought tears to my eyes.

      Delete
  11. Hi Raj, lovely review. I kind of grew up with the movie, but after a certain age stopped seeing it because it is so very sad. Your review brought back old memories :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can totally understand what you mean. It is indeed a masterpiece, albeit a sad one. It wrenches your heart so immensely.

      Delete
  12. Very beautiful review..Must watch the movie soon...:-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much. :) It is indeed a class movie. Do watch it when you can.

      Delete
  13. beautifull review . may be some time later i wish to see similar review on two Ray classics which i have grown up with . Devi and Charulata...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A very warm welcome to you Debu. Thank you so much and thanks for reminding those 2 Ray masterpieces. I will indeed try to write about Devi and Charulatha. :)

      Delete
  14. Loved the movie, it was so deep and so good! Its a pity that the new age cinema lacks the charm and elegance that these eternal classics posses. A film that will truly be remembered for centuries to come.

    ReplyDelete
  15. "All you see is life unfolding in front of you." - The best possible remark about Pather Pnachali. Loved the way you've let yourself be engulfed by the experience of watching this masterpiece, and thanks for not making this post a 'review' :-).

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...