Comments on: Pather Panchali—An Intensely Personal Review

By: Hara hara bom bom

Hara hara bom bom — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:53:11 +0000

Wingedream,

With all due respect, it is not the extent of spread that determines the superiority of a classic. I am not talking about a sneering, contemptuous rarefied exclusivity. However it will be difficult to transfer the unique combination of emotions, backdrop and zetigeist to a different setting (read audience). Thus Pather Panchali will never be appreciated by non-Bengalees to the same extent that a Bengali would.

By the same token, even the movies are, IMO, a pale reflection of the immortal, everlasting quill of Bibhutibhushan. The scene in Aparajito, when Apu learns of his mothers death, and first feels a sense of freedom, and then a crushing and numbing grief, can never be replicated on celluloid. Or the scene where Apu’s mother realises her death approaching, and studies it as death languourously curls up her body …. the equivalent movie scene is miles behind.

The Trilogy’s appeal is nevertheless unfettered by time and grography. It is the story of a poor family’s deep love of their ofspring. It is the age-old tale of the cruel hand of fate, and how the indomitable human spirit endures.

Most of all, its immortality lies in the last two words GB uses to conclude. It is simple. And it is pure.

By: Pankaj Roy

Pankaj Roy — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:01:55 +0000

If you are in the Bay Area this weekend, you can watch the trilogy at Palo Alto’s Stanford Theatre. Its a 6 hour marathon starting at 3.15pm, on Feb 21, 22 & 23. See exact timings & theatre address at http://stanfordtheatre.org/stf/calendars/Winter 2009.html.

Wingedream, you can come & celebrate too (it has subtitles)

By: wingedream

wingedream — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:03:17 +0000

Will “Slumdog”or Adiga’s White Tiger be the new face of Apu’s World?

Will it be irreverent of Ray, the iconic Film maker or of the new techie children who no longer hold in awe the huffing and puffing Train a-la apu and durga?

Is there a continuity in these dissimilar worlds or its mere suggestion is blasphemous?

Have we managed to take Ray out of Bengal to the other parts of India, yet?what about sub titles or dubbing in Hindi?
or are the “bongs only” celebrating in blissful isolation?

By: prarthana

prarthana — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 11:40:42 +0000

Indeed a thought-provoking write-up. Those of who haven’t seen the film can feel the pulse from your writing. I have seen it two times and quite agree with u when u say,
“But the sheer weight of the visuals—- the trance-like dance of the raindrops on the pond, the wind rustling through the kaashphool, the sweet vendor’s reflection gliding over the pond —and the timeless simplicity of its story still have the power to hypnotize a generation brought up on cell-phones and laptops….a generation in which many of us have never seen or shall ever see a “real” village.”
There are so many shots in this film that I couldn’t forget in my life. yet the buzzing of the wind near the Kahua( a riverside autumn flower) when Apu and her sister run to see the train.., the whirling frenzy at the pond full of lilies (It is amazing how much I sympathize with the characters in each age).
the most aesthetic art that i have seen in my life

By: Of Ray and Boyle at Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind

Of Ray and Boyle at Random Thoughts of a Demented Mind — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:02:42 +0000

[...] walls of the Sistine Chapel. I have reviewed briefly the Apu trilogy in a series of three posts (Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3) and I would request the interested reader to look through them if you are [...]

By: Ranjan Chakravarty

Ranjan Chakravarty — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 09:25:43 +0000

@Dibyo, GB, All: “Bong Connection” was showing at the MoMA? Oh Boy! And I saw it in Bombay. Cool! “Bong Connection” in my view was the best ABCD-centric film of the year ’07. In my humble opinion way, way superior to the namesake. Very subtle, very meangingful, and with a great cast of characters and some of my old fave actors: Victor Banerjee and Barun Chandra! Although some of this film too was unreal and unconvincing, a lot of it was very, very good. I think it will strike much more of a chord. GB, listen for the dialogs of the ABCD’s parents and their buddies in suburban Houston. I’m sure you and a lot of the readers here have heard the same lines from the 1960s and 70s Bengalis all over the US. If you have seen it, please write about it, and if you haven’t, see it and enjoy!

By: ANU

ANU — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:12:03 +0000

I saw the film Pather Panchali. I like it very much.Durgas death had struck my heart very well.Attitude of elders towards grandmother is not right.

By: Sudipto Basu

Sudipto Basu — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:22:11 +0000

I’m a passionate film-lover, and Pather Panchali is one of my eternal favourites. Not the least because in my heart, this 17-year-old still loves to indulge in the pranks of an innocent child– from sitting in the lap of nature, to imagining myself fight against historic characters with fake swords, to just staring and wondering at the magnamity, pain and strange-ness of this world. I may not have to struggle regularly with fate as Apu does, but I share the simplicity that endears him to all.

Your review is very touching and true. And hey, PP did have it’s admirers in the West too: Akira Kurosawa was the chief amongst them. I hope you know of Kurosawa’s eternal tribute to Ray: it’s etched clearly in my mind.

By: Bimbabati

Bimbabati — Fri, 04 May 2007 20:12:53 +0000

The last 2 lines of your post sum up EVERYTHING.
And, you know, the ‘ghoti’ scene? Where Indir Thakrun dies, and Durga pushes her, she just collapses and the ‘ghoti’ rolls away?
Lump in throat – the phrase was MADE for this scene, I think.

By: dodo

dodo — Fri, 04 May 2007 12:13:08 +0000

I read “pather pnachali” more than seven times and each time I cried…

Don’t know whether tears will still flow after so many years if I read it again …this world has toughened me up it seems…

Wish you touched upon a bit on the book too