I was saw Satyajit Ray's Aranyer Din Ratri at FTII, must have been in first year. I thought it was one of the most magical films I'd ever seen. But Ray was not 'fashionable' amongst FTII students in those days, so this was one of those hidden passions- it existed but you never discussed it in public. I am anyway not the kind of person that discusses favorite films with anyone.
Years passed, passions got covered in layers of dust in one's heart, while the mind and body worked away to earn a living.
Last year, looking for something else, I found the script of Aranyer Din Raatri. It was in a blog, can't say if it was transcribed or written by the author. Downloaded the script, kept it on my computer but never read it, planned to do it one fine day.
This week I suddenly opened the script, read it -and found it to be incomplete. So I started looking around on the internet, but no I couldn't find the script anywhere now.
But the movie itself is up on youtube for all to watch.
Watching it now, the magic comes rushing back. Ray's impeccable control over script, actors, camera and sound, is so unusual it's haunting.
To remember that its made in 1969, the same year as 'Bhuvan Shome' and 'Uski Roti', is to wonder why this film is not more highly rated. Ray in his writing seemed to rate it highly. It seems to have recieved the usual dazling reviews Ray garnered worldwide.
But really, its a film to rated very near to the magic of the Apu Triology, the film where Ray steps out elegantly into a more 'modern' structure. Though of course there's Tagore in there-Ghare Bhaire was Tagore's stepping out into a new world.
The film also led me into reading more of Ray's writings on cinema. The way he diagnosed the situation of cinema in India and his own place is crazily relevant even today. Even for small time aspirant's like me.
That's why I seem to go into Satyajit Ray and Aranyer di Raatri. Its inspiration at its purest.
And courtesy of the internet, instantly accessible.
Years passed, passions got covered in layers of dust in one's heart, while the mind and body worked away to earn a living.
Last year, looking for something else, I found the script of Aranyer Din Raatri. It was in a blog, can't say if it was transcribed or written by the author. Downloaded the script, kept it on my computer but never read it, planned to do it one fine day.
This week I suddenly opened the script, read it -and found it to be incomplete. So I started looking around on the internet, but no I couldn't find the script anywhere now.
But the movie itself is up on youtube for all to watch.
Watching it now, the magic comes rushing back. Ray's impeccable control over script, actors, camera and sound, is so unusual it's haunting.
To remember that its made in 1969, the same year as 'Bhuvan Shome' and 'Uski Roti', is to wonder why this film is not more highly rated. Ray in his writing seemed to rate it highly. It seems to have recieved the usual dazling reviews Ray garnered worldwide.
But really, its a film to rated very near to the magic of the Apu Triology, the film where Ray steps out elegantly into a more 'modern' structure. Though of course there's Tagore in there-Ghare Bhaire was Tagore's stepping out into a new world.
The film also led me into reading more of Ray's writings on cinema. The way he diagnosed the situation of cinema in India and his own place is crazily relevant even today. Even for small time aspirant's like me.
That's why I seem to go into Satyajit Ray and Aranyer di Raatri. Its inspiration at its purest.
And courtesy of the internet, instantly accessible.
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