Satyajit Ray-classical global Bengali after Rabindra Nath Tagore

There is a common saying that Rabindra Nath Tagore will remain immortal in the lives of Bengalis of India, Bangladesh and other parts of the globe. Same way legendary Satyajit Ray till date remains deeply immersed in the hearts of Bengalis of India, Bangladesh and other parts of the globe.

There was a time when the Bengali and Hindi films from India used to be launched with trios like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak. The last named passed away very untimely but the first two named carried on the mantle for quite sometime.

In this regard my revered online readers of India and Bangladesh will very much reminisce the contributions to the development of films by the trios stated above. The specialty to be noted in the case of Manikda (Satyajit Ray) was his multifaceted talents like painter, illustrator, musician, short story writer and novelist of repute along with being a prolific film maker.

Mrinal Sen and Rittwik Ghatak was also a talented film maker along with their erudition in literature but Manikda was really supreme as compared to the other two. Rittwik Ghatak apart from being a filmmaker of repute he was too actors and teacher in Film Television India Institute, a pioneering place in film making and editing plus other basic areas connected with it. As my context of discussion pertains to Satyajit Ray so my endeavor will be restrict myself with this talented Bengali gem after Rabindra Nath Tagore.

Satyajit Ray like Rabindra Nath Tagore will continue to remain embedded in the hearts of cultural loving Bengalis of India, Bangladesh and other parts of the globe. The purpose of stating other parts of the globe is that there are innumerable Bengalis based in different countries under American and European continent because of professional commitments apart from India and Bangladesh.

Apart from filmmaking Satyajit Ray rendered an indelible contributions towards the enrich of Bengali literature through the mode of creation of intriguing characters like Feluda, Professor Shonku, Lalmohan Ganguly, Tarini Khuro, Maganlal Meghraj etc are still embedded in the hearts of cultural loving Bengalis of above Saarc nations as well as of those who are based in both parts of the globe.

Like that of his films Satyajit Ray illustrated his own creations which created uproar in the mind of all his fans or even to some of his ardent critics. So this could be the reason by which Satyajit Ray is rated as classical Bengali after Rabindra Nath Tagore.

Satayjit Ray is widely reminisced in Dhaka, Bangladesh. During my last visit to Bangladesh from January 23 to January 29, 2019 immediately on my entry to TSC on January 23, Dhaka under Dhaka University one image immediately captured my mind that is none other that tall and dynamic Manikda who is known in other parts of the globe as Satyajit Ray.

On that in the auditorium of said venue there was a seminar on mass communication and film studies by the Arts Faculty of Dhaka University Satyajit Ray has been given immense importance which sounds striking in my mind. His style of film making was so unique in those days still has its impact in the mind of all his fans spread in India, Bangladesh and other parts of the globe.

Theatre and Performing Arts Division of Dhaka University still undergo rigorous study about Satyajit Ray. In this regard the persons who are involved in spreading his legacy all over Bangladesh are Shahida Khanam, Nasiruddin Yusuf, Tanvir Mokammel etc.

There is a well known saying that persons who are deceased for pretty long decades will always erase off from the storehouse of our memories but person of the stature of Ray will never erase off from our mind like that of Rabindra Nath Tagore. That is why Ray is often referred to as classical Bengali after Rabindra Nath Tagore. In the hearts of Bengalis of both India and Bangladesh Satyajit Ray will continue to remain alive and also be emerged as classical Bengali after Rabindra Nath Tagore.

Why Satyajit Ray is referred to as classical Bengali after Rabindra Nath Tagore?

The families of both Rabindra Nath Tagore and Satyajit Ray are class of its own. During the pre-independence as well as that of post one period we find that the families of both have showed new dimension towards the cultural and social upliftment of Independent India.

Though situations now are not in healthier state of mind but rational, analytical and civil societies of India, Bangladesh and that of the Sub Continent are desperately trying their level best to uphold our erstwhile noble traditions and glory in the coming days. As Rabindra Nath Tagore is unforgettable to us same way Satyajit Ray falls on the same platter like Tagore. In fact both wanted to show us new path and dimension towards rise in today's life.

Pather Panchali

Apur Sangsar

Aparajito

Jalsaghar

Mahanagar

Agantuk

Kanchanjanga

Sonar Kella

Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen

Joy Baba Felunath

Hirak Rajar Deshe

Pahare Feluda

Professor Shanku Samagra

Kolkatay Feluda

Sonar Kella

Hirak Rajar Deshe 

My childhood memories

One dozen stories

Late N.Viswanathan once narrated to me that working with Manikda was a dynamic experience in an individual's filmy life. A person with so much sincerity and meticulousness will not have rebirth among next generations. That sincere and devoted temperament is already over. Now people in the game are always materialistic oriented which should be shunned out forever. So like N.V who is now deceased during the past nine years, Manikda's (Satyajit Ray) legacy will continue to be relevant in the coming days among modern generations.


The writer is a freelancer based on Kolkata