Move with times

Jalsaghar (The Music Room, Bengali 1958)

Director: Satyajit Ray

A spaced-out zamindar is sitting on his rooftop smoking his hookah. He is oblivious of the month and season of the year it is. He is a keen follower of music and is fascinated by the sound of a shennai (a traditional trumpet). His mind wanders to a time when he was younger when wealth was more abound, and the music was vibrating over every nook of the house. Sure, even the estate coffers and family jewels were in dwindling amount. During the son Khoka's initiation ceremony, Roy spends a fortune to host a music party, fireworks and musical band. Although his grieved wife alerts him about the lack of funds and advises him to close the music room, it just falls into Roy's stuporous ears, and he sleeps it off.

His distant neighbour, Ganguli, builds a new modern home with modern fittings. For the first time, he sees the depilatory condition of his home. Just to rival his neighbour, he has a mammoth celebration on New Year by selling the last box of family jewels.

The intoxicating classical music does not give him peace of mind as a storm is brewing outside. His wife and son, who are due to return, were still not back from a trip. So when he sees an insect drowning in his drink, he knows the omen is bad. He runs down to the river to receive news that both his loved ones have drowned.

Everything then comes crumbling down. Finally, his land is submerged in water, and his palace furniture is on auction.

Music appreciation time!

The depressed and recluse Roy put himself in a self-exile by confining himself on the second floor of his house with his two faithful butlers. 4 years passed...

One day, the music room, which had been closed from that fateful day, is opened by Roy. He sees an unkempt room with dust and cobwebs. On his favourite mirror, he realises how fast he had lost his youthfulness. With the remnants of his savings, he orders his butler to organise one last music party.

Roy, jealous of the nouveau riche neighbour Ganguli, manages to outsmart him. Feeling contended that his success is due to his noble bloodline, he realises that the light was dimming. The butler walks in to inform him that a new dawn has broken. Roy then dies in a horse-riding accident.

This film was made at a time when the transition of power from the zamindar to the people was ongoing. Gone were the days when one could just do things because he is from a good breed or background. Everybody started having the same level playing field from then on.