Nayak (Hero, Bengali; 1966)
Director: Satyjit Ray
I get quite irritated when someone mentions that his work is one which takes a lot of effort and hard work - as if anyone is going to get paid for swatting flies. Anyway, that was how a batch of South Indian labourers were hoodwinked to be bonded labourers here in Malaya. They thought their scope of job was just to shoo the damn crows from feeding the milled powdered sugar left to dry!
Someone actually had to cheek to wonder whether his halitosis (bad breath) was due to his stressful job of kowtowing to whims and egos of his bosses!
This kind of message is mirrored in this Ray's award winning film.
Arindam, is a famous actor who has to make a train trip to Delhi to receive his award. The story is essentially about his outpouring of his story of his humble beginnings to his demi god status and the insecurities that he feels inside.
Arindam is all tensed up as he gets ready for his trip. The newspapers had splashed about his drunken brawl in a bar. He is also worried about his next new movie which may be his first flop.
On the train, many are smitten by his presence whilst other could not care less. Ladies comprise the former while the educated and an elder journalist form the latter.
Aditi, (Sharmila Tagore), an up and coming women's magazine editor is introduced to our hero. The initial meeting did not go well with both parties and with their air of (over)confidence.
There are some side characters like the businessman who tries entice a tycoon with the help of his charming young wife; the spiritual man who is trying his introduce his business venture and the family who is travelling in the same compartment as Arindam's with a sick child.
Most of the conversations between Adita and Arindam occur in the buffet compartment in stages and interspersed with flashbacks.
He started as a stage actor under the auspices of his master, Shankarda, who had adverse opinion about film acting. Shankarda forbade Arindam from getting involved in films as it was bastardization of the art of acting. However, after the master's untimely demise, the lure of better life lured Arindam into films. His first encounter with his film was with a old timer named Mukunda Lahiri who made going hell. He survived but got his vengeance when Mukunda was a down and out actors many years later after 3 flop movies and a serious drinking problem. Mukunda's plea for a role was rudely denied.
Arindam, a person very particular about public image, also disappointed his childhood friend who chose the line of politics. His plea to speak to striking workers to boost their confidence was ruthlessly not obliged.
He also narrates about his affair with a married woman who wanted a chance to act in his films.
The initially confident man crumbles after reflecting on the events that formed his life. The guilt of his past doings pricked his conscious as he tried to bury his worries in booze and sleeping tablets. As he comes around and the journey almost comes to an end, he makes peace with Adita. Adita, on her part decides not to publish his story. She rather had his good image amongst his fan continue.
A good show.
Director: Satyjit Ray
I get quite irritated when someone mentions that his work is one which takes a lot of effort and hard work - as if anyone is going to get paid for swatting flies. Anyway, that was how a batch of South Indian labourers were hoodwinked to be bonded labourers here in Malaya. They thought their scope of job was just to shoo the damn crows from feeding the milled powdered sugar left to dry!Someone actually had to cheek to wonder whether his halitosis (bad breath) was due to his stressful job of kowtowing to whims and egos of his bosses!
This kind of message is mirrored in this Ray's award winning film.
Arindam, is a famous actor who has to make a train trip to Delhi to receive his award. The story is essentially about his outpouring of his story of his humble beginnings to his demi god status and the insecurities that he feels inside.
Arindam is all tensed up as he gets ready for his trip. The newspapers had splashed about his drunken brawl in a bar. He is also worried about his next new movie which may be his first flop.
On the train, many are smitten by his presence whilst other could not care less. Ladies comprise the former while the educated and an elder journalist form the latter.
 |
| Sharmila Tagore |
There are some side characters like the businessman who tries entice a tycoon with the help of his charming young wife; the spiritual man who is trying his introduce his business venture and the family who is travelling in the same compartment as Arindam's with a sick child.
Most of the conversations between Adita and Arindam occur in the buffet compartment in stages and interspersed with flashbacks.
| Confessions in the buffet train |
Arindam, a person very particular about public image, also disappointed his childhood friend who chose the line of politics. His plea to speak to striking workers to boost their confidence was ruthlessly not obliged.
He also narrates about his affair with a married woman who wanted a chance to act in his films.
The initially confident man crumbles after reflecting on the events that formed his life. The guilt of his past doings pricked his conscious as he tried to bury his worries in booze and sleeping tablets. As he comes around and the journey almost comes to an end, he makes peace with Adita. Adita, on her part decides not to publish his story. She rather had his good image amongst his fan continue.
A good show.
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