Satyajit Ray's Kanchenjungha could not reach the masses.

Satyajit Ray’s Kanchenjungha could not reach the masses.

Satyajit Ray experimented with an abstract subject in the film Kanchenjungha in 1962. Based on the story of Ray himself, the film was related to the greatness of Himalayas, especially Kanchenjungha. But Ray’s message was reflected through the reactions of the actors and actresses of the film and it was hardly understood by the common mass.

It was the first Bengali coloured film, and the entire shooting was done in Darjeeling, the greatest tourist destination of West Bengal. Chabi Biswas played the role of the Rai Bahadur of that time, who was awarded the title by the British Government. He was the Chairman of 5 Companies in West Bengal. He wanted his daughter Aloknanda Roy to get married to N. Viswanathan, a careerist. Chabi Biswas’s entire family came to visit Darjeeling.

Haridhan, a middle-class person brought Arun Mukherjee to Darjeeling. He introduced Arun Mukherjee, with Chabi Biswas, so that he could give him a job. Arun Mukherjee was jobless in Kolkata and earned livelihood through private tution. When Chabi Biswas discussed the contribution of British Colonial Government in shaping Darjeeling and his own life, Arun Mukherjee was not moved by the materialist outlook of Chabi Biswas.

Arun Mukherjee stood in front of the great Himalayas, and the greatness of the mountain range prevented him from praying for his minor material requirements. He told Chabi Biswas that he did not require any job. He said if he wanted to work in any organization he would qualify for the post through hard work, not by reference of an influential person. At the same time, Aloknanda Roy did not find N. Biswanathan’s materialist talks impressive, and did not consent about marriage due to the effect of the romantic location of the place and influence of Kanchenjungha. Even her elder sister Anubha Gupta disclosed the truth to her husband Subrata Sen Sharma about her affair with another person, and agreed to tear away the letters that were related to the affair. They agreed to strengthen their relationship in the interest of their small daughter.

In the serious level of communication, Pahari Sanyal, the brother of Karuna Banerjee, the wife of Chabi Biswas, and Anil Chatterji, the son of Chabi Biswas, were the two relief characters. Anil Chatterji was interested in maintaining relationship with beautiful women, while Pahari Sanyal searched for beautiful birds in the place.

Chabi Biswas probably provided his most majestic performance of his life in Kanchenjungha, and his dignity, personality and elegance set up the theme of the film. He found that a poor small child singing a son in Darjeeling was happy, and Chabi Biswas’s earthly achievements were overshadowed by the gigantic presence of the evergreen Himalayas. Satyajit Ray brought his philosophy in the film and it won a number of awards in India and abroad, but even then the message did not reach the ordinary common mass due to abstractness of the subject.

Ajoy Kar took risk of making Shyamali with Uttam Kumar.

Ajoy Kar took risk of making Shyamali with Uttam Kumar.

Ajoy Kar, the classic director of 50s and 60s experimented with classic literature of Ashapurna Debi in the film Shyamali. The literature was read by entire Bengali community of the country.

The same story of Shyamali was played in Star Theatre in Kolkata for 4 years in the mid-50s. In the play Uttam Kumar and Sabitri Chatterji played the lead roles while Sarajubala Debi played the role of the mother of Uttam Kumar. Ajoy Kar picturised Shyamali with the team of Uttam Kumar and Kaberi Bose. And Malina Debi played the role of the mother of Uttam Kumar. Previously it had been seen that any play which was successful with the audience did not do well when picturised in film. Shyamali was an exception.

In the film Ahindra Choudhury had two daughters, Kaberi Bose being the elder one. Kaberi Bose was deaf and dumb. Her younger sister was proposed to be married to Uttam Kumar, but due to fulfillment of wishes of Kaberi Bose, the priest chanted mantras related to marriage with Uttam Kumar. Uttam Kumar accepted Kaberi Bose as wife while his friend married the younger sister Bijoli. But Uttam Kumar’s mother Malina Debi did not accept Kaberi Bose as her daughter-in-law. Uttam Kumar did not have any other option but to leave Kaberi Bose in her mother’s house.

Uttam Kumar and Malina Debi went for pilgrimage to Hrishikesh, Badrinath, Kedarnath and brought Anubha Gupta who lost her parents and served Uttam Kumar when he became extremely sick whiling to travelling to those places. Malina Debi wanted to marry Uttam Kumar with Anubha Gupta.

But Uttam Kumar tried to convince her that his wife Kaberi Bose was still alive. When Uttam Kumar heard that Kaberi Bose’s mother Aparna Debi died and she slept with the photo of Uttam Kumar, he went to her house and brought her back. Uttam Kumar finally convinced Malina Debi that although Kaberi Bose could not speak, she could react to human actions, had a human mind full of feelings. She required her blessings to start a journey in the new family.

The film became super hit due to sheer brilliance of Ajoy Kar. Uttam Kumar, Kaberi Bose, Malina Debi, Anubha Gupta were all sublime in their respective roles. Kalipada Sen composed music for the film. The film should be restored to remind the viewers about a successful play being remade into film which featured the same level of excellence as depicted in the play.

Uttam Kumar was unparallel in Bibhas.

Uttam Kumar was unparallel in Bibhas.

Uttam Kumar, the greatest superstar of Bengali Silver Screen was unparallel in Bibhas. He played the role of a young man of Kolkata who went to a village to get shelter after his brothers threw him out of the family.

The story of the film was written by Samaresh Bose. Uttam Kumar did not contribute in his family, yet he had good voice and sung well in cultural programs. His elder brothers compelled him to sign in the deed of the house mentioning that he had no claim over property. He signed it and left the house.

He was given shelter in the village by Kamal Mitra who was a village doctor and politician. Uttam Kumar knew basics of the work of compounder and started working as Kamal Mitra’s assistant. He was allowed to stay in his house. Bikash Roy also worked as his assistant.

Uttam Kumar fell in love with Lalita Chatterji, the daughter of Kamal Mitra. Even Anubha Gupta, the daughter in law of Kamal Mitra attracted him. After meeting most of the villagers Uttam Kumar came to know that Kamal Mitra had acquired property in the village after cheating many villagers.

Uttam Kumar became extremely popular in the village and even contested elections against Kamal Mitra. The last portion of the film was related to the enmity of Kamal Mitra with Uttam Kumar, the person who was given shelter by Kamal Mitra himself.

Uttam Kumar’s lips in Hemant Kumar’s songs “jakhon porbe na mor payer chino ei bante”, and “tarae tarae joluk bati” mesmerized the viewers and the listeners. The film ended up being super hit. Uttam Kumar had the charisma of adjusting himself in non-glamorous roles like the one in Bibhas and having the last smile at the end of the film.
The high standard of literature being used in Bengali films of the 50s and 60s created a difference and Uttam Kumar’s films became path –breaker in every aspects of film making. Bibhas should be restored and preserved.