Why the Storm in our Bangla Tea Cups???

Satyajeet: No man ,I was telling you that I am serious on writing. If you have time, I will paste you what I wrote on Satyajit Ray as a FILM Maker

Neeraj: so when u r going to mail that “Satyajit Ray as a FILM Maker”

now i m very much excited to read that article .

12:15 AM Satyajeet: Actually it was what I posted in the community on Orkut, when I found the Bengalis getting too sentimental on Soumitra Chatterjee( a prominient Actor in Bengal) not getting his due recognition

12:16 AM Being a Bengali myself, I hate when people get emotional on Regional lines, and posted my comments, The comments became big and run into few paras, so here it is

12:19 AM neeraj: where ??

Satyajeet: Why the Storm in our Bangla Tea Cups???
@ Debarshi
Man, couldn’t help laughing out loud, on reading your unique and different take off on the subject. Good observation in your para 2.Brilliant!!(Still Laughing :D).

@ Others:-
1. Have a heart and no need to get personal. This is a public forum, and we all should give the space to others to come out with their take on the subject, even if it happens to differ from our own. Those who got into a tizzy over Dedarshi’s comments; missed the point by a mile.

2. I have been reading the comments on this forum with fascination. Why are we all tying ourselves into knots over SLB making a movie, even if it happens to be a remake of the Holiest of the Holy(as thought by many of you on the forum)?

3. The UNSAID issue by most of you appears as if “HOW DARE A NON-BENGALI REMAKE OUR CLASSICS? To me it appears; SLB is just a convenient punching bag. If instead of him, it would have been some other non-Bengali; THE TONE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME I GUESS; ONLY THE LAME ARGUMENTS WOULD HAVE CHANGED.

4. I for one never liked the style or the cinematic philosophy of SLB, nor for what he stands for; still that does not give me the right to out rightly ridicule him, nor to you folks out there.

SLB stands for Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Why the Storm in our Bangla Tea Cups??? Part II

5. Have you folks ever wondered that someone has to do it, i.e. bring Tagore/Ray to the Non-Bengali masses? Our own demi-gods of Bangla Cinema do not feel inclined to do so for the Non-Bengalis, then why grudge SLB? It appears as sheer petulance on our part if we do so; something akin to all of us Indians getting into a brouhaha when Attenborough made “Gandhi”. Instead of bemoaning the fact that none from India had the GUTS to make it, we tried to find reasons to punch holes into the movie then. The fact still remains that it took a Britisher to make a film on Gandhi.

6. Being an Indian Army Officer, I am in Africa presently with the United Nations and it really make me proud when patrolling remotest of villages; the villagers flock to shake my hand on seeing the Indian Flag and the Legend “Indian Army” on my uniform, as I belong to the land of Gandhi. Mind you, every one here speaks French and have only seen the dubbed version of the film. Most want to visit our Country, courtesy the movie and for what Gandhi stood for. Same doesn’t happen back home, why? Have you all wondered?

7. SOME OF YOU MAY ASK, HOW IS ALL THIS RELEVANT TO THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. WELL, THIS IS HOW IT IS RELEVANT.

Why the Storm in our Bangla Tea Cups??? Part III

8. After seeing the newly made Devdas, all my colleagues (99% of them are Non-Bengali), took pains to clarify from me small things like what “Sondesh” was or what was Ash carrying in her hand(Lokhkhir Jhapi), or why the “uloo” in marriages. What better way than the medium of Hindi Films to show case our rich and vibrant culture, so marginalised off late because of “Punjabiyat” and Punjabi way of life dominating the silver screens in India, NOT THAT I HAVE EVEN AN IOTA OF RESENTMENT AGAINST THAT CULTURE . Believe me, I really felt proud as a Bengali to bring out the various nuances of Bengali Life to them. Please dig into your collective memories and do tell me, post Devdas the kind of interest that mainland India showed in all things Bangla, when else was some thing similar evoked in recent times?

9. So for the sake of Non-Bengali masses rediscovering Tagore and Ray, I GENUINELY do not mind if SLB MURDERS Charulata, as long as it can revive even a passing interest in the Indian masses regarding these two greats and a bit of our Bangla culture.

10. So for all you GUARDIANS of the works of Ray and Tagore, the so called purists, I have a sincere request. Let Ray, Tagore and all other GREATS in your HOLY LIST be SET FREE, for Indians at large to savour, even if it requires the medium/vehicle of SLB and his brand of KITSCH. Do not grudge Non-Bengalis, if they try to eat/make “SONDESH” their own way. Nor if they try to remake our beloved classics. Be a bit more tolerant please.

Why the Storm in our Bangla Tea Cups??? Conclusion

11. Whole of continental Africa/Outside world watches Indian Movies (Read Hindi Movies).They do not know Ray, nor Tagore, nor Bangla Movies. Some thing similar is the case for mainland India, to a great extent. IT’S TIME- they and the world knew about them, even if the medium has to be Hindi and the film happens to be directed by a Non Bengali. I think all of you out there needlessly getting hot under the collar owe that much at least to Ray and Tagore. And if you get the chance, do not forget to thank the flawed genius called SLB, for the favour he’d be doing us, if you happen across him.

12. Finally, it really does not matter if SLB makes a Rotten version of Charulata. In my opinion, it will further enhance the timeless appeal of Ray handling the same subject, and a hell lot of folks will be inspired to watch the original. That I think will be the greatest tribute to Ray and Tagore.

12:25 AM Satyajeet: So, Neeraj that is one out of many such long replies I have written on these stupid forums on ORKUT and I thought that I must write Independently now. So just wanted your opinion on the standard of my work/writing.

~ by voof on June 11, 2008.