2. Aparajita Pujari: Fond Letter to the Great Master
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E-CineIndia: Oct-Dec 2020/ Aparajita Pujari 1 Centenary Tribute: Chidananda Dasgupta Aparajita Pujari Fond Letter to the Great Master It was a time when I could not written about them. I couldn’t decode the understand the English language thoroughly. name of the book. Yet, a sense of utmost Then, one day I saw that my father had curiosity and, to an extent, significant amount purchased a new book. From the cover, I of respect developed inside me at that very presumed that either it would be a storybook moment for the writer. And thought that one or a modern interpretation of mythological day, I’ll plunge into the deep ocean of the characters. For the next one week, father book. I will manthan the jewels from it. One immersed himself into the book. Seeing that I day! became anxious, angry, and jealous too. The name of the book was The Painted Because firstly, if he is busy who would read Face, author- Chidananda Dasgupta. me the cinema page in Telegraph’s Sunday The formation of the Calcutta Film edition? Secondly, after examining the book Society in 1947 was a groundbreaking incident inside out, seeing the known film in the history of Indian Cinema. Though the personalities’ giant photographs the more Amateur Cine Society (1937) and Bombay became overwhelmed, I found myself Film Society (1947) were formed in Mumbai perplexed too as I could not decipher what is till then, their impact on revolutionizing E-CineIndia: Oct-Dec 2020/ Aparajita Pujari 2 cinema in India could hardly be seen. It was educational importance of cinema. After the the Calcutta Film Society who introduced the dialogues, when Dasgupta was assured that he best films of World cinema to our audiences. could make the officer understand the It created a fresh sense of understanding relevance, the officer replied, ‘Look, I don’t cinema amongst intellectuals, artists, and think cinema has anything to do with socio- cinema lovers. The formation of the cultural, educational values. Tell me, is there Federation of Film Societies of India (1959) anything else in films rather than cheap acted as a thrust force to this awakening. entertainment?’ Chidananda Dasgupta was the co-founder of That happened in the early 50s in both societies. He was accompanied by Kolkata. If this was the mentality prevalent Satyajit Ray, Harisadhan Dasgupta, RP Gupta, among educated people of India, then how Vijaya Mule, Satish Bahadur etc. troublesome it could have been to start a film In 1948, when Jean Renoir visited movement then? Sometimes I think, is it due Kolkata in the context of his film The River, to the multifaceted career of Dasgupta that had most of the Indian filmmakers did not even made him a progressive thinker. What shaped know about him. But people from Calcutta him to be a powerful and farsighted writer? Is Film Society were the appreciative audience of it because of his involvement in anti-British his envious achievements. Besides him, movements, his lectureship, or being in famous personalities like Vsevolod Pudovkin, contact with numerous people due to film Cherkasov, John Houston, Frank Capra, etc. society's work? were the guests and speakers of the Society’s To be very generic, the lecturers have a different programs between 1947-52. structured schema of their creative writing and When a greater portion of our fellow criticism. Not readers of every age group seem Indian audiences was inundated by the to be interested in those writings for a longer romantic melodramatic films of the time, the time. Chidananda Dasgupta was also a Calcutta Film Society witnessed the grandeur lecturer, but to our utter astonishment, his and zest of World cinema; enriched writings either English or Bangla were far themselves with the struggle and evolution of away from scholarly ethos and monotony. cinema. And the result was fantabulous. Perhaps a critic is a person of bountifulness Pather Panchali (1955), a historic birth in who dares to face acceptance as well as Indian cinemascope! Mrinal Sen changed the rejection. script of Akash Kusum immediately after The question arises here, what is the watching Jules and Jim (1960) of Francois definition of film criticism? How is it different Truffaut in society’s show. The movements from a film review? Gaston Roberge has once lead by a film society and its connection with mentioned that film review is another way of World cinema had always been credited to promoting a film, a process of information filmmakers but not to film critics, neither to sharing, personal opinion. On the contrary, the active associates of the society perhaps. film criticism the analysis of personal reaction. The purpose behind the formation of a film It evolves from the critic's psychological, society doesn’t consist of only film exhibitions social, ethical point of view. According to and impelling the makers to do/produce more Dhiman Dasgupta's Dictionary of cinema, an films. It has a tremendous responsibility to art critic is an enthusiast first, expert later. create mass awareness about cinema as an art Chidananda Dasgupta also believed form as well as a mass medium. that the first and foremost initiative of a critic Once, Chidananda Dasgupta had to get should be the connection between artiste and about a government office due to some issues audience. of the society. After some tedious frequent When Dasgupta and few more film visits when Dasgupta finally met the highly critics started writing, their writings were educated, high-ranked officer, he had to published in the film festival and film society's convince him about the socio-cultural and souvenirs and magazines. Gradually, literary E-CineIndia: Oct-Dec 2020/ Aparajita Pujari 3 magazines started publishing articles on films. While the contemporary depression Filmmakers had started writing about films devours people like us, the ardent admirers of too. But, considering the huge potential of cinema, Chidananda Dasgupta becomes the cinema in India and the vast viewership Indian ever-flowing river of wisdom for the film industry, a healthy environment for distressed. Sitting on its bank we rise from discussing cinema is yet to come. disillusionment to nirvana. Celebrating 100th years of film In Chitra Samalochna (1987), the criticism in America, a documentary was definition assigned to film critic does the made in 2007 and it was named - “For the love justice for Dasgupta, I feel. Though no of movies”. In that documentary, American definition can encompass the characteristics of critic Gerald Peary was being asked, “What is an independent writer, still, the following the crisis of criticism? Peary replied: “Simply characteristics may help to elaborate on that if you are a print critic you are in danger Dasgupta's exceptional expertise: of losing your job at any moment”. 1. The socio-economical, geographical, The crisis Gerald mentioned was the anthropological, political, and intimidation, and animosity that print media historical details were at his fingertips. faces to date. The replacement of humans by 2. Skilled in film’s technical aspects as machines. People have now become solely well as knowledgeable in acting as he dependent on the device yet the role of a critic was involved with film society and is still full of challenges. advertising organizations. If we put aside film criticism for a 3. His command over English, Bangla, while, today’s socio-cultural circumstances and Hindi languages is exceptional. have become such that in an infotainment Readers spontaneously fall for his program, while sharing historical information, writings. This may be due to his the legend of Indian film, Mr. Amitabh political transparency and uncorrupted Bachchan is being trolled, an FIR being filed, personality which got reflected in his and every Tom-Dick-Harry has not hesitated writings. to label him as a leftist! This is what the 4. Immense interest in literature leads situation is. While writing a criticism a writer him to be an avid reader of English, has to worry about the socio-political views he Hindi, Bangla, and Urdu literature. has to avoid, the words that might not be liked 5. Professionally he used to ignore the by the ruling party, cannot appreciate a film closeness to film stars it seems. That’s that has an anti-government agenda, is always why his writings seemed to be under the fear of being backlashed by the unbiased. He could restrict himself ruling party, then how can be writing becomes from unessential mutual admiration somebody’s “own writing"? It can’t be which had elevated him from a writer criticism, mere bribe it is. to a Man of Dignity. Nowadays the success and appeal of a 6. Wit and satire are his spontaneous film solely depend on the first week rhythm. But he never used any collections, endorsement, and publicity stunts. insulting, cynical, or disrespecting After watching the premiere show/first show, words. (His wit was so sharp and who would post the first review, who would subtle that while writing this article I get the most “views” of the reviews has had to pause for one day to concise the circumference of film criticism. If differentiate the meaning between Film critics and film analysts become the kshonojiwi and khsonejiwi. Literally vehicle of publicity only then how could we both the words indicate the same expect the industry and audience to remain meaning - transient. But he was such a respectful towards the critic? (In 1920 Louis skillful writer that I couldn't take a risk Delluc had signaled about this type of of probable misinterpretation!) publicity criticism). E-CineIndia: Oct-Dec 2020/ Aparajita Pujari 4 7. Though sometimes, in his writings, In an interview, Aparna Sen said that sheer regionalism can be seen yet in most the first Bangla film she watched was Pather of his writings, specifically in English Panchali.