E-CineIndia: Oct-Dec 2020/ Aparajita Pujari 1

Centenary Tribute: 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 could hardly be seen. It was educational importance of cinema. After the the 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 . If this was the mentality prevalent , 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 (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, 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. She wasn’t allowed by her father to writings, a sense of Indianness is present watch any Bengali films before that. The which truly helps a reader from any corner question arises here….. Did Dasgupta deny the in India to connect. importance of mainstream Hindi films and 8. He was a keen observer of our society. popular regional films? Generally, it seems A few years earlier, a writer once asked that people from film society are more me, “Why do you write about the performance inclined towards parallel films. Though the of an artiste in a film? About an actor? This is extent of the selection of films has become a film, not a drama. The film is all about vast, and so as the progressive audience is technology." today compared to Dasgupta's era, the apathy towards mainstream films is still there among some of the film activists and critics of the world. But Dasgupta was enthusiastic about the term cinema. He argues with scientific reasoning while illustrating the unreasonable success of a mainstream Hindi film. He had shaken the myth which says that parallel film is the opposite of mainstream Indian cinema. Generally, both the good and bad qualities of a person's genes can be seen in their descendants. Both generations don't need to have the same or even better professional expertise. But Aparna Sen and Konkona Sen I didn’t answer anything on that day. But Sharm’s talent and personality reflect their when I look into the writings of Dasgupta, I love and allegiance towards cinema, which is see that from Guru Dutt to Amitabh Bachchan, definitely coming from their roots. This root he analyzed all the performances. From helped them to find their individual places in mainstream movies to art houses films, he the mainstream as well as in regional films. discussed every stream of public views. Aparna Sen herself is a very vocal and fearless In the contemporary scenario, when the critic of society, too. political faces and film industry has got mixed Dasgupta seemed to be a sensitive up, The on-screen performances have become reader of Satyajit Ray’s philosophy of life. less colorful of some actors than their public While discussing Ray’s films in the Cinema of views, then only the netizens and media Satyajit Ray, he has mentioned him as a silent pundits have discovered the actual face behind observer of life. The way a filmmaker’s the public faces. But back in the ’80s, philosophy and ideology get reflected in his Dasgupta studied and picked up the correlation movie, a writer's attitude towards life and the between politics, media, and image building of whole universe can be seen through his actors. How did the demigod characters of writings. The impersonal attachment that is MTR and NTR in their film help them paved a felt in Ray's handling of characters transforms smooth entry to politics, he illustrated them all into emotional detachment in Dasgupta's style back then in the Painted Face of Politics. of criticism. Although the latter's observations Referring to a journalist, he has written about have been very inquisitive. NTR as, “He sits like Duryodhana, walks like Dasgupta translated Jibananda Das’s Rama and talks like Krishna”. poetry collection, which is an epitome of how avid a reader of poetry he was. His literary prowess was over-shadowed by his popularity E-CineIndia: Oct-Dec 2020/ Aparajita Pujari 5

in film criticism. His skillful storytelling can researches and discussions can be seen about be felt in his film Amodini (1994). In an essay him and his creations. on background music, he has mentioned that Things I have learned from him: Rabindra Sangeet blossoms innumerable 1. There’s no substitute for honesty. images in the listener's mind but if melody 2. Just read, read, and read….. (sur) is connected to then only it transmits 3. Sobar upore manush satya, tahar sentiment (rasa). In another writing, he said, upore nai…. “Songs have an important climatic, orgasmic A critic may not always be correct; there function as well, Indian cinema being the most might be disparity of opinion between him and erotic in the world behind its puritanical the audience and filmmaker. But the prime façade…..The onrush of the big sound fact of a critic is that he should be honest to orchestra and the loud voice bursting forth is the medium. He might be the mate of the film very orgasmic in its sudden release”. From industry but should never be an attendant to it. both of these essays, it’s quite distinct how concerned he was about the Indian history, heritage, and culture, to the film distributors, producers, and a new audience’s requirements. The reinterpretation of mythology and scientific exploration of religious customs had always been the driving force of his socio- historical writings. It’s so surprising, and optimistic to see that a person, born in 1921 had closely observed women's dignity and had openly written about it. A person who had dedicated his whole life towards the upliftment of art and society was the son of an orthodox missionary! One of the most appealing styles of his writing was his capability to defragmenting the lyrics and dialogues of the discussed film. The English translation of Sahir Ludhiyanvi's Today, when I see art and artiste being famous song “Yein Duniya agar mil Bhi Jae to intoxicated by the materialistic goals, common kya hai” from Guru Dutt's Pyasa (1957) is an man questing for ambrosia in the mirages, I apt example of this. look up and try to inhale the essence he had What will I gain if I win the world, followed ---- “In myth, things lose the memory Where youths loaf around shiftless, that they were once made” (Ronald Barthes). Where young bodies are decked out for sale, Undoubtedly, he is not an idol to be Where love is but a business deal? worshipped; he never wanted to be one. His films, Portrait of a city (1961) and But the little girl who has grown up now, The Dance of Shiva (1968) proclaim his and who knows that “that kind of” charm and command over music, shayari, and deep agni would never come out from her pen, for understanding of filmography. But this is her he remained the great master, forever. infact sad that his films are not available on any streaming platform for us. Neither notable

Ms. Aparajita Pujari is a poet, film-critic, and writer, contributing regularly on cinema, based in Guwahati.