Arbit Scratchpad

Today I watched the Satyajit Ray classic ‘Pather Panchali’ (Song of the Little Road) for the very first time. It is based on Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay’s novel of the same name. Now I know what all the hype is all about. I was on purpose postponing viewing this famed movie, perhaps building up expectations and for sure I can confess: I wasn’t disappointed. It is undoubtedly one of the best films ever made, a brilliant almost lyrical exposition of a rather poor family in a village, in the hinterlands of Bengal . Here was a film, back when it was made, with no melodrama, no violence, no romance or song and dance sequences, simple and plain. An uncomplicated, unadulterated straight-forward story, told from the depths of the heart, yet very potent and full of analogies and with a focus on the human condition of poverty. The screenplay is beautiful and evokes a sense of warmth within – for example, at times, you almost feel you want to hug Apu! The little Durga and later the grow...

I again watched Satyajit Ray’s ‘Jai Baba Felunath’ today on the Zee Studio tribute series that's been going on for the past two months, where they feature a film by the genius every Sunday at 3PM . What a brilliantly crafted movie it is! Not sure if that same mastery, or that form of brilliance will ever be captured again. However Sandip Ray has done a great job with a fast, slick and a more contemporary format for ‘Kailashe Kelenkari’ (A Killer in Kailash) which I managed to watch at the INOX, City Center, Kolkata recently with all my cousins. Just as Sonar Kella was a showcase of Rajasthan (Jaisalmer in particular), ‘Jai Baba…’ seemed like a showcase of Kashi, ‘Kailashe…’ is a showcase of the enigmatically beauteous caves of Ellora. All the three stories in their fiction format are absolutely fabulous and their cinematic versions, including the latter one will definitely reach public glory. The way the movie starts, after an aircraft crash and the clever ending is crafted we...

(C), SHAMIT BAGCHI, Dec 2007. A DESCRIPTION: More from the realm of the absurd, the sketch depicts two people involved in a brawl in the middle of a street. And it seems like one person has succeeded in giving the other a fatal blow. But which one ? Or have both succeeded .......... Are they different people? Or is it man fighting with himself? As always.

The soul is never born nor does it die at any time. It has neither past nor future. It is unborn, ever existing, permanent and ancient. Just as a man discards worn out clothes and puts on new clothes, the soul discards worn out bodies and wears new ones. It is a fact that that which is born is certain to die and that the one which has died is bound to take birth. There is no need to worry for the unavoidable. All created beings were unmanifest in the beginning, manifest themselves in the middle and become unmanifest again when they die in the end. If this is so then where is the need for lamentation?

The top three, best writing from my blog posts in 2007. Go read 'em: Unconscience Deep B Why Sonia Gandhi should be the coach of the Indian Cricket team.