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Revisting Pather Panchali-The Satyajit Ray Masterpiece

2006; RELX Group (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês

10.2139/ssrn.885487

1556-5068

Shaswata Dutta,

South Asian Cinema and Culture

Pather Panchali follows the trials and tribulations of this poor family: the first conscious experiences of Apu, his early school years and close bond with his sister Durga, and their adventures in the nearby forest and fields. The underlying strength of the film is Ray’s unsentimental but intensely artistic exploration of many universal themes. He carefully examines the interaction of life and death, the aged and the young, and makes subtle references to the tensions between rural and city life and how it is being changed by new technology—in this case electricity and the railway. Outwardly a reassuringly peaceful reflection of one Brahman family, Pather Panchali calmly demonstrates the fragility of this serene illusion. Set in the early years of this century, in a Bengali village far off the main cultural artery, we learn of the shockingly destitute Ray family. The head of the clan, Harihar Ray, dreams of becoming a feted writer and poet. Yet to put food in the mouths of his children, Harihar must set aside this fantasy; he works as bookkeeper for a local landlord. As Harihar slaves for a pittance, occasionally moonlighting to carry out religious ceremonies, his wife Sarbojaya struggles by. With two rambunctious kids, it's an endless chore. Satyajit Ray has also shown a beautiful relationship between old Indir Thakrun and young and restless Durga. She bonds wonderfully with Durga, and tries not to get in the way. But the relationship between Sarbojaya and Indir also portrays another type of relationship as there exists a friction between them, Durga being the common thread. . The youngest, Sarbojaya's son Apu, is always careering around and exploring, when not in school. It's a wild streak that he's picked up from Durga, who lacks the influence of school as a behaviour modifier. Unless press-ganged by her mother, Durga's favourite pastime is to scrump fruit from their neighbour's garden; it's a recipe for trouble.