A deceptively simple tale of four city bred youth leaving behind the concrete jungle and slumming with a vengeance amidst the forests of Palamau in what was then Bihar turned out to be one of the finest films directed by Satyajit Ray -Aranyer Din Ratri. When it was released 56 years ago, people made a beeline for the theatres in Kolkata, while critics were almost at a loss for words in its praise.
Of late, the release of its restored version at Bunuel theatre, Cannes drew a full house. It was a clear pointer to the fact that class is permanent as restored films struggle for a big audience.
The audience reaction after Ray’s timeless work was screened at the classic section left no one in any doubt about the French cinephiles admiration. Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal were at the festival as resplendent survivors of the cast of the film.
Under Ray’s direction, the film became an allegory and a sharp comment. Everything came together so beautifully.
A short break from the citified life become a tryst of self realisation found expression on the screen . As the four young men and two beautiful women of almost the same age played a memory game in which the name of then Congress stalwart Atulya Ghosh and a choice was asked to be made between “Helen of Bombay” and “Helen of Troy’ seemed to inject seriousness and levity which is so beloved of the Gauls and the rest of the world.
Simi, usually at home in the role of a chic society lady who was chosen by Ray to play Duli, a devil may care tribal girl. Sharmila, on the other hand, who had started her film career in Ray’s Apur Sansar and conquered dizzy heights in Bombay films thereafter charmed the audience as an introspective young lady haunted by the memories of her late mother who was burnt and later the passing of her brother.
The film got the kiss of life from Martin Scorsese’s Film Foundation and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur Film Heritage Foundation. With fresh sub-titles, it took six years of coordination between various stakeholders.
Simi recalled the film being shot in a forest sans electricity and phones. But the film crew which included Soumitra Chatterjee making a style statement in dark glasses was unfazed
For they were in a euphoria. Everyone was aware they were part of making of a classic in celluloid participating in which happened to be an opportunity of a lifetime.
Working with one of the greatest directors of the world was an honour. It was all the more so as the great man carried his fame lightly. It was a take on the man -woman relationship in the backdrop of s forest. It has not gone stale till date.
It brought back memories of an era when cinema was seen in theatres. People sat comfortably in their seats in the dark as the lines blurred between make believe and reality.
