Opinion Twenty years later

Till date I get calls asking for help on various projects on Satyajit Ray. I do the best I can. A few days ago,a group of French tourists came to me — they wanted to see the house of Satyajit Ray. They also wanted to go to the location of Jalsaghar. I gave them the address of the Murshidabad house where the film was shot. But after visiting the site,they were quite disappointed as the house was in a shambles. Nothing can be done to conserve these places,but we are doing our best to preserve his films and literature.

A few years after his death on April 23,1992,the Ray Society was formed to preserve and restore his films,writings,sketchbooks and illustrations. We have plans to build a Ray film and study centre with facilities like viewing rooms. The restoration work on his films began after he won the Oscar. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science wanted a demo,and that was when we realised that his films were in pathetic shape. We immediately took necessary steps to preserve his celluloid through chemical restoration. Now they are all safe,as we have digitised them.

In the beginning of my journey as a filmmaker,there was a lot of pressure,expectation,for being Satyajit Ray’s son. Slowly I realised that if I thought about it,the pressure would keep piling up unnecessarily. I knew I had to be very careful. I have worked with Baba’s crew members and some of them are still an integral part of my team. Interactions with them give me a lot of support. However,the biggest help as a director for me was having observed Baba very closely. I try and follow his working method,which was very fast and economical. A lot of importance was placed on research and homework. In those days,the market was not very big. These days,our films are being released in different states. Baba’s films were released only in Kolkata and abroad. He carefully planned and made them. His principle was this: a producer should be able to get back the money I’m taking from him,and if he makes some profit,then so much the better. This is something even I try to follow and it has helped me as a filmmaker.

Filmmaking in Bengali is now in an interesting place. Various genres and subjects are being explored. A new breed of filmmakers is coming up with spectacular films. We are looking at subjects which were entirely unheard of even a few years back. Hopefully,this trend will continue and we will get to see more exciting films. However,some time ago,the industry was going through a bad phase. People were not going to stand-alone halls to watch Bengali movies. With the entry of multiplexes,there is competition to provide a better viewing experience. This,coupled with quality films,have brought the viewers back. New production houses have also been a boon as they are backing interesting projects.

The question is not whether the new filmmakers are taking forward the cinematic vision of Ray. They are making good cinema in different genres and thorough research is being done. What is most heartwarming is that they are saluting Ray in their own ways. By referencing him and his films in many ways — through anecdotes,dialogue or perhaps just a mention of his movies — they are rejoicing in his vision of filmmaking. There is a lot of warmth and regard in it.

Two recent examples are Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani and Anik Dutta’s Bhooter Bhobisyot. Sujoy,in many interviews,has spoken of how he used Ray for his recent blockbuster. A couple of days back,he asked me with a smile,“Did you understand from where I copied bits?” There are references to Joy Baba Felunath and Charulata. Bhooter Bhobisyot is a unique and completely whacky film. It’s an important milestone in Bengali cinema. Audiences are enjoying it and the amazing performances by the ensemble cast. Here,too,you will find references to Baba’s films,and dialogues inspired by them. Srijit Mukherjee is also going great guns and his first film,Autograph,which did very well at the box office and with the critics,is a direct tribute to Nayak.

The writer is Satyajit Ray’s son and a filmmaker,express@expressindia.com