On the eve of the birth anniversary of Satyajit Ray, a group of elderly people gathered at Apur Sangsar Park to share their thoughts and feelings for the versatile genius. The programme was conducted by the residents of Snehodiya with solemnity and reverence.
Uma Dasgupta, a resident of Snehodiya, shared her memory of watching Pather Panchali with her parents when it released in 1955, when she was in school. Thereafter she did not miss watching Aparajito and Apur Sangsar as they released one after the other. “I felt a magnetic pull, an irresistible attraction, to watch the Apu trilogy,” she said. She had read Aam Antir Bhepu earlier, but it was the film that brought Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s work closer to a city-bred child, she added. “We, readers of history, identify two strands in India — urban civilisation and rural society. Bibhutibhushan’s words and Ray’s cinematic art brought the two strands together.”
Kumkum Bandyopadhyay presented Maharaja tomare selam, rephrasing some of the original lyrics with age-appropriate words that made the song even more lively and enjoyable. Octogenarian Bibhash Krishna Palit poured his heart into Aha ki ananda akashe batashe.
Residents of Snehodiya stage a tribute to Satyajit Ray at Apur Sangsar Park on May 1
Mandira Banerjee shared her memories of interactions with Ray from 1970 to 1990 while she was engaged as PRO and cultural secretary of the Czechoslovakia consulate and trade commission in Calcutta. “I met him many a time during the screening of foreign films to be chosen for the Kolkata Film Festival at Nandan 3. “If he was the walking encyclopedia of our film industry with a towering personality, he was also the loving Manikda for all who knew him closely. Delegates who came from Czechoslovakia used to be moved by his amiable behaviour,” she recalled.
The programme was made lively with dialogues from Ray films. Snigdha Sen entertained the audience with her recitation of Baburam the Snake Charmer, a translated version of the original poem written by Ray's father Sukumar Roy.
The programme was jointly organised by NKDA and Radio Newtown.