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Bhanu turns 100

A centenary quiz on legendary actor Bhanu Bandyopadhyay

Souvik Das Published 04.09.20, 05:58 PM
1.Satyajit Ray rated this film among the most important early Bengali sound films and regarded the director as the first genuine purveyor of Bengali social comedies. This film director’s formal training in the visual arts, literature and photography often yielded dexterous combinations of witty dialogue, inventive acting and a fluid narrative style that rarely resorted to middle-class sentimentalism while evoking, with a sense of self-mockery, its manners and conversational culture. He did several significant films with Bhanu Bandyopadhyay. Who is the director we are talking about?
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1.Satyajit Ray rated this film among the most important early Bengali sound films and regarded the director as the first genuine purveyor of Bengali social comedies. This film director’s formal training in the visual arts, literature and photography often yielded dexterous combinations of witty dialogue, inventive acting and a fluid narrative style that rarely resorted to middle-class sentimentalism while evoking, with a sense of self-mockery, its manners and conversational culture. He did several significant films with Bhanu Bandyopadhyay. Who is the director we are talking about?

Sourced by the Telegraph
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2.Identify this dramatist who died 22 years before the first ever commercial screening of any cinema. He gave Bhanu Bandyopadhyay one of the biggest hits of his career. Who is he?
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2.Identify this dramatist who died 22 years before the first ever commercial screening of any cinema. He gave Bhanu Bandyopadhyay one of the biggest hits of his career. Who is he?

Sourced by the Telegraph
3. Proud mother of one of the finest theatre personalities in Bengal and grandmother of a National Award-winning actor, she herself is a powerhouse of talent and people hate her in Shreemoyee. She had a brief appearance (shown in the picture) in Bhanu Bandyopadhyay’s movie Personal Assistant which was her third venture on the celluloid. Who is she?
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3. Proud mother of one of the finest theatre personalities in Bengal and grandmother of a National Award-winning actor, she herself is a powerhouse of talent and people hate her in Shreemoyee. She had a brief appearance (shown in the picture) in Bhanu Bandyopadhyay’s movie Personal Assistant which was her third venture on the celluloid. Who is she?

Sourced by the Telegraph
4.Who or what connects these three images?
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4.Who or what connects these three images?

Sourced by the Telegraph

5.In a classic audio-drama Bhanu Bandyopadhyay as husband says to his wife that diseases used to have names sounding ‘Ya Ya’ — like pneumonia, malaria, anaemia, diphtheria... Now we have diseases which sound like ‘Is’ — pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, encephelitis... “And when doctors cannot figure out the disease they talk about something sounding like ‘us’.” What was the term he referred to?

6.This movie had Bhanu and another brilliant actor in the lead roles. The film also had a cameo by Anup Kumar and Jahar Roy. It’s print was in a bad shape till very recently when it got restored on DVD. Who is Bhanu Bandyopadhyay’s co-actor in this scene whose face has been masked?
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6.This movie had Bhanu and another brilliant actor in the lead roles. The film also had a cameo by Anup Kumar and Jahar Roy. It’s print was in a bad shape till very recently when it got restored on DVD. Who is Bhanu Bandyopadhyay’s co-actor in this scene whose face has been masked?

Sourced by the Telegraph
7.What is common to the three films (see posters above) in relation to Bhanu Bandyopadhyay?
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7.What is common to the three films (see posters above) in relation to Bhanu Bandyopadhyay?

Sourced by the Telegraph

8.In 1967, Bhanu appeared in a fantasy which was about getting back one’s youth by taking a dip in a magical pond. Years later, an English movie had a similar concept and earned two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Visual Effects. It was also about a swimming pool charged with life forces that gave elderly couples the pleasure of feeling young once again. What was the Bengali movie and English one?

When the clue is in the picture

 

1. It needs one dialogue to make a legend out of a thespian. There are the violent ones like ‘Kitney aadmi the’ and the romantic ones like ‘Bade bade deshon mein …’ To Bengalis, it was a hilarious one: ‘Masima, malpo khamu’. Who played this masima from whom Bhanu Bandyopadhyay fondly demanded a malpo?
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1. It needs one dialogue to make a legend out of a thespian. There are the violent ones like ‘Kitney aadmi the’ and the romantic ones like ‘Bade bade deshon mein …’ To Bengalis, it was a hilarious one: ‘Masima, malpo khamu’. Who played this masima from whom Bhanu Bandyopadhyay fondly demanded a malpo?

Sourced by the Telegraph
2. This was one of the most poignant moments in this film. The film had many. What was the name of the character for whom Nitya Hari Bhattacharjee (played by Bhanu Bandyopadhyay) carried this scarf? And what was the colour of this scarf?
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2. This was one of the most poignant moments in this film. The film had many. What was the name of the character for whom Nitya Hari Bhattacharjee (played by Bhanu Bandyopadhyay) carried this scarf? And what was the colour of this scarf?

Sourced by the Telegraph
3. This was a very special moment in this cinema when the lead actress discovers a huge transformation in herself. However, even before that her husband had already discovered the magic behind the transformation. What was that transformation and what was the source of the magic?
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3. This was a very special moment in this cinema when the lead actress discovers a huge transformation in herself. However, even before that her husband had already discovered the magic behind the transformation. What was that transformation and what was the source of the magic?

Sourced by the Telegraph
4. This is another hallmark in the illustrious career of Bhanu Bandyopadhyay. Needless to say, he is playing a woman in this scene. Name the movie and the co-actor, who himself was a tremendous talent and impressed Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi through his songs. He was also a favourite of Satyajit Ray.
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4. This is another hallmark in the illustrious career of Bhanu Bandyopadhyay. Needless to say, he is playing a woman in this scene. Name the movie and the co-actor, who himself was a tremendous talent and impressed Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi through his songs. He was also a favourite of Satyajit Ray.

Sourced by the Telegraph
5. The film that introduced Bhanu Bandyopadhyay as an unique talent was Basu Paribar. But this is a still from the movie which launched him as a lead actor. In this scene he is seen with a bunch of very talented co-stars. Identify the one to his exact left and one to his extreme right.
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5. The film that introduced Bhanu Bandyopadhyay as an unique talent was Basu Paribar. But this is a still from the movie which launched him as a lead actor. In this scene he is seen with a bunch of very talented co-stars. Identify the one to his exact left and one to his extreme right.

Sourced by the Telegraph
6. This is a hilarious scene involving a father-son duel. The father is of course very angry in this scene. Who is playing the father and who are playing the sons?
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6. This is a hilarious scene involving a father-son duel. The father is of course very angry in this scene. Who is playing the father and who are playing the sons?

Sourced by the Telegraph
7. Two different movies from two completely different genres. But a very talented actor is sharing the space with two actors who are stars in their own rights – Bhanu Bandyopadhyay and Uttam Kumar. In one scene, he is seen enjoying a dose of nose powder and in the other a cup of tea. Who is this actor who was a favourite of Satyajit Ray?
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7. Two different movies from two completely different genres. But a very talented actor is sharing the space with two actors who are stars in their own rights – Bhanu Bandyopadhyay and Uttam Kumar. In one scene, he is seen enjoying a dose of nose powder and in the other a cup of tea. Who is this actor who was a favourite of Satyajit Ray?

Sourced by the Telegraph
8. In this movie, Bhanu Bandyopadhyay represented the system and all that is wrong with the system. Cine lovers still remember him saying in his caustic tone – ‘In the Indian penal code, the father is not hanged for a murder committed by the son!’ This movie launched another very talented actor who is present in this scene. Who was this actor?
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8. In this movie, Bhanu Bandyopadhyay represented the system and all that is wrong with the system. Cine lovers still remember him saying in his caustic tone – ‘In the Indian penal code, the father is not hanged for a murder committed by the son!’ This movie launched another very talented actor who is present in this scene. Who was this actor?

Sourced by the Telegraph
9. What connects Asrani, a very popular comedian from Hindi movies, Bhanu Bandyopadhyay, the pivot of today’s quiz, and Komal, a popular Kannada actor?
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9. What connects Asrani, a very popular comedian from Hindi movies, Bhanu Bandyopadhyay, the pivot of today’s quiz, and Komal, a popular Kannada actor?

Sourced by the Telegraph
10. This was one of the most serious films he acted in. This film, made in 1959, is said to be partly autobiographical. However, it was out of print for a long period of time. What was this lost movie?
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10. This was one of the most serious films he acted in. This film, made in 1959, is said to be partly autobiographical. However, it was out of print for a long period of time. What was this lost movie?

Sourced by the Telegraph
11. This is one of his last comedy albums. In this hilarious satire he draws parallel between King Dasharatha and modern day politics. King Dasharatha promised, but his sons had to suffer by fulfiling it. Similarly, modern day politicians make promises and expect the voters to suffer in a bid to fulfil them. What is the title of this album?
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11. This is one of his last comedy albums. In this hilarious satire he draws parallel between King Dasharatha and modern day politics. King Dasharatha promised, but his sons had to suffer by fulfiling it. Similarly, modern day politicians make promises and expect the voters to suffer in a bid to fulfil them. What is the title of this album?

Sourced by the Telegraph
12. Bhanu Bandyopadhyay’s comedy act was often supported by some brilliant actors, most famous among them being Jahar Roy. However, in this scene we can see two other actors who also belonged to the gang of laugh rioters. Identify them.
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12. Bhanu Bandyopadhyay’s comedy act was often supported by some brilliant actors, most famous among them being Jahar Roy. However, in this scene we can see two other actors who also belonged to the gang of laugh rioters. Identify them.

Sourced by the Telegraph

Focus on remakes

During the 60s and early 70s, several successful Bengali movies were remade in other languages. This section is on some of the movies of Bhanu Bandyopadhyay which were remade.

You have to look at the posters of the remade movies and guess the original Bengali film

All remakes of this Bengali classic were superhits. This is a love story of a simple man who falls in love with his lady in the neighbourhood. The Bengali movie catapulted the leading lady into stardom. What was the name of the Bengali movie and who was the lead actress?
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All remakes of this Bengali classic were superhits. This is a love story of a simple man who falls in love with his lady in the neighbourhood. The Bengali movie catapulted the leading lady into stardom. What was the name of the Bengali movie and who was the lead actress?

Sourced by the Telegraph
The Indian Express said about this Tamil remake of the Bhanu Bandyopadhyay starrer: “A hilarious comedy in the best tradition of Tamil genius has been brought to the screen by the plucky Producer-Director C. Pullayya … ” One wishes the review had also traced back the history of the movie to a 19th century Bengali story. Which was the Bengali movie?
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The Indian Express said about this Tamil remake of the Bhanu Bandyopadhyay starrer: “A hilarious comedy in the best tradition of Tamil genius has been brought to the screen by the plucky Producer-Director C. Pullayya … ” One wishes the review had also traced back the history of the movie to a 19th century Bengali story. Which was the Bengali movie?

Sourced by the Telegraph
This Bengali movie won a National Award and three years later the Hindi remake gave many film personalities their firsts. The Kannada remake in the early 80’s was a so-so one. What was the Bengali movie and what were the three firsts for the Hindi remake?
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This Bengali movie won a National Award and three years later the Hindi remake gave many film personalities their firsts. The Kannada remake in the early 80’s was a so-so one. What was the Bengali movie and what were the three firsts for the Hindi remake?

Sourced by the Telegraph
This Bhanu Bandyopadhyay starrer was a superhit in 1963 and earned 300 per cent of the shoe-string budget. Five years later, the first Hindi remake was not a big success despite the presence of the comic man of the season. Years later the writer of the first remake made a second attempt, this time helming the project as a director. This attempt did not miss the bull’s eye. A literary genius and a social reformer cum educationist cum author from the Bengali Renaissance period are associated with these films. Who are they?
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This Bhanu Bandyopadhyay starrer was a superhit in 1963 and earned 300 per cent of the shoe-string budget. Five years later, the first Hindi remake was not a big success despite the presence of the comic man of the season. Years later the writer of the first remake made a second attempt, this time helming the project as a director. This attempt did not miss the bull’s eye. A literary genius and a social reformer cum educationist cum author from the Bengali Renaissance period are associated with these films. Who are they?

Sourced by the Telegraph
The Bengali version of this film received President’s Silver Medal in National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali. Bhanu Bandyopadhyay played a stellar role in this movie. It was remade in three different languages and one of them launched Daisy Irani as a child actor. She went ahead to become the most popular child actor of her times and also acted in the Tamil remake. What was the Bengali movie and its Hindi remake?
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The Bengali version of this film received President’s Silver Medal in National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali. Bhanu Bandyopadhyay played a stellar role in this movie. It was remade in three different languages and one of them launched Daisy Irani as a child actor. She went ahead to become the most popular child actor of her times and also acted in the Tamil remake. What was the Bengali movie and its Hindi remake?

Sourced by the Telegraph
This cult Bengali movie had several remakes. The posters to the right show the commercially more successful ones in Hindi and Kannada. However, these two remakes were nowhere close to being the classic that an earlier Hindi remake was. There was another mindless remake in Tamil which tried to blend the Bengali movie with My Man Godfrey and landed up creating an avoidable watch. What was the cult Bengali movie we are talking about?
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This cult Bengali movie had several remakes. The posters to the right show the commercially more successful ones in Hindi and Kannada. However, these two remakes were nowhere close to being the classic that an earlier Hindi remake was. There was another mindless remake in Tamil which tried to blend the Bengali movie with My Man Godfrey and landed up creating an avoidable watch. What was the cult Bengali movie we are talking about?

Sourced by the Telegraph

Mail your answers to saltlake@abpmail.com by September 13, 2020. Names of those with the maximum correct responses will be published.

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