Happy birthday to Sarat Chandra Chatterji.

Happy birthday to Sarat Chandra Chatterji.

The literary community all over India wish happy birthday to literary giant Sarat Chandra Chatterji on 15th September, 2010. He got the title of “katha sahityik” as his words used to put life in the bodies of trees, plants, animals and he portrayed rural life in India in the most lucid manner possible.

He was born in the village of Debanandapur in Hoogly near Kolkata, West Bengal. His two pieces of literature, that is Devdas and Parineeta had lived the test of time and became immortal. Films in bollywood and other languages had been made a number of times on the classic literature. In fact tragedy king Dilip Kumar got his image by brilliant depiction of Sarat Chandra’s character Devdas in Bimal Roy’s film in 1955.

In the Bengali film industry, Sarat Chandra Chatterji’s literature was indispensable and eminent directors experimented with his immortal literature. Legendary actress Kanan Debi featured in many Bengali films based on Sarat literature most of which were directed by her husband Haridas Bhattacharya. Some of the notable films included Mejdidi, Annadadidi O Srikanto, Nababidhan, etc.

The other notable films included the literature of Sarat Chandra relating to biography of himself, which was called the Srikanto series. Uttam Kumar played the role of Srikanto in the films Rajlakshi Srikanto and Kamallata. Bosonto Choudhury played the role of Srikanto in the film Abhaya O Srikanto. Sarat Chandra’s other pieces of literature used in Bengali films included Bardidi, Ramer Shumoti, Nishkriti, Sabyasachi, Grihadaha, Chandranath, etc. The list can go on.

In bollywood industry also Sarat Chandra was indispensable. Eminent Director Gulzar made the film Khusbu based on classic literature of Sarat Chandra titled Pandit Mashay. The film Nishkriti was remade in hindi with the titie Apne Paraye where eminent artists like Shabana Azmi, Amol Palekar, Girish Karnad, Utpal Dutt played notable roles.

Sarat Chandra Chatterji received Kuntolin award for the creation of Mandir and also D Lit. Degree offered by University of Dhaka. His literature should be translated in all the leading languages in India and other languages abroad. It is because his literature had shown the path which was followed by other literary giants like Bibhutibhushan Banerjee, Munshi Premchand and others.

Sonu Nigam and Shantanu Moitra.

Sonu Nigam and Shantanu Moitra.

Sonu Nigam had brilliant combination a number of leading composers of bollywood over the last 10 years. Sonu Nigam was associated with Anu Malik as some of his best romantic numbers were composed by him including “hume jab se mohabbat ho gayi hai”, in the film Border, or “sau dard hai” in the film Jaaneman. He was also associated with Sajid Wajid, as most of his romantic numbers like “tumko bhula na payega” from the film Tumko Bhula Na Payenge, or “mujhse shaadi karogi” in the film Mujshe Shaadi Karoge was composed by him.

But Sonu Nigam sang very landmark songs under the composition of Shantanu Moitra in critically acclaimed films. The films included Parineeta, Lage Raho Munnabhai, The Three Idiots, etc. Parineeta was directed by Pradeep Sarkar and was probably the first launching pad of actress Vidya Balan. Sonu Nigam’s duet song with Shreya Ghoshal namely “piyu bole piya bole” composed by Shantanu Moitra maintained the flavor of Rabindrasangeet with a background of Kolkata during the time of writer Sarat Chandra Chatterji. Also the song “yeh hawaye gungunaye” was equally impressive.

In the film Lage Raho Munnabhai, Shantanu Moitra, maintained both the bhai-like mastani flavor as well as the soft romantic mood. Sonu Nigam’s song “pal pal pal pal pal pal har pal” was probably the most romantic song of the film. The other songs like “lage raho munnabhai” did bear a different andaz. If the acting of Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani and Vidya Balan was impressive, the music was equally instrumental in the success of the film.

The Three Idiots had shown the loopholes of India’s higher education system. The songs composed by Shantanu Moitra had the message of the director Raj Kumar Hirani. Sonu Nigam and others in the film sung the theme song “all is well” a number of times in the film. The other song “zubi zubi” sung by Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal was also very fast and melodious. Shantanu Moitra had used other upcoming singers like Suraj in the film who had also done a great job in the film. If the acting of Amir Khan, R. Mahadevan and Sharman Joshi had impressed the viewers, the music had made them spellbound.

The audience expect the combination of Sonu Nigam and Shantanu Moitra to provide more number of romantic numbers in future, even in films made under any other banner in addition to the banner of Vidhu Vinod Chopra or direction of Raj Kumar Hirani.

Ajoy Kar's Bardidi amazed the viewers.

Ajoy Kar’s Bardidi amazed the viewers.

Ajoy Kar used to be considered the Genius of Camerawork. He had used his imagination and innovation in crime-thrillers like Jighansha, social dramas like Shyamali, eternal romantic stories like Saptapadi.

Bardidi was the classic literature of Sarat Chandra Chatterji, one of the most respected writers of the country. Uttam Kumar was the model of Ajoy Kar and perhaps his range of acting was best used by the legendary director. In Bardidi, Uttam Kumar was the son of Pahari Sanyal, an eminent lawyer and zamindar of Pabna district in Bengal.

Uttam Kumar did MA and was told by his friends that he should stand on his own feet. He left his parent’s house and looked for a job. He got a job of tutor of girl in Chabi Biswas’s house. Chabi Biswas’s daughter Sandharani was widow, who lost her husband came back to paternal house and fulfilled the responsibilities there. Everyone called her as bardidi, meaning the elder sister.

Uttam Kumar got engrossed in studies hardly cared about the little girl’s tution. But Sandharani gave Uttam Kumar food three times a day and also provided him a separate room to continue his own studies. After 4 months, Sandharani came to know about Uttam Kumar’s act of hardly teaching anything to the girl and told his to leave the house.

Uttam Kumar left the house and met with an accident and got hospitalized. Sandharani came to see him in the hospital. Chabi Biswas contacted his father Pahari Sanyal and took him back to Pabna. After 5 years both Chabi Biswas and Pahari Sanyal died. Uttam Kumar married Dipti Roy and left the task of managing the zamindari to his clerk played by Dhiraj Bhattacharya.

Sandharani’s elder brother got married and his wife never like Sandharani’s control over the joint family. She returned back to her deceased husband’s house. But due to non-payment of rent to the zamindar the land was auctioned and sold.

Uttam Kumar came to know about it and called up bardidi (Sandharani) while she was returning back to her paternal house. Uttam Kumar drove on horseback to let Sandharani know about the fact that the land had been returned back. Uttam Kumar was very ill and died on the spot. Sarat Chandra Chatterji’s portrayal of village life in Bengal and the odds faced by young widow in the 30s and 40s had well depicted by Ajoy Kar. Uttam Kumar, Chabi Biswas and Sandharani were brilliant in their respective roles. The film did excellent business. It should be revived to show the excellence of classic films of the 50s.

Vidya Balan requires a big hit soon.

Vidya Balan requires a big hit soon.

Vidya Balan stormed into bollywood films with successful film Parineeta. She played the character of Parineeta, the epic character of legendary writer Sarat Chandra Chatterji. Her performance opposite Saif Ai Khan and Sanjay Dutt charmed most of the viewers of bollywood.

She continued her dream run after giving a brilliant performance in the film Lage Raho Munnabhai. The film was related to Gandhigiri. Sanjay Dutt on one hand showed his level of maturity in comedy roles especially as Munnabhai. On the other hand Vidya Balan displayed her effortlessness in acting in the film. She played the role of a keeper of old age home, who faced the problem of being ousted from the place by Boman Irani. Sanjay Dutt used his Gandhigiri to convince Boman Irani was adamant. Vidya Balan’s dialogue good morning Mumbai as radio jockey and lips in the song “pal pal pal pal” amused the viewers.

After the success of Lage Raho Munnabahi, Vidya Balan got offers to act in many films like Bhoolbhulaiya, Hey Babby, etc. In Bhool Bhulaiya she even succeeded to play the role of ghost in the film Bhoolbhulaiya opposite Akshay Kumar. But to her ill luck none of these films did great business and her demand in bollywood films started decreasing.

A big section of viewers believe that ultramodern make up does not suit Vidya Balan and wherever she tried to play those roles they were not accepted by the audience at all. The best example was Hey Babby. She played the role of a girl who had settled in Australia. She came to India to attend a wedding where she got attached with Akshay Kumar. The subject relating to the little child of Vidya Balan had promise, but Vidya Balan’s make up did not help her.

The other films like Kismat Connection opposite Shahid Kapoor also did not do well in the box-office. Some way or the other she is not there in the number one spot in bollywood which is shared by Kareena Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Priyanka Chopra.
She requires a super hit film very soon to stay in the competition. There is lot of expectation from the film Paa. Already the viewers are anxious to see Big B with a strange make up in a role of a 13 year old child. Paa can change the destiny of Vidya Balan. Let us hope it does well.

Anurag Kashyap's Dev D is serious insult of Sarat Chandra Chatterji.

Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D is serious insult of Sarat Chandra Chatterji.

Sarat Chandra Chatterji would have suffered from heart attack if he had been alive and realized how many times his classic literature Devdas had been misused and made a mockery of. In the early 40s and 50s and twists and turns in the epic literature had haunted creative directors and producers in experimenting with the revolutionary character. That was the reason viewers had seen different versions of Devdas from Pramatesh Barua, K.L. Saigal to Dilip Kumar. Bimal Roy’s Devdas with Dilip Kumar was probably the best endeavour shown in respect of presenting the real story onscreen. In fact the image of tragedy king given to Dilip Kumar in Devdas created an unparallel stardom for the legendary actor which he carried with him for 60 years of his film career.

From the 90s, directors started making mockery of the title Devdas and turned Sarat Chandra Chatterji into a very light insignificant author. Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D has been probably the worst depiction of Devdas in the recent times. Abhay Deol had played the central character Devdas.

It was shown in the film that Abhay Deol, had been sent to London when he was 12 years old. He returned back and reflected on his relation with the childhood girlfriend Paro played by Mahi Gill. From the time he came to know about her marriage with another person he lost his composure.

Abhay Deol started taking drugs. Lenny (Kalki) who was a rich student got involved in a MMS Scandal. Her family left her and she also led an isolated life.

She came in close contact with Abhay Deol and represented her with the character Chanda. The depiction of Chanda had been the modernized depiction of the character Chandramukhi in Devdas.

The question that has come in the minds of cinematic audience all across India is that what wrong had Sarat Chandra Chatterji done to Anurag Kashyap. The character Devdas has been converted into a relief character these days.

The film neither has any strong story-telling or powerful camera work. Abhay Deol’s acting skills had hardly being used in the film. The audience will have a very tough time in the cinema halls in watching the film Dev D.

Anurag Kashyap's Dev D is serious insult of Sarat Chandra Chatterji.

Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D is serious insult of Sarat Chandra Chatterji.

Sarat Chandra Chatterji would have suffered from heart attack if he had been alive and realized how many times his classic literature Devdas had been misused and made a mockery of. In the early 40s and 50s and twists and turns in the epic literature had haunted creative directors and producers in experimenting with the revolutionary character. That was the reason viewers had seen different versions of Devdas from Pramatesh Barua, K.L. Saigal to Dilip Kumar. Bimal Roy’s Devdas with Dilip Kumar was probably the best endeavour shown in respect of presenting the real story onscreen. In fact the image of tragedy king given to Dilip Kumar in Devdas created an unparallel stardom for the legendary actor which he carried with him for 60 years of his film career.

From the 90s, directors started making mockery of the title Devdas and turned Sarat Chandra Chatterji into a very light insignificant author. Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D has been probably the worst depiction of Devdas in the recent times. Abhay Deol had played the central character Devdas.

It was shown in the film that Abhay Deol, had been sent to London when he was 12 years old. He returned back and reflected on his relation with the childhood girlfriend Paro played by Mahi Gill. From the time he came to know about her marriage with another person he lost his composure.

Abhay Deol started taking drugs. Lenny (Kalki) who was a rich student got involved in a MMS Scandal. Her family left her and she also led an isolated life.

She came in close contact with Abhay Deol and represented her with the character Chanda. The depiction of Chanda had been the modernized depiction of the character Chandramukhi in Devdas.

The question that has come in the minds of cinematic audience all across India is that what wrong had Sarat Chandra Chatterji done to Anurag Kashyap. The character Devdas has been converted into a relief character these days.

The film neither has any strong story-telling or powerful camera work. Abhay Deol’s acting skills had hardly being used in the film. The audience will have a very tough time in the cinema halls in watching the film Dev D.

Anurag Kashyap's Dev D is serious insult of Sarat Chandra Chatterji.

Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D is serious insult of Sarat Chandra Chatterji.

Sarat Chandra Chatterji would have suffered from heart attack if he had been alive and realized how many times his classic literature Devdas had been misused and made a mockery of. In the early 40s and 50s and twists and turns in the epic literature had haunted creative directors and producers in experimenting with the revolutionary character. That was the reason viewers had seen different versions of Devdas from Pramatesh Barua, K.L. Saigal to Dilip Kumar. Bimal Roy’s Devdas with Dilip Kumar was probably the best endeavour shown in respect of presenting the real story onscreen. In fact the image of tragedy king given to Dilip Kumar in Devdas created an unparallel stardom for the legendary actor which he carried with him for 60 years of his film career.

From the 90s, directors started making mockery of the title Devdas and turned Sarat Chandra Chatterji into a very light insignificant author. Anurag Kashyap’s Dev D has been probably the worst depiction of Devdas in the recent times. Abhay Deol had played the central character Devdas.

It was shown in the film that Abhay Deol, had been sent to London when he was 12 years old. He returned back and reflected on his relation with the childhood girlfriend Paro played by Mahi Gill. From the time he came to know about her marriage with another person he lost his composure.

Abhay Deol started taking drugs. Lenny (Kalki) who was a rich student got involved in a MMS Scandal. Her family left her and she also led an isolated life.

She came in close contact with Abhay Deol and represented her with the character Chanda. The depiction of Chanda had been the modernized depiction of the character Chandramukhi in Devdas.

The question that has come in the minds of cinematic audience all across India is that what wrong had Sarat Chandra Chatterji done to Anurag Kashyap. The character Devdas has been converted into a relief character these days.

The film neither has any strong story-telling or powerful camera work. Abhay Deol’s acting skills had hardly being used in the film. The audience will have a very tough time in the cinema halls in watching the film Dev D.