Some thoughts on Ray

I have never laid eyes on Satyajit Ray as a person.But even without being present, some artists start to inhabit your being.I have laid out in front of me a photograph of him in his room, immersed in his work. The two huge windows one behind him and one to his side are wide open. The sunlight pours into the room over his shoulders enabling him to see clearly. Along with the light, comes his city too,the sounds of life entering into his senses. It does not disturb him,rather he uses it water his mind.The city, Ray believed is an integral part of his consciousness.His creativity flourished only when he was in his room,legs propped up on the table, and his gigantic frame hunched over the board kept on his knees. I imagine him writing another never to be published adventure of Feluda.
From Pather Panchali to Agantuk, its a long journey. It is a journey of story-telling at its best. Its a journey in images that haunt us with its intensity, honesty and imagination. Its a journey in music, for its beauty, simplicity of words and tune, that seem to make them unforgettable, like some precious folklore.Its a journey also, in grace, commitment and a constant quest for perfection. Its a journey too in patience, tolerance and understanding.I read somewhere, that Ray embodied the best of west and east. A rare fusion.
One of the things that I love most about him, was his sense of humour.There was always a feeling of disarming honesty and genuine amusement. The few available pictures of Ray laughing his guts off, are the ones to be cherished.Whenever, I look at these pictures, I get the feeling, that inspite of his gigantic frame, when he is laughing, he really looks like a child.I sometimes wonder, whether this is the quality that made him generate those stunning performances from his child artistes.
I have seen Pather Panchali twice.I am in love with its music and with many of the wonderful moments make up the film. One of them is the scene where Harihar returns from his long journey.He is not aware of Durga's death. He sits on the courtyard of his house and puts down his luggage. The family that is left over, now gathers around him. Apu and his mother. Harihar brings out the gifts that he has bought for everyone in the family. He brings out the saree he has bought for Durga when his wife bursts out crying.The scene does not have any sound other than the sweeping strains of sitar, that seem to embody the grief that surges through the family. Every time I have watched the scene with tears in my eyes.Ray, somehow made me visualise my own death.I do not know whether its a great human document or not,but the film makes me wish to embody the spirit of little Apu.Sometimes I wish, that his innocence might be mine.
Rays films are an embodiment of eloquence through economy of expression.There is no scene that is overdone. Scenes composed with such clarity and beauty, that one is left wondering whether one's experience is in the realm of the paranormal.The hallmark of Satyajit Ray has always been his understatment.His subtle expressions, his absolute moments of silence. The scenes that appear in front of the viewer's eyes do not seem to be enacted.Its seems like he had been present invisibly in the most intimate moments between the characters. The only film, in which Ray appeared blunt and loud is Agantuk. To me Agantuk displays the rarely seen cynical side of Satyajit Ray.Inspite of this rare outburst through the character Manmohan,in end Ray is as usual optimistic. He is full of hope.
While trying to write about Ray, I am terribly aware of not only my own shortcomings as a writer, but also of own unfamiliarity with the films of Ray.This is just a slice of what I felt and understood.As an afficionado of Ray, I need to go much further, because without that extra step and extra effort, he refuses to open his world to us.

Prologue

Hi,
Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the bloggers community. I have never blogged before and I find the very act of writing this introductory blog incredible. I have no idea where I would like to go from here and I hope that my fellow readers, bloggers and browsers would show the way. Right now I am stealing out some time from my work to hammer out this piece and I truly believe that this is going to become an act of salvation for me. I do not know from what and I don't care. I do not even know why I have used the word salvation.I guess you will have to excuse me for my lack of brevity.Out here I would like to let loose, my intimacies, my banalities, my idiosyncracies and my overwhelming belief in the importance of my own existence.I shall beg your attention and occasionally will try to demand it. I might just, on one of those days, jump at you from these quiet pages, grab you by the scruff of your neck and force you to take what I have.Still,I do make a humble promise. I will want to make you read.If I fail, well, there's always another day.So, come back and I shall be waiting.