Sunday, May 03, 2009

Mukul....Monay Poraychey?

...Sonar Kella?

Yesterday was Satyajit Ray's 88th Birth anniversary. Tai...his life and times and films was the main story on television yesterday. And a special treat in store: Sonar Kella. I first heard of it as a little girl, in Assam from a friend who had seen it on a recent trip to Kolkata. And what stayed with me was the magic thrill of the deep whisper "Mukul...monay porayche? Sonar Kella".

Years later, when I finally did get to see the film, I think I wept for joy. And each subsequent time, I have lingered over, loved and lapped up every full stop comma, characters, dialogues! And I can say with a lot of confidence that I am not the only one. There was this legendary comedian Louis de Feunes - star of the Gendarme series. My prof at Ecole De Roche told our class that "Le Gendarme" on it's release was seen by 90% of France. Only the very young and the very old and infirm didn't. I think Sonar Kella would be comparable (among bengalis that is). This might not be Ray's best work, however, it has a special special place that cannot be taken by anything else...not even, Ray's other works.

Most of the actors, technicians are gone or retired. Another Sonar Kella cannot be created (the very thought is sacrilegous) and yet it lives on...each time, we find it on TV, we watch it as if for the first time. And so strong is the magic that we wait for the new feluda movies although they pale in comparison - not for the lack of trying though. We understand and accept that. We wait eagerly for the new feluda and go and WATCH it (I saw the last one twice). And it was SRK's bad luck that his "Rab Ne Bana di Jodi" opened along with Feluda and was ofcourse, sidelined!!

How can we ever forget? And one generation will pass on the magic to the next and we will forever wait for Mukul to remember his Sonar Kella.

10 comments:

sankarshan said...

Sonar Kella (সোনার কেল্লা) is one of those movies along with Joy Baba Felunath which had wonderful chemistry. And, the movies are a treat to watch even today. There have been talks about a remake of Sonar Kella though. Sadly, I find the latest Jatayu very uninspiring and untrue. Somewhat more of a buffoon than an able ally.

Swati said...

I completely agree, haven't been as excited as I was to watch sonar kella in a long long time...

Sukanya C said...

Really? I always thot it was O who was more of a fan! But am glad to hear of it!

Swati said...

Su I know you always thought I was more culturally challenged than you and O, what with your thing for Amit Kumar and all that....but Sonar Kella even I liked, I swear. :-)

Sukanya C said...

Rubbish! U once told me that O would hoarsely whisper "Sonar kella" to a baby J - which implied u didn't which led me to infer O like me was gaga about Sonar Kella and nothing abt ur intellectual capability. So there. :-)

Swati said...

That he did...you're right. I didn't ominously whisper "sonar kella" to a wide eyed child, who was probably thinking that O is completely nuts, and what luck to end up with a dad like him. However, I was the one who got the cd and made both of them watch the film....so much better than trying to freak a baby out na...shotti

Sukanya C said...

Well...that's the thing with Sonar kella...makes u go a bit, well mad...and look on the bright side...J is as Ok as any other kid her age? So no harm done! What?

Swati said...

You have to live with her to know...ooof amakey pagol korey dilo re!!

Sukanya C said...

Then this is THE Time for u to go around whispering "monay poray? Mukul? Sonar Kella" -- that I think should do the trick. Ur kids will think u hv lost it and avoid u and u will hv peace and quiet. Hopefully they will pile on to O which might do drastic things to him...but I think he can pretty much handle it seeing he handled all of us...!!!

Swati said...

:-) Perfect strategy thnku, wht would I ever do without your flashes of brilliance!!

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