Ritwik Ghatak is one of the great maestros of Indian cinema,and a number of his films and the songs of these films which i have been listening since long and still find enchanting, never fails to fascinate me.
Ghatak's films are greatly loved and admired in India especially in Bengal where the sincerity of their sentiment finds ready sympathy, and this very feature, ie the sincerity of sentiment, of his films gives these films a universal appeal as Ghatak's narratives are so strong and close to the real life and picturised in such vivid way that the viewer irrespective of language and Geographical boundaries connects with his films immediately at the emotional level.
Another notable and very important characteristic of Ritwik Ghatak's films and a significant element in their sentiment is the prominence of the songs and the way of picturisation of the songs.Though songs always have their place in commercial cinema as well but Ghatak's use of music is altogether different. His songs are not intended to be especially entertaining in themselves , although many of them are beautifully rendered and most of these are fondly familiar to a Bengali audience, and because of their relevance in the narrative they also appeal to a non Bengali speaking audience as well. The songs of Ghatak's films , chosen from the broad diversity of folk tradition of Bengal and from the vast collection of songs by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore,are intended to awaken an affinity with the Bengali cultural tradition and to enhance the feeling of it in the various parts of the film. And as i have stated above as the content and emotional intent of these songs is universal so it fascinates the viewer across the Geographical and linguistic boundaries, and also the particularly sensitive representation of the songs, makes the artistic quality of the film a blissful experience for the non Bengali and non Indian viewer as well.
I have for today chosen three songs from three of his films to enjoy the music and the superb picturisation by the Maestro.
The first song is a Rabindranath Tagore song from Ghatak's all time classic Meghe Dhake Tara ;
' Je raate mor duarguli bhanglo jhore..........' the song composed by Jyotirindra Moitra is so rich in melody and soulful singing that it takes the listener on a different plane. The picturisation is absolutely superb example of cinematography. There is a memorable combination of lighting , camera and sound through out the song and especially towards the end of the singing in Shankar's darkened room , 'Je rate mor duarguli.....', a song that offers hope of regeneration after the destructiveness of the storm, when the camera looks up to Neeta's face as the tears well in her eyes and the whiplash intruded onto the soundtrack. An out of this world and out of words experience of music and cinematography!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84t7BisdD1M
The second song is also a Rabindranath Tagore song from the film Jukti Takko Ar Galpo in which Ghatak himself plays the main character Nilkantha is:
'Keno Cheye Acho Go Maa...........' is a Debabrata Biswas's rendition of this song which Ghatak used in the film. The rendition by George Da is matchless and again the camera work by Ghatak and the intensity of the emotion captured by Ghatak in picturisation is a thing to remember and relish for a long time for the viewer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSEE4BEd_o&feature=related
The third song of triple experience is from the film Bari Theke Paliye (The Runaway ) is :
''Aami Anek Ghurea Sheshe Aailam Re Kolikatta...........' Is a great lilting melody composed by Salil Da in Baul style and beautifully rendered by Shyamal Mitra , again Ghatak's Picturisation is class where he views Kolikatta through the eyes of a young boy, the character in the film who has run away from home and arrived in Kolikatta. The song has wonderful photography of Fifties Kolikatta, and a superb listening experience. Salil Da also used this tune three years latter in Half Ticket for ' Arey le lo ji le lo hai ye dil heera .......' a lovely Kishore Kumar rendition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ancwwOTzk
Ghatak's films are greatly loved and admired in India especially in Bengal where the sincerity of their sentiment finds ready sympathy, and this very feature, ie the sincerity of sentiment, of his films gives these films a universal appeal as Ghatak's narratives are so strong and close to the real life and picturised in such vivid way that the viewer irrespective of language and Geographical boundaries connects with his films immediately at the emotional level.
Another notable and very important characteristic of Ritwik Ghatak's films and a significant element in their sentiment is the prominence of the songs and the way of picturisation of the songs.Though songs always have their place in commercial cinema as well but Ghatak's use of music is altogether different. His songs are not intended to be especially entertaining in themselves , although many of them are beautifully rendered and most of these are fondly familiar to a Bengali audience, and because of their relevance in the narrative they also appeal to a non Bengali speaking audience as well. The songs of Ghatak's films , chosen from the broad diversity of folk tradition of Bengal and from the vast collection of songs by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore,are intended to awaken an affinity with the Bengali cultural tradition and to enhance the feeling of it in the various parts of the film. And as i have stated above as the content and emotional intent of these songs is universal so it fascinates the viewer across the Geographical and linguistic boundaries, and also the particularly sensitive representation of the songs, makes the artistic quality of the film a blissful experience for the non Bengali and non Indian viewer as well.
I have for today chosen three songs from three of his films to enjoy the music and the superb picturisation by the Maestro.
The first song is a Rabindranath Tagore song from Ghatak's all time classic Meghe Dhake Tara ;
' Je raate mor duarguli bhanglo jhore..........' the song composed by Jyotirindra Moitra is so rich in melody and soulful singing that it takes the listener on a different plane. The picturisation is absolutely superb example of cinematography. There is a memorable combination of lighting , camera and sound through out the song and especially towards the end of the singing in Shankar's darkened room , 'Je rate mor duarguli.....', a song that offers hope of regeneration after the destructiveness of the storm, when the camera looks up to Neeta's face as the tears well in her eyes and the whiplash intruded onto the soundtrack. An out of this world and out of words experience of music and cinematography!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84t7BisdD1M
The second song is also a Rabindranath Tagore song from the film Jukti Takko Ar Galpo in which Ghatak himself plays the main character Nilkantha is:
'Keno Cheye Acho Go Maa...........' is a Debabrata Biswas's rendition of this song which Ghatak used in the film. The rendition by George Da is matchless and again the camera work by Ghatak and the intensity of the emotion captured by Ghatak in picturisation is a thing to remember and relish for a long time for the viewer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olSEE4BEd_o&feature=related
The third song of triple experience is from the film Bari Theke Paliye (The Runaway ) is :
''Aami Anek Ghurea Sheshe Aailam Re Kolikatta...........' Is a great lilting melody composed by Salil Da in Baul style and beautifully rendered by Shyamal Mitra , again Ghatak's Picturisation is class where he views Kolikatta through the eyes of a young boy, the character in the film who has run away from home and arrived in Kolikatta. The song has wonderful photography of Fifties Kolikatta, and a superb listening experience. Salil Da also used this tune three years latter in Half Ticket for ' Arey le lo ji le lo hai ye dil heera .......' a lovely Kishore Kumar rendition.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ancwwOTzk
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