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An Adda Session with Actor and Author Barun Chanda on the Unique Universe Of Legendary Filmmaker Satyajit Ray at Tribe Saltlake
-Tribe Saltlake celebrates and pays tribute to many facets, artworks, and works of Satyajit Ray
Kolkata, 24th August 2022- TRIBE, a cafe serving as a meeting point for artists and intellectuals to come together, communicate, collaborate and share a platform, is known to treat both the mind and palate of its customers. Keeping this in mind, TRIBE Cafe continues to pay tribute to and celebrate the Legendary Filmmaker Satyajit Ray. The tribe has organized an exhibition that captures the life of Satyajit Ray. Making the celebration more grandeur, an adda session was held at TRIBE Saltlake Cafe, with RJ Agni and Actor and Author Barun Chanda, who recently wrote a book named “Satyajit Ray: The Man Who Knew Too Much“,.
The renowned auteur, Satyajit Ray, is hailed as a maverick and one of the greatest filmmakers not just in India but worldwide. A lot has been written about him and we are aware of various facets of his life and works from different sources.
On display at TRIBE Saltlake is the 1958 Arriflex Camera owned by Aurora Film Corporation and used for the first time by Satyajit Ray for shooting “Jalsaghar” in 1958 and for the last time by Ritwik Ghatak for “Jukti, Tokko Aar Goppo” in 1974.The legendary piece of equipment used to film Jalsaghar is currently on display at the TRIBE Saltlake. It is a priceless piece of memorabilia – an elderly Arriflex35 supported by a well-worn wooden tripod and used by Satyajit Ray and later Ritwik Ghatak … that is reason enough that could get most Bengalis misty-eyed. Along with the camera, there are some original film cans also on display – Cans of Films like Rabindranath, Vivekananda and more are there on the display. Also, the original poster of Films – Pather Panchali and Jalshaghar are on display as well.
“We have been hosting Satyajit Saranye since last year to mark Ray’s centenary year. We believe to celebrate Satyajit Ray, a particular time period is not enough. He was timeless and that’s why we have showcased the priceless camera Ray used to shoot Jalsaghar at our Salt Lake outlet. Barun Chanda has recently released a book on Ray, so we decided to invite him for a talk and share this with our patrons.” said Shilpa Chakraborty, Co-Owner, of Tribe Cafe.
The adda session would be incomplete without the presence RJ Agni who has been a diehard fan on the works of Satyajit Ray and has often been seen speaking about Ray on different platforms. In the session with RJ Agni, Actor and Author Barun Chanda, who has written a book named “Satyajit Ray: The Man Who Knew Too Much“, shared his memories of working with the auteur at an adda at Tribe Salt Lake. The session highlighted the many facets of Ray who was Filmmaker, dialogue writer, music composer, illustrator. Barun Chanda’s book has an entire chapter that is devoted to the musical genius that was Ray.
Present on the occasion, Barun Chanda said, “I cannot cease to marvel at the lines, Dekho re, nayan mele, jogoter bahar from Goopy Gayen Bagha Bayen. The simplicity of the words and the simplicity of the tune appeal to this day. The synergy of words and music is very rare. Again, Dori dhore maro taan, raja hobe khan khan against dictatorship, no one has written such lines in the world. Sandip Ray recalled that Ray seldom whistled and when he did, everyone knew he was composing a new tune. He would finalise the tune through whistles and then on the piano. The piano was also self-taught.”
Barun Chanda also discussed about his first meeting with Ray. He took a borrowed tape recorder and went eagerly to meet and interview the filmmaker. But the tape recorder malfunctioned and that perplexed Chanda as had to write a 45-minute interview from memory.
Satyajit Ray as the legendary director, was unapproachable on the sets, according to Barun Chanda. He was in a zone of his own. You would hate to disturb him by asking him stupid questions. We also know that Ray as an artist. It is not unknown that Ray sketched the characters and costumes of his movies in his notebook. Barun Chanda also shared a memorable experience about Seemabaddha days with the audience. The incident when Satyajit Ray explains a scene to Barun Chanda and Sharmila Tagore during the shooting of Seemabaddha on the racecourse.
Baun Chanda narrated an incredible episode from the shoot of Pather Panchali. “When the film was being shot in Boral, initially there were huge crowds as people gathered to see the shooting. Then people got bored and lost interest. Towards the end of the movie, Ray wanted a particular man he had seen in the crowd towards the beginning of the shot. But the man had not come to the shooting for some days. Ray tried to describe the man’s appearance but when that didn’t work, he sketched the man from memory, and immediately the villagers recognized him and brought him over.”
To see Satyajit Ray’s prized Arriflex35 camera, you need to head out to TRIBE Saltlake. Moreover, to catch up with the stories and life of the Legendary Filmmaker Satyajit Ray, do read Barun Chanda’s book “Satyajit Ray: The Man Who Knew Too Much“
The cost for two is priced at Rupees 600/- plus taxes. The operational timing of TRIBE Cafe is 11 am to 10 pm (Dine-in, Home delivery, Swiggy & Zomato).
Address of TRIBE Cafe, Salt Lake – AB-25, Salt Lake, Sector 1, Near PNB Circle, Kolkata: 700064 .
