Sikkim (1971): A Documentary by Satyajit Ray

“What it lacks in size, is more than made up by its Himalayan Grandeur”

Satyajit Ray is perhaps the most acclaimed and celebrated Indian film-maker worldwide. I personally have not seen any of his works, for almost all of it is in Bengali (except the 1977 ‘Shatranj Ke Khiladi’ in Hindi, which I am hoping to catch soon). This is a 1971 documentary made by him on Sikkim, presently the second smallest and the least populous state in India. However, at the time this was shot, Sikkim was a sovereign land with its own king and just a fiduciary support from India as regards to its diplomatic ties and foreign affairs. This documentary was commissioned by the ‘Chogyal’ (King of Sikkim) himself in an effort to introduce the diversity and culture of this quaint Himalayan land where rests the third highest peak in the world, Mount ‘Kangchenjunga’.

This documentary was banned from screening and its print was lost for long (Wikipedia). It’s only recently that it has been recovered and unbanned. Satyajit Ray shot this film as an ode to this serene land. He also handled the responsibility of writing and giving a very crisp and precise narration to the footage. The pace of the narrative is very languid and suggests that it was shot very tastefully and meticulously by the great man.  The film touches upon almost all aspects of Sikkim- from its history, the diversity of its people and culture, its economy, the Buddhist monasteries and their architecture, to even its rich flora and fauna. The show reel ends with a detailed look at the annual festival that is celebrated in Sikkim as a marking the beginning of the New Year.

Though the documentary was shot four decades ago, it is still a highly informative watch that is sure to widen our understanding of one of the most beautiful and quiet parts of our country.

Khamosh (1985)

Though the title hints at it, Shatrughan Sinha is not a part of this supremely well-crafted suspense thriller by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Instead this movie stars a host of other well-known actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Shabhana Azmi, Amol Palekar, Pankaj Kapoor among others. The story takes place in the pristine locales of Pahalgaam and is about a murder that takes place while a film crew is shooting their new venture in an outdoor schedule. The premise of a film shoot within the film is certainly novel for that time. Revealing the exact plot would spoil the fun and therefore I resist the temptation to do so.

For a suspense genre fan like I am, this movie is a must watch. The script is full of twists and turns and it is hard to guess what will happen in the next frame. The mood, setting, and treatment are ideal for a murder mystery. Also, this is one rare Hindi movie that has no songs. The narrative, however, is peppered with instances of satirical humor. The performances are natural and Shabhana Azmi leads the way in that department. Naseeruddin Shah is top-notch. Now that I am watching more of his work, I am fully able to appreciate why he is known as one of the finest actors in the history of Indian cinema.

Parting note- if you like Agatha Christie and don’t mind a bit of violence Khamosh is a must watch.

PS: There are no loose ends in the plot and everything fits together perfectly. However there is a small thing that is left unexplained, although it doesn’t matter as it is not a part of the jigsaw. I won’t mention it right now. If you spot it then please do comment.

Katha (1983)

First post in the series- and will start with 'Katha'- for that's what movies are- stories on celluloid...

This 1983 Naseeruddin Shah- Deepti Naval- Farookh Sheikh starrer is a take on the popular children’s tale- ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’. It is a light-hearted comedy with a simple narrative that shows the daily hustles and bustles of a Mumbai ‘chawl’, and how the life of the simple-helpful-naïve-idealistic Rajaram (Naseeruddin Shah as the Tortoise) changes when the confident-clever-manipulative-complacent Bashu (Farookh Shiekh as the Hare) re-enters his life. The sequence of events brings out a stark contrast between the two characters and how they approach each and every situation and life in general. Very subtly the film also paints a comparative picture between the ‘high society’ and the ‘chawl class people’. The unity that binds the ‘chawl’ people and the way they enjoy simple joys of life is shown in a very adept manner. Although this is an ensemble cast film, there are almost no sub-plots or distractions and the movie sticks to its core idea. The end is beautifully done and is really thought provoking. The old story has it that the tortoise always wins. But in today’s times, as a character rightly sums up- ‘yeh jeet bhi koi jeet hui?’

A very little known classic by Sai Paranjpaye movie- this certainly deserves a watch. No big budget- no foreign locales- no big stars- no popular songs- no thrills and action- just a simple engaging story that will make you smile a lot. Farookh Shiekh plays the brat really well and Naseer excels as the simpleton. In a way this a role reversal of sorts as Farookh Sheikh was known to play simple sad characters and Naseer would be thought of as more suitable for what his anti-thesis in the movie is.