tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9415652.post5958206062154367058..comments2023-09-25T02:15:31.557-07:00Comments on Dipanjan's Random Muses: An interview with Ritwik Kumar Ghatak (1975): Part 5Dipanjanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01615918701165933620noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9415652.post-77656551718295539202018-07-11T04:42:25.098-07:002018-07-11T04:42:25.098-07:00Hi Dipanjan, thanks for the translation. I would n...Hi Dipanjan, thanks for the translation. I would never have come across this interview if you haven't posted it.<br /><br />I have one small question, as you certainly know the sources of this interview. In the last Section, what were those pornographic films the interviewer and Ghatak referring to? As the interview is dated 1975, and it had already been 10 years since you posted this online, I am curious what kind of films were categorized as pornographic in those years and what were the intentions of that particular film society (though I am unaware which film society they are talking about)to screen those films.sazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06354102159969235450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9415652.post-36824130362204153862007-07-14T04:50:00.000-07:002007-07-14T04:50:00.000-07:00Hi Dipanjan,This is an amazing amazing translation...Hi Dipanjan,<BR/><BR/>This is an amazing amazing translation that you have made of Ritwik.Though I haven't acquired a taste for his movies yet(find them too theatric and melodramatic) the interview is mindblowing.His knowledge of movies is just phenomenal.<BR/><BR/>Ritwik's FTII proteges are the realist neo cinema usherers in Kerala.If you are interested in Ghatak you might also be interested in his students(the real ones at least :-) )..<BR/><BR/>Here is John Abraham's(a true Ghatak student)ode to Ghatak.<BR/><BR/>http://www.cinemaofmalayalam.net/ghatak_john.htmlMadhu Rhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07023605260067982002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9415652.post-16711990517327012422007-07-04T19:06:00.000-07:002007-07-04T19:06:00.000-07:00Yes, that is correct. By his raw emotion and tempe...Yes, that is correct. By his raw emotion and temperamental personality, he managed to alienate both the establishment left and the mainstream (Ananda etc.). Also there is an east-west divide in how we Bengalis deal with visceral feelings and as far as appreciation and respect from Calcutta intelligentsia go, that went against Ritwik. There is an article by Samar Sen on how quite a few intellectuals, including himself, used to under-estimate Ritwik when he was alive --<BR/><BR/>"Ritwik bishoye amaar bibek dangshon hoy. tNaar jiboddoshay jakhon dekha hoto majhe majhe, tNaar protibha sombondhe abohito chhilaam na, ekta <B>naakuNchu</B> bhaab chhilo. Gato bachhor tini mara jaabar par (1976), tNaar tin-charte chhobi dekhe bismito bodh kori. Besh koyekjon shilpi progoti bhangiye chaliye jachchhe, kintu Ritwik, anek durbalata sattweo, bhejal chhilen na."<BR/><BR/>-- Babu brittanto ("Dekha Chhobi")Dipanjanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01615918701165933620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9415652.post-1669365498088446282007-07-03T21:26:00.000-07:002007-07-03T21:26:00.000-07:00I always thought because of Ritwik's temperamental...I always thought because of Ritwik's temperamental behaviour as a person, he 'scared' away press, producers as well as the genteel Bengali bhadralok. As a result, he was neither financed nor documented as much as Ray. <BR/><BR/>The visceral feeling which almost all of Ritwik's films evoke is something unique to him. <BR/>Sadgati is the only one film which probably comes close. <BR/><BR/>And, if you were 18 at the time of that restrospective 15 years ago, then we got 'impressioned' at exactly the same time! <BR/><BR/>Thanks for the translation! <BR/>(And to help lift the dark mood, how about a post on cricket?)Diptakirti Chaudhurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00296396674255584499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9415652.post-69394505550665376192007-06-29T23:19:00.000-07:002007-06-29T23:19:00.000-07:00His late-life drinking was a result of intense fru...His late-life drinking was a result of intense frustration. Ironically, he was strongly against it when he was young.<BR/><BR/>Yes, those little boxes and the labels on them are not particularly helpful in trying to understand him. Unfortunately because of those labels, a lot of people have dismissed him too easily. I might have done the same if a week-long retrospective of his films fifteen years ago had not shaken me fundamentally. Luckily I was 18 and impressionable.Dipanjanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01615918701165933620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9415652.post-80992325897980377172007-06-29T07:31:00.000-07:002007-06-29T07:31:00.000-07:00He was only 51. He should have lived a few more de...He was only 51. He should have lived a few more decades. He should have made movies on the politicians of India. He should not have been a drunkard. I have to read more on the IPTA. <BR/><BR/>Ghatak is the real thing. As I understand it, the spirit of Komal Gandhar has to be revived. What wonderful compositions! I have to read more about Salil Chowdhury as well. <BR/><BR/>I think the Marxist-Capitalist categorization is confusing. There are good people, and there are bad people. Adjectives!Holden Caulfieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06048017597855870900noreply@blogger.com