Der Held

A least seen movie of Satyajit. Satyajit is one of the very few great directors who worked outside Hollywood circle and gave a lot to the film history. He is mostly know to the movie lovers as the creator of great APU TRILOGY. I feel that Ray's works are severely under-represented in USA, although most of his works are masterpiece or near-masterpiece. Thanks to Ishmael Marchent for arranging a retrospective on Ray's works at USA in 1996, I guess. But again in that retrospective, I didn't see the names of some of his great works, like NAYAK, KUNCHENJUNGHA, SEEMABADHYA, ARANYER DIN RATRI or SONAR KELLA. Names of the films that I always see in a Satyajit Festival are the APU TRILOGY, JALSHAGHAR, CHARULATA, GHARE-BAIRE ... etc. No doubt that all of those are great works of Ray, but indeed one cannot know the power of his filmmaking unless he sees some of his other less known works (some of which I mentioned).

Nayak is a simple story of the most popular Film Actor of India, acted with all perfection by great Indian Actor Uttam Kumar, who goes to the capital city Delhi to receive an award of his achievement via a train. On the train he meets Shormila Tagore (Another favorite actress of Satyajit whom he casted in several other movies like, Apur Sansar, Devi, Aranyer Din Ratri, Seemabadhya ... etc.) and some other characters of the story. The story progresses when Uttam discusses with different aspects of his life and career with others (especially with Shormila). In depth thoughts and feelings of UTTAM sprung out as time goes by and Shormila discovers the very lonely man in Uttam hidden behind his day to day charismatic lifestyle.

On my judgement, NAYAK is the greatest creation of RAY. UTTAM's acting can challenge anyone in the motion picture history. The high abstratness and philosophical bent of the movie is comparable to that of CITIZEN KANE (according to me, better than CITIZEN KANE) and the mutual conversations among the characters or the screenplay in other words, can beat those of MINDWALK, VANYA ON 42nD STREET, RED or CASABLANCA. A must see film for all great movie lovers. A 10+ out of 10.

This film from director Satyajit Ray reminded me a little bit of Ingmar Bergman's 'Wild Strawberries', as in each case a protagonist takes a trip in order to receive a big award, and thinks back on his life with some regrets. In this case, it's not an elderly professor, it's a middle-aged movie star (Uttam Kumar), and instead of a car ride with a daughter-in-law, it's a train trip where he meets a young journalist (Sharmila Tagore). She serves as his conscience and mirror over a series of discussions the pair have, and what she reflects is often not very pretty.

At the film's outset the famous star seems to have it all with his success and good looks, and Kumar looks pretty damn cool in shades and when he blows smoke rings. It's soon apparent that he's so worried about someday losing his fame that he's lost bits of his humanity along the way. Via flashbacks we find that he's done some petty things to others, abandoned the altruistic cause of a friend, and taken advantage of women who want to get into films. There is something empty and pathetic about his life that those who get to know him see, including the journalist and a mother and daughter in his compartment who are adoring fans, but see how he pops sleeping pills and gets plastered. And yet, he's always cast as a hero (a 'nayak'), and to the legions of fans who crowd around him in the train stations, he is one.

The meaning of that is pretty clear, but it's not as simple as just showing us how someone on a pedestal may be unworthy of being there. More generally, the film shows us how the most outwardly successful people may be damaged or flawed within, and carry a lot of insecurity. It does this in a thoughtful and reflective way, avoiding simple black/white characterizations. Ray adds depth to the story with a subplot in which a salesman wants his wife to be friendly to another man in order to help win him over. It adds to the overall question, to what lengths should one go in order to be (financially) successful? And regardless of whether one can stay on top, he reminds us via a powerful dream sequence featuring skeletal arms poking up out of mounds of cash, that death will come for us all.

The performances are all fantastic, including an old curmudgeon who eschews "modern movies", and Tagore, who is intelligent, sassy in a reserved way, and beautiful too. I liked how Ray didn't have her succumb to the movie star's charms, as a weaker director/writer might have done. He also uses the train very well, both in moving the action around its various compartments and aisles, and in giving us the scenery outside. In one moment Kumar stares down at the adjacent rail track streaming by with a glint of light on it, and it made me wonder if he was wishing he could be like that rail, staying straight as the train of life rumbled along, and always in the light. The film also made me wonder if the main character reflected a little of Ray himself, who by this time was famous (ala Fellini's 8 ½). It's a film that I might rate higher with a second viewing, and may have held back a little here because I have a slight aversion to stories involving the problems of famous people. It was memorable and had a strong ending.

I have never seen an Indian movie quite like Nayak. Ray has forayed into parallel story telling, like Kurasawa's Rashomon and into dream logic like Bunuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. I would personally rate it above Bergman's The Magician which also dealt with a similar theme of an actor's reality and people's acceptance of him as a super human and their reluctance of considering him as a human being. Between the two of them, Nayak is more easy to understand whereas The Magician puts its characters in various shades of good and evil throughout its running time.

No such dramatics here and this movie is as good as it gets. I would rate it as one of his best movies amongst Pather Panchali and Charulata. The dream sequences were very well produced and were relevant to the storyline on a sub-conscious level.

The subtitling on the Angel DVD wasn't very well done and the dialogues sometimes whizz by without us being able to read them in time. For people who are familiar with Indian languages, it may not be such a big deal since several of the Bengali words can be understood by them; however for non-Indian speakers this may come across as irritating.

On a personal note, I am sometimes glad that not many people know about Ray because then I am able of recommending him to people who are in the know of the movie industry.

The complete experience can be summarized as "another master piece from a true master film director Satyajit Ray". It always remains a unique experience to watch in someone's past and especially into the hidden past. The movie tackles the very issue in the most effective of the ways. To carve you characters in the story is the most important part and great directors always take their time to do so and here Ray did it in style. He gives a very appropriate introduction to each. But what needs to be praised is… in doing so story did not come to halt… it keeps on moving and things become more clear with every passing movement.

The acting is very good. I know only actor in the movie before watching it… and that is of Shermila Tagore (because of her Hindi films). But really admires the acting of the main role played by Uttam Kumar. He is very natural, fluent and expressions complement his words in every scene. Especially the acting is priceless to watch in the scene in which he is telling Aditi about his insult by the one of his senior. A must watch for all those who appreciate good… excellent cinema.

8/10

'Nayak' starts with two news headlines about movie star Arindham (Uttam Kumar). One headline states that Arindham got involved in a brawl and the other states his nomination for a prestigious award. While travelling to Delhi by train (in order to receive the award) he comes across various people including a young simple but modern journalist Aditi (Sharmila Tagore) to whom he confides his inner thoughts. In the process, the actor further discovers himself and his fear. Aditi too is moved as her prejudice against the cocky pompous movie star changes while she discovers the man behind the name.

Ray cleverly tells Arindham's story about how he made it to stardom, his sacrifice of his art, loss of friends leading to isolation, fear of failure, seeking comfort in alcohol, his inner conflict...He weaves it all into a screenplay that takes place during a train trip from Calcutta to Delhi. A lot of it is shown in flashback mode. The dream sequences are another example of fine writing and execution. We're also given a brief view of the corrupt world of cinema, how art is long lost and how it's become all about money, fame and name...very relevant and applicable to today's Indian film industry.

Uttan Kumar, being the biggest star in Bengali Cinema perfectly fits the part. One wonders how much of the character resembles Kumar in real life. Though Ray is known to cast Soumitra Chatterjee (who happened to be Kumar's arch rival) in most of his films, he made the correct decision by casting Kumar for I cannot imagine anyone else play the part. Sharmila Tagore is wonderful. The actress has an amazing presence and with her grace, simplicity and sincerity, she shines. 'Loved her scenes with Uttam.

Like most of Ray's powerful work, 'Nayak' is a rather less known but remarkable film. One of my favorites!