Das Königreich der Diamanten

Another masterpiece by Ray. What an amazing cast. The film mirrored many layers of the socio-economic issues in this entertaining film.

Its just not a comedy.Its something more than that.It is a mockery of the present system of Indian governance.

Though made in 1980, still carries the same message that has been true through ages.The message being that the government is not always right and the masses are not always wrong.

However at the same time, it also makes us belief that through the line of non violence and education and countless discussions, amendments can be made even in the governance.

The ending bears a special mention where after "the brain wash" session, even the King (read government) and his people (read Government Babus) comes and joins the general masses to break the larger than life statue of the king (read clears the dirt that has coagulated in the minds of the people who run our system).

This certainly is a thought much ahead of time, which signifies that through proper education and perseverance, we can evolve the conscious of the people who run the system and violence and killings are not the only medium to demand justice and ask for proper governance.

Hirak Raja, the Diamond King, lives in a castle on top of the mountains, detached from reality. Everyone in his castle, unlike the people living outside, speak in rhymes, which shows how they live in their own rhythm, their own bubble. The king has a hunger for power, so he destroys all education system in his land, so that no one gets educated enough to understand his politics and rebel. People who could be doctors, engineers, who could prove to be real gems in the society, turn out to become mine workers in the Diamond King's mines, digging out gems which serve no good to the society.

This movie is a landmine, if you can put your feet at the correct spot, it will blow you away.

Satyajit Ray's skills as a screenplay writer is cemented after this movie. Almost the whole of the screenplay is in poetic form. With every sentence in a rhythmic tone with its previous sentence. The comic relief is astounding. Being the second in line of the Goopy-Bagha series it had a lot of expectations. But it fulfilled all its expectations to the brim. With some amazing songs, tunes, coupled with a wonderful screenplay and exquisite acting, it makes one of the greatest movies of the Bengali film industry.

Rabi Ghosh and Tapan Chatterjee reprise their role of Goopi and Bagha. Coupled with Utpal Dutta as the scheming king Of Hirak, the land of diamonds and Soumitra Chatterjee, the honest school teacher, this is one helluva movie that I feel no Bengali should miss. The dialogs used in this movie are famous all over the Bong fraternity. This is yet another feather in Ray's cap.

Some movies are beyond our review..It's a pure gem of Satyajit Ray 's work