Nayak

'Awesome....' There should be simply one word, which makes it clear. But can't resist myself from being elaborate!!! People say one have lots of shades in his/her character, fewer said - 'If one's a public figure, then you are the most neglected character in the society'. Readers may feel confused. Don't be. Just feel the misery & anger of one who's popular and common people want to know everything about him. There is no so called private thing he can have. This burnt him so much and the aftermath is: he tends to hide his all things from everyone. This process got his entire effort and the work for which he is famous tends to loose focus. In the way to keep secrets, often the person himself forgot those very own & inner things.

Here, train journey implies the must have life long journey as a human being. Often these persons open up their very inner most feelings-thoughts-memories to someone. But only when he/she is assured of something: 'Again the secrecy of these things'.

In Nayak, Sharmila plays that kind of character who can keep secrets like a secret, but only with healthy warmth personal touch. This movie was framed in late 60's, but the thought process behind it, eternal. There are endless thing to describe this movie. You have to watch it, because it's journey of a lifetime for everyone. It was nominated for many international awards, as Ray & Uttam Kumar both gave their best possible effort here. 9 out of 10.

I was around 14 years old when I first saw this masterpiece of Satayajit Ray. One very common thing between Ray and Kurosawa I noticed was introspection of perception.

A train journey allows a superstar to introspect his life and career which leaves him in shattered pieces. Uttam Kumar as Arindam was simply unbelievable and so was Shartmila Tagore as the reporter who was acting as a mirror (much needed) for Arindam to reflect.

This movie will give everyone a glimpse of the price paid to succeed. Success here is the Devil and greed here is the devil's advocate.... the price..........."SOUL"

A must watch if you are a movie lover....My Vote - 9/10

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

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.

A movie at par with Citizen Kane and Rashomon and IMO even better than them in some ways. Impeccable direction and superb acting. Makes you wonder why these two - the actor and director not get together more often in Satyajit Roy films. The angst was so real it seems the guy is not acting any more - just telling his story as it is. The dream sequencewas outstanding as was the ending. The characterisation had on occasion skirted around the burlesque with the older actor in his first interaction with the protagonist but that made the scene all the more poignant. The underlying philosophy is not too deep but something that one can deeply empathise with. The greatness of this movie is how perfectly the story is told. There is an aura of dramatic tension throughout, not between the characters but within the protagonist himself. I would sincerely recommend this movie to anyone who loves what cinema is all about.