Soumitra Chatterjee on Satyajit Ray

Soumitra Chatterjee

Soumitra Chatterjee is the only Indian actor who has the distinction of working with the late Satyajit Ray in 14 films. He was to Ray what Toshiro Mifune has been to Akira Kurosawa and Marcello Mastroianni to Federico Fellini. And yet, when one meets the accomplished actor of Bengali cinema he charms one with his modesty.

The renowned Bengali actor who "was always attracted towards theatre" and to whom, cinema just happened" cannot "live without acting" today. And like any other creative genius Chatterjee is also a well-known poet, writer and theatre director. At 72, he is still eager for more. This despite 200 films and counting, over 49 years!

Chatterjee made his entry in Indian cinema with Apur Sansar, the third part of the Apu trilogy, directed by Ray and there has been no looking back since. He reminisces, "When I was in college and Satyajit Ray was making Pather Panchali, I just happened to meet him casually.

"A few years later, Ray offered me the part of Apu and there was no way I'd not do it. That set the pace of my long relationship with Bengali cinema and Ray himself." Having acted in 14 of Ray's 34 films, the relationship certainly merits a thought! But "the fact that still gives me a high is when Ray told me much later that he'd decided to make Apur Sansar only after he met me."

And is there a favourite among all the Ray films that he has done? He instantly states, "All of them. The very fact that Ray directed them, makes them so very special for me." But as he speaks of contemporary Bengali cinema you can tell by the shrug that he doesn't enjoy it anymore: "Bengali cinema today seems to thrive on cheap imitations of Hindi movies. It has lost its essence over time. Hindi cinema thrives on selling dreams and there is no aspect of realism anywhere. Only if they could sell better dreams," he sighs.

"The acting style too has changed for the worse. Though Bengali cinema has grown commercially, it has failed to create actors like Aamir Khan, who can pull off their role as intensely in a commercial film as they would in an art movie," he rues.

So does he feel that the growing exchange of talent between Bengali and Hindi cinema will work towards making better films? He interjects, "This exchange can be very fruitful. But the main reason for Bengali actors moving to Bollywood is the money and the glamour aspect (not creativity)."

Did this aspect never attract him to Bollywood? "When I started off my acting career, I was already working with the best. So Hindi cinema had little temptation for me." And the money? "Oh, I was too young and inexperienced then to realise the importance of money," he laughs.

Chatterjee even refused the Padmashri way back in the 1970s. "That was my way of protesting on behalf of Bengali cinema against the lack of concern shown by the government for us. And anyway, awards hold no meaning for me. They tie you down." And yet, years later he did give his nod to the Padma Bhushan that came his way. Why? "I was young and impulsive when I refused the Padmashri."

But over this long period, I've become an icon and I didn't want to hurt their feelings by rejecting the love and adulation which was being given to me by way of this award." And you can hear the modesty even as he speaks.

With so much done, is there a role that he still aspires to? "Ek afsos abhi bhi hai (I still regret something) that I never got a chance to work in a movie based on a Shakespearean play. I wouldn't mind the film, be it in any language." And one actor that he desires to share the frame with is Naseeruddin Shah. But it's Nandita Das who's really got lucky. She will be acting with Chatterjee in his forthcoming film, Padukshape.

So aren't we all glad that he isn't planning his retirement any time soon!

Source: Times of India