CHARULATA(1964)
-Satyajith Ray
About the film:
Charulata is a 1964 Indian drama film written and
directed by Satyajit Ray. Based upon the novel ‘Nastanirh’
by Rabindranath Tagore. It is based on the story
"Nastanirh (the Broken Nest)" by RabindranatTagore, set
in Calcutta in 1879 (Ray sets the film in 1897).
The Bengali Renaissance is at its peak, and India is under
British rule.
Synopsis of Film
•Charulata
, a middle upper class bengali women ,wife of bhupathi is lonely due to the
husband’s contradictory interests in politics and english rule over bengal.
charulata’s shared intersests with Amal[bhupathi’s cousin] in literature and bengali tradition
bring them closer .
•
•Later
we see charulatha and Amal are drawn apart as amal decides not to interfere in
charulatha’s married life
•In
the climax we see bhupathi being exposed to charu’s deep feelings towards Amal
•Film
ends on an ambigious note : whether bhupathi and charulata reconcile or go apart.
Themes and Symbols
Themes:
•
•
•
value of literature and the futility of politics
Bengali and European modes of thought
loneliness
symbols:
•
•
•
Charulata‘s birdcage
stormy weather
binoculars
Photogénie
1.
2.
3.
4.
Photogénie as a cinematic concept originates with early French film
theory.
A brief moment. The way the actor moves his head. The beauty of a
face.
It is often used to capture the enigmatic qualities of a film star,
but photogénie means so much more.
A flicker of an expression that seems to contain all the meaning in a
scene
Photogénie
Cinematic voyeurism
Cinematic voyeurism is the act of peering into and spying on other
people’s activities and private moments. The subject does not know
that he or she is being watched, which leaves the voyeur free to try to
interpret what he or she sees.
In the very beginning sequence of the film , it is seen Charulata peering
by passers through her binoculars symbolises the external world she is
longing to live in ,that particular sequence showcases her being an
observer rather than actor which allows audience to interpret her
feelings of loneliness, need to express her own desires .
Cinematic voyeurism
No need to show every thing!
Freeze Frame:
The film ends with a series of freeze frames ,the final shot is frozen and is
allowed with still images of Charu’s half –lit face, Bhupati’s half lit face ,a
servant holding a lamp ,a mid shot of Charu and Bhupathi and finally a long shot
of them.
Series of freeze frames shown in the climax is cinematic answer and visual
equivalent to Tagore’s Original ending –”Thak” meaning “ let it be”
Freeze Frame
Subjective Realism
Subjective Reality is the inner world of mind .The world of emotions and feelings. It is composed of ones own
thoughts ,opinions .judgement and emotions.
The beginning sequence and eight minute long garden sequence hugely emphasizes Charu’s inner world of emotions
And desires .
Subjective Realism
1.
https://youtu.be/RmKu7VE4IBA
Thank you