Indian Film Series Beings With 'Home And The World'

By: Paige Nuzzolillo

Posted: 9/21/06

Last night the Fine Arts Deparment hosted the Indian film, "Ghare-Baire, Home and the World,"lastnight. The film was directed by Satyajit Ray, and based on the novel by Rabindranath Tagore. The movie was not the typical "Bollywood" production, replete with music and dance-it instead focused on realism.

Ray is extremely well respected in India, as the director of the "Apu Trilogy," (1955-1960) which is considered one of the greatest achievements in Indian film.

"Home and the World" starred Sumitra Chatterjee, Swatilekha Chatterjee, Manoj Mitra and Victor Banerjee. The film indeed proved to be quite intricate and ambiguous for those without some knowledge on Indian history. However, the film was extremely interesting and provided insight on other cultures and allowed the opportunity for those in the community to view an obscure film.

The film's showing was part of the class, Art 244, Indian Art and Popular Culture. "Home and the World" coincided with the class's lectures, even though a small number students attended the film. The film seemed to be more popular among adults of various ages, with less interest among the students of the actual class.

The story takes place during the British rule of India, when Muslim and Hindu culture was being split by the British. In opposition, the radical sect advocated self sufficiency, "Swadeshi," urges boycotting all foreign goods such as sugar and tea, in order to show the British that the common man can stand up to their power. However, the conflict arises when Nikhil, governor of Bengal, refuses to agree with his radical friend, Sandip, who preaches purchasing and using only Indian made products.

When Nikhil's wife, Bimala, a traditional woman who has been secluded for some 10years, talks to Sandip and hears his preaching, she quickly agrees with his word.

After a brief affair between Bimala and Sandip, Bimala realizes that he uses force and violence, and not only speech, in order to win followers. Bimala then refuses Sandip, only to have her own husband die as a result of trying to stop the rioting by the poor Muslims, who cannot afford Indian made goods and have to rely on cheaper foreign products.

The conflict of the story centers on Nikhil's disagreement with his friend, Sandip. Nikhil allows his wife to become independent of his beliefs, even if that means ones different than his own. However, he states that he cannot morally contradict his own values by not helping the poor Muslims of Bengal and boycotting foreign goods. The film also centers on Bimala's changing character and introduction to the world outside of her house. She becomes easily influenced by Sandip's beliefs and changes from a hermit to a supporter of the rebel cause.

"Bimala has very strong emotions once she meets this person (Sandip). She gets swept up in the movement, and is not too sure she believes it herself. What I think is really tragic is that she blames her husband's death on herself, as a punishment. What Ray is so wonderful at doing, is discussing the complexity of women emerging from traditional roles, and a lot of his films deal with that idea."Professor Kathryn Myers, who conducts the six part Indian film series, said

Students reactions to the film were mixed, Justin Maher, 1st-semester molecular and cell biology major, read the novel by Rabindranath Tagore and was, "surprised that Ray was able to convey Tagore's book in a film. The book was a critique of nationalism, replete with dialogue and internal monologue. To turn that into a movie was impressive." 5th-semester art major, May Babcock, believed the film to be, "hard to follow along with what the characters were saying because of the subtitles, and I guess I didn't catch the references to the deities because I'm not familiar with the religious texts yet."

"If I had not read the book just a few days ago, I would have had no clue what was going on," Maher said, "It was not a free-standing film, and I do not see how it could be accurately portrayed in a film lasting less than a weekend. Personally, I liked it and thought it was as good a film as any man could make given the story he was trying to tackle. Without an extensive prior knowledge of the story, the movie admittedly would have been two hours and twenty minutes of confusion."