RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1961,Documentary) - by Satyajit Ray

Rabindranath Tagore
Script. commentary & Direction: Satyajit Ray
1961, India. Documentary, 54 min, B/W
Producer: Films Division, Govt. of India

Cinematography: Soumendu Roy
Editing: Dulal Dutta
Art Direction: Bansi Chandragupta
Music: Jyotirindra Moitra

Cast
Raya Chatterjee, Sovanlal Ganguli, Smaran Ghosal, Purnendu Mukherjee, Kallol Bose, Subir Bose, Phani Nan, Norman Ellis

Summary
The documentary details the life and work of the celebrated Bengali writer Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941). He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913 "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West." Rabindranath Tagore was the youngest son of Debendranath Tagore, born in Calcutta. He was educated at home. At seventeen he was sent to England for formal schooling, which he did not complete. Tagore was knighted by the ruling British Government in 1915, but within a few years he resigned the honor as a protest against British policies in India.

The documentary was made to celebrate Tagore's birth centenary in May 1961. Ray was conscious that he was making an official portrait of India's celebrated poet and hence the film does not include any controversial aspects of Tagore's life. However, it is far from being a propaganda film.

The film comprises dramatized episodes from the poet's life and archived images and documents.

Comments
The dramatized sequences of boy Rabi (Rabindranath Tagore) and young Tagore in his twenties are moving and lyrical. Ray has been reported to have said, "Ten or twelve minutes of it are among the most moving and powerful things that I have produced".

Awards * President's Gold Medal, New Delhi, 1961 * Golden Seal, Locarno, 1961 * Special Mention, Montevideo, 1962

*text source- http://www.satyajitray.org/films/tagore.htm

*video source- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDcnajUJ6_4

*also available at : http://vimeo.com/3838865

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Rabindranath Tagore
• 1961
• Documentary
• Satyajit Ray
• Films Division

[sshoibal]

thanks.

[SwarnavaLIVE]

In these troubled times, who else do we need but another Tagore, another Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, another Michael Madhusudan Dutta, to help us rise again like a phoenix, from our glorious ashes, for we, can watch with a smile, the originality, of our Indian culture, enriched, for a course of thousands of years and for we have now an orthodox view to call our culture a 'tradition', and further, labeling our thousands of years of progress, in our 'Hipster' orthodox views, as orthodoxy.

[berky1]

Deepest appreciation for sharing this great documentary. I worked in a bookstore many years ago with a colleague who traveled India in the early to mid 1970's. During a conversation he brought up Gitanjali and told me I would love it knowing my affinity for poetry and spiritual writings/teachings. Several years later in NYC I discovered a hardbound collection of his works at the Strand Bookstore and would read sitting in Central Park. Two brilliant minds and contributions from Ray and Tagore.

[infinityTObeyond]

@KillinDaWelfareMCs during and before middle of 19th century crossing ocean ( which was termed as kalapani which liberally means dark water) was a taboo among Hindus belonging to higher caste. This superstitious belief was more fortified as the first Indian ever went to England, Raja Ram Mohan Roy fell ill and died in England and couldn't come back to India. Dawrakanath was the second which proves his streangth and openness...

[mistleshine]

he's just the best and no more words

[tataislash]

grt commentry by the incredible director of india.. salute to all these legends..

[KillinDaWelfareMCs]

are they saying at the 5min mark that braminism doesn't let people go to England?

[smuthumala46]

The film brought tears to my eyes.A man of huminity,never to be found in this modern world.They had no personal desires behind their dedicated work.He sacrificed his life for huminity.True son of earth.

[Skpandey786]

Dear All ,Its Greatest Documentary MadeBy Sir Satyajit Ray On Greatest Gurudev of Our Indian People Sir RABINDRANATH TAGORE !!!!!!!! He Really Greatest Master !!!!

[lobo14capoeira]

Cette vidéo est un précieux trophée!

[drratanbhattacharjee]

The documentary restores some unforgettable moments of the past of Kolkata. The ambience of the Tagore family is beautifully portrayed. Only Ray can do this kind of production. The scenes have epic dimension.. the film is a bildungsroman in celluloid...we are invited to have the trip down memory lane where Indian freedom movement , literary movement , cultural movement and Spiritual movement are all merged and mingled to form a composite whole. It is as perfect as a sonata or symphony