Ray's Canvas On Celluloid

Fifty years after Satyajit Ray made the cult classic, its anti-war message remains relevant

- Rajat Roy

AS film stories go, this is one of the simplest. Two bumbling musicians—a singer and a drummer—come together in funny circumstances and become friends; they travel to strange lands, occasionally intentionally and are granted three wishes by the “bhooter raja” (king of goblins), one of which gives them mastery over their crafts. They move kings and commoners alike with their songs, prevents a war, marry two princesses and live happily ever after. It was essentially meant to be a children’s film, like the story it was based on.

But Goopi Gyne Bagha Byne by Satyajit Ray, one of India’s most influential film-makers ever, turned out to be much more—a cult classic with its stark anti-war message that remains relevant 50 years after Goopi and Bagha embarked on their epic adventure. When it was released in the summer of 1969, the fantasy-adventure film laced with beautiful music was an instant hit with children. But what came as a surprise, perhaps, was the resonance the film found with adults. Bengali film thespian Soumitra Chatterjee, who acted in 14 of Ray’s films, says Goopi Gyne Bagha Byne ran for 100 consecutive weeks, a record that remains unbroken. Ray was encouraged to do a sequel Hirak Rajar Deshe in 1980. Later, his son Sandip Ray made the third film of the series, Goopi Bagha Fire Elo (1991).

But what made