A Ray Fan

I finally saw the Apu trilogy. I have to admit Ponnu was right. The films were worth their while.

The trilogy is about poverty. It is very sad. These were some of the comments I had heard about it from friends. Who wants to watch a film and cry and then go back to reality sad and unhappy, I thought. So I never saw the films. Ponnu was introduced to the films, when she joined the Film Society in her college. We went all over the city searching for the CDs. But none had it. So we went about putting requisition slips for them at video stores. It was a futile attempt. My friend in office, a Ray fan, said she had the CDs and was gracious to offer to copy them for Ponnu. My girl went large eyed and open mouthed when I gave her the CDs.

Ever since the CDs came home, I have had no peace. “Ma, please watch Pather Panchali.” I would nod and say, `Later’. But one late evening, I was pinned down and saw the film. It was sad but not bleak, I remarked. “You watch the other 2 CDs and you will not regret it,” said Ponnu. I nodded. After a long gap and much prodding from Ponnu, I saw the last two films in the trilogy last week. We saw Aparajito and I could not stop myself from crying over the mother-son relationship. Children grow up and other things in life become so important that they seem to be uncomfortable in their old environs. It is a reality, of course, but I still cried.

Ponnu wanted me to see Apur Sansar the moment Aparajito was over. It was quite late by then. But I agreed. The film started and a few minutes later, I dozed off. It was just a blink affair. But Ponnu caught me in the act. She was livid. “How can you sleep when you are watching a Ray film?” I said, “No, no. I did not. Just dozed off. But haven’t missed anything.” She switched off the video. I did not protest. I went off to sleep. Next evening, I asked her to show me the film. She was more than happy. I saw it and my heart ached -- for the loss of Apu’s wife, for the tragedy that never seems to leave Apu all his life and the loneliness of Apu. No, it is not a sad film. It is a film about an ordinary man’s life with no gilt edges. About what all of us aspire to in life and where our circumstances take us.

I am happy Ponnu is glad I watched the films. It is like the time she wanted me to read, `To Kill a Mockingbird’, and I resisted. I said, `Not now. Later’. After much nagging by Ponnu, I read it and fell in love with it. I read the book again twice! I will go back to watching the trilogy back-to-back once.