Tolly Club presents Orbits of Convergence: Ray's Tagore, a show marking the birth anniversary of Tagore and Satyajit Ray

The programme will include an audio-visual presentation, along with some poetry recitation and play- readings
Utpal Dutt as the Hirak Raja in Hirak Rajar Deshe
Utpal Dutt as the Hirak Raja in Hirak Rajar Deshe

The Tollygunge Club presents Orbits of Convergence: Ray’s Tagore, a unique programme which brings together, the works of Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray. The event, conceptualised, scripted and directed by Subha Pal, with inputs from Subhashish Majumder, will consist of an audio-visual presentation of Tagore’s works which have been made into films by Satyajit Ray, along with the screening of a documentary on Tagore, made in 1961.

There will be play-readings too, followed by the recital of poetry and some songs which are reminiscent of both Tagore and Ray’s works. “This event is a tribute to mark the birth anniversary of two luminaries from Bengal- Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray. Since both their birthdays fall in the month of May- we decided to host a programme which focuses on how Ray’s films brought world-wide fame to Tagore’s works. It’s not that Tagore wasn’t so popular among the people before. But Ray’s works captured beautifully the meaning inherent in Tagore’s works, which were lost in translation,” says Subha Pal, the director.

<em>Satyajit Ray</em>
Satyajit Ray

There will be clippings from five films by Ray- such as Teen KonyaCharulataGhare BairePostmasterMonihara, that will be shown at the event. “Satyajit Ray took the local stories like Teen Konya and Postmaster and made them global. While Noshto Neer was adapted to suit the contemporary times in CharulataGhare Baire is an adaptation of Tagore’s novel, which shows what befalls a couple, when the wife, encouraged by her husband, steps out of the house and enters the outer, public world,” adds Subha.

Famous celebrities will be reading bits and excerpts from Ray’s movies. Barun Chanda will be speaking about Tagore’s interest in movies, during the latter part of his life, while Biplab Das Gupta will do the play-reading. Director Ashoke Vishwanathan will be enacting characters from Ghare Baire and Monihara, while Rohini and Debashish Ray Chaudhuri will be singing songs as well as play-reading, while Subhashish Majumder and Apala Basu will be singing some special songs.

<em>Rabindranath Tagore</em>
Rabindranath Tagore

“We wanted to highlight how Tagore is being perceived by Ray’s eye. Very few people know that both Ray and Tagore’s family believed in the liberal sect of Hinduism and that Ray learned painting at Visva-Bharati University, which shaped his vision as an artist,” she adds.

The programme will also include songs from Ray’s films, as he used some of Tagore’s poems in his films to highlight a particular moment. “Ray’s love for music was much evident in movies like Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen and Hirak Rajar Deshe and we will also include some songs from these movies,” reveals Subha.

<em>A still from Charulata, based on Tagore's Nastanirh</em>
A still from Charulata, based on Tagore's Nastanirh

You can also expect other songs like Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy, two Bramha sangeets,  Aaj ei subho dine composed by Tagore and Jago purobashi, composed by Upendra Kishore Ray Chaudhuri, along with classics like Ami chini go chini tomare sung by Rajeeb Chattopadhyay and Bidhir badhon katbe tumi.

Famous elocutionist Pranati Tagore and Biplab Dasgupta will be engaging in some poetry recitation, along with Subha Pal, the director herself. The famous poem “For many a year, I have travelled many a mile to lands far away…” which Tagore wrote to Satyajit Ray when he was just six-years-old, will also be recited at the occasion.

Orbits of Convergence: Ray’s Tagore is scheduled for presentation at The AC Tent, Tolly Club on May 3, 6:15 pm. 

(Pics: IMDB)

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