Transitions...

Global cultures and trends have a tremendous impact on our lifestyles. Keeping up with the expedited pace of globalization has never been easier, now that we are slowly awakening from the torpor of ignorance and isolation, with the aim of reaching out to the world beyond. Technologically handicapped octogenarians, sexagenarians and septuagenarians alike are being trained by the tech savvy youth to operate alien devices, and social media and networking sites continue to revolutionize and transcend the realms of connectivity and exposure. International print and electronic media influence our perceptions and sometimes mold our thoughts, sometimes inadvertently but usually intentionally. Such transgressions have affected all existing arenas and fields, and unequivocally one of the strongest medium that survives and thrives-is the silver screens of celluloid, in other words the glitzy, glamorous world of showbiz.

Gone are the eras of romanticism, when our mothers emulated the dazzling belles of Bengali cinema-the long swishing braids, mesmerizing kohl lined eyes, Elizabethan blouses, coupled with a touch of coyness and an aura of modesty.  The golden years of the 80’s and 90’s are now merely requiems of the lost glory of celluloid.  My parents still reminisce the yellowed pages of time, and it’s intriguing to see my otherwise stringent Ma to swoon like a young teenager whenever an Uttam- Shucitra  film graces the television screen. Considered as one of the most iconic and legendary on screen pairs of the 80’s, the bewitching and absolutely enthralling chemistry that  cast a magic spell on the youth back then is beyond imagination today. Heartthrobs and handsome hunks come and go today, like shooting stars that rise to the pinnacle of success but plummet to the nadir after an ephemeral stint with stardom and fame. But such  enigmas and trailblazers immortalized by not only the characters that they breathed life into, but also their overwhelming charm along with an exuberant, indomitable zeal for life, had not only reached out to the masses, but garnered their unwavering love, ardent support and fervent devotion.

While the black and white vintage era baptized  names like ‘’ share chuattor’’ , ‘’ padma nodir majhi’’ , ‘’pother panchali’’, ‘’oshoni shongket’’, to name a few, it also ascribed the astronomical  rise of a string of multitalented artists,  gifted film-makers and cinematographers. Privileged were the adults who experienced the scintillating   magic weaved by Satyait Roy and his cinema that earned the adulation and plaudits of the international audience. Their depiction of the intricacies of human relationships, the struggles, torments of the inner soul, the oppression of the weak and the dominance of the elite was an omnipresent force that were catalysts to the dynamic social reforms and changes back then. Cinema wasn’t just the pseudonym of escape from the harsh manifolds of realism, it was a harbinger of social and political awakening, a renaissance of its own. Today, the disparities and divergences between classes, echelons, communities, sects  and races are as prevalent as ever, but cinema is  still single most powerful medium that eradicates the dichotomies and discord between diverse  beliefs, thoughts and ethos, even if it is for an hour or two. The fact that we stand under the same umbrella even for such a transient time, is in fact overwhelming.

Undoubtedly, some critiques and aficionados may postulate that cinema of the yesteryear was deeply associated, almost synonymous to escapism- the schmaltzy melodrama, heartbreaking or feet tapping renditions of joy or melancholia was indeed devoid of reality. Like being under an illusion or trance, the sepia would transport the audience back and forth, whenever they wished, from a world of delightful delusions to hidebound hegemony. Movies today,   be it commercial or art films are more inclined on portraying veracity and realism, and fiction is the lie which is used to tell the truth.  Fantasies, utopia, and myths occupy a negligible share of the plots and story lines, whereas drama, thrillers and action have taken the front seat. The characters are more life-like, their dreams and aspirations reflecting that of our own.   Orthodox concepts of Love, hatred, passion have been redefined and re-modified, to meet the needs of a radically changing world.

Whether you guffaw at the ludicrous stunts and dialogues of Ananta Jalil or find solace in the blissful companionship of the Roman holiday or Gone with the Wind, celluloid has really come a long way.  Then again, change is inevitable and must be embraced with open arms..