Nuts and bolts, in other words, of how a scene was put together and not aesthetic discourses as so often tirelessly pedalled and obfuscated by critics and film studies departments. In my opinion what learner filmmakers need are insights into the technique of the masters (technique as distinct from technology) and not necessarily their so-called worldview. In addition, Ray is also rock bottom low on budget, which gives students a sense of kinship with him. Kurosawa, Bergman, Mizoguchi are others on whom my kind of books are possible to write and they could all be learnt from by self-taught filmmakers. Ray is among the most consistent of filmmakers in the world.
A huge loss personally for me, for I would trust none other’s feedback than his. He knew at the time that my book on Pather Panchali was on the way but couldn’t hold out. He had inspired a whole generation of us but left nothing behind for those coming later. (Even our offices were next to each other and I would usually be found in his.) When in 1983 he superannuated and left the Institute, I felt very very nervous and alone. In 1974 I returned to join the direction faculty but spent that time being an extended student with Prof Bahadur. These were eye openers as you can imagine, after which we were converts for life. Within weeks of our arrival he showed us Pather Panchali, followed by Aparajito and later Apur Sansar. Satish Bahadur was our truly ‘listening’ Professor of Film Appreciation at the Film Institute of India in Pune where I spent three years as student of film direction in the late 60s. Even now I can see the great teacher smiling his blessings through clouds of chalk dust as I begin. Bahadur sahib wrote miles and miles on the black board but was most reluctant to touch pen to paper. So please be warned, dear reader, that in reading my stuff you are compelled to make do with only the second best.
He would have done an infinitely better job than I am ever going to be capable of. Had things gone right, Professor Satish Bahadur should have been the one writing these books, not me.
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