VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR UNIT VI THE ODDS AGAINST US J F KENNEDY’S - Satyajit Ray & INAUGURAL ADDRESS
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray (1921-1992) was a celebrated Bengali director and one of India’s best- known film-makers. Born into one of Calcutta’s most illustrious families, Ray was the grandson of Upendra Kishore Ray- Choudhury, the publisher, musician, and author of children’s literature. Ray studied in Shantiniketan.
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR Satyajit Ray He went into advertising, and formed the Calcutta Film Society in 1947. Ray remained an avid cinema enthusiast; encountering several Italian Neo-Realist films while in England in the early 1950s, and meeting Jean Renoir while the latter was shooting “The River” (1951) in Bengal. Jean Renoir
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR Satyajit Ray Ray’s debut film Pather Panchali (1955; Song of the Little Road) was made under strained financial conditions and was only completed when the West Bengal government came through with a last-minute grant. It became an internationally renowned film, winning several awards, including the Best Human Document prize at Cannes.
Ray later made two sequels, chronicling the growth of the films’ child protagonist: Apu: Aparajito (1956; The Unvanquished) and Apur Sansar (1959; The World of Apu) Collectively known as the Apu Trilogy, these remain his best-known films VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR Satyajit Ray Ray is also extremely well known in his native Bengal as a writer of short stories, published in Desh, and other periodicals, and in his own children’s journal Sandesh. He is one of the few and India’s only filmmakers to win an Oscar Lifetime Achievement Award.
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US This essay is from Satyajit Ray’s collection of essays “Our Films and Their Films” In this essay, THE ODDS AGAINST US, Ray discusses the difficulties faced by Indian filmmakers in general and Bengali filmmakers in particular. With sufficient financial support, men and materials, it is easy for Hollywood to make a movie like Spartacus , or for the Soviet Russia to make a movie like War and Peace . They can create on the big screen spectacles like battles, earthquakes, fires, victory processions etc. because they have the technological and financial resources required
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US In India, epics of such grandeur and richness are not made because of lack of money, market and technology As a result, Indian filmmakers end up making formula films - the intimate type of cinema Our films have adopted the easier path of making movies of mood and atmosphere instead of grandeur and spectacle
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US In the process of making a movie, the first step is finding an effective story, which is always an asset for a film. Satyajith Ray says it is the director who generally chooses the story of a film because, after all, the director is like the captain of a ship. The director considers three factors in the selection of a suitable story for his film. his affinity with the story his belief that the chosen story would make a good film the likes and dislikes of the public
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US Problems in the Selection of a Story § Themes concerning physical love are difficult to choose since their depiction on the screen is governed by very rigid moral conventions § Political satires cannot also be made as censor people are sure to suggest cuts or modifications § Epics and classic stories are also not good choices because directors cannot take liberties with the line of such stories
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US Story-wise the director’s choices are very limited. His imaginative and creative abilities are curtailed A serious director like Ray may explore new themes, and new aspects of society and human relations, but they will find only a minority of viewers and hence such films rarely succeed in finding producers.
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US The second step in film making, generally, is casting Unlike Hollywood, we do not have the system of agents supplying junior artistes i. e. extras Talent scouting is not very popular in India and many talented people do not respond to ads inviting fresh talent Directors like Ray are forced to visit strange places hunting for suitable people for roles in their films
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US The most important aspect of in the process of film making is shooting Studios, particularly in Calcutta, are seriously ill- equipped - with cracks on the walls and holes in the ceiling They are infested with rats and Arora Studio, bugs. There are pits on the one of the oldest in Calcutta floor, cameras and other equipment are outdated and power fluctuations are frequent
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US Ray declares that in spite of all these problems, it is within the powers of the director to make a good film or a bad film. It is exciting to be able to create beauty in such unhelpful conditions. The true skill of the film maker lies in his ability to be imaginative, creative and inventive in the face of utter lack of resources and facilities. Improvisation is the greatest talent a film maker possesses.
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR THE ODDS AGAINST US Ray concludes saying that he is happy to be working in the film industry and takes pride in being an Indian filmmaker.
VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR JOHN F KENNEDY Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You (The Inaugural Address on January 20th 1961)
Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You Kennedy was sworn in as the 35th President on January 20, 1961. In his inaugural address he spoke of the need for all Americans to be active citizens, famously saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR
Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You He also asked the nations of the world to join together to fight what he called the “common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.” In closing, he expanded on his desire for greater internationalism: “Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you.” Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963 VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR
Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You This is one of America’s few standout inaugural addresses and one the finest speeches in American History invoking the American dreams and extending its promise to the rest of the world. Kennedy’s speech was an inspirational call to action that resonates even today. This speech was his first public speech after taking office. VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR
Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You He declares that this is the celebration of freedom but not victory of party - symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning – signifying renewal, as well as change. He assures all the allies that they pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. He tells them that “united there is nothing we cannot achieve but divided there is little we can do.” VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR
Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You He asks that newly liberated nations to strongly assert their freedom. He promises to help those who are in misery and poverty because any free society that cannot help the many who are poor, cannot save the few who are rich. He assures all the sister republics that they will convert these good words into actions to progress and to break the shackles of chains of poverty. VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR
Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You He pledges America’s support for the United Nations Organization in protecting new and weak nations. He pledges America’s support for the United Nations Organization in protecting new and weak nations. He also requests all the enemy nations to stop building nuclear weapons for destruction and support peace. VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR
Ask Not What Your Country Can Do For You They should utilize the wonders of science to explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce but not for the destruction of the humanity. He says that they all should get united to fight for peace but not get divided fight among themselves. VIGNANA BHARATHI INSTITUTE TECHNOLOGY, AUSHAPUR, GHATKESAR
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