Category Archives: Ram Leela

The Adversary / PRATIDWANDI (English) Satyajit Ray. India – YouTube

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IMG_0769The Adversary / PRATIDWANDI (English) Satyajit Ray. India – YouTube.

Thank Goodness for YouTube once again and for the folks who upload classic films! For those who do not know the name of the famous Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray – here is a window to begin your viewing of Film Genius! This is the first of a film trilogy based on the novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay.  Made in 1970.  Many of Ray’s films were not well-preserved and thanks to filmmakers Ismail Merchant and James Ivory who dedicated time and raised funds to preserve and duplicate many of Ray’s classics.  One of the things I love about Satyajit Ray’s films is the pace, the time that he allowed to be captured it is as if it is a stream of consciousness, just in the moment of living now.  This “now” is what we seek to find in our yoga practices…so maybe after doing your sadhana you may have the patience to sit and have a view of this classic film.  Here’s what the famous Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa had to say about Satyajit Ray, “…not to have seen the cinema of Ray means not existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.”  Do know this is not a Bollywood film, this is genius story telling via celluloid, it’s over one hour, so save it for when you have time to savor it and please do share it with others.  (But, hey, just did see a wonderful Bollywood flick Ram Leela, by Sanjay Bhansali, ooooh so beautiful, yeah it’s a love story, yes its a Bollywood Romeo and Juliet, but every scene is layered with colors that mesmerize and the sets so awesome….and if you like this one see his classic Black…..okay I love films, can you guess which genre?)  And now do start with Pratidwandi! Happy viewing…..OM

n.b. Yes there are English sub-titles!