User reviews

The great Satyajit Ray has become one of my favorite filmmakers, and unfortunately it's become very difficult to see most of his films in the US. GOOPY GYNE BAGHA BYNE easily ranks as one of Ray's most intriguing creations - a wonderful family film, which also contains the complex philosophies that enliven Ray's many other masterpieces. In his own film writing, Ray expressed admiration for certain experimental filmmakers who came to prominence during the 50s and 60s, and this film gave him an opportunity to do a bit of stylistic experimentation of his own, while also creating something of a tribute to his father's and grandfather's writings. The results are one of Ray's finest films.

I won't summarize the plot, which is well-described here. But I would point out several outstanding elements of GOOPY AND BAGHA - the first would be Ray's creative use of effects - apparently the film was made on a small budget, but the story is captivating enough that one doesn't really notice - such constraints force a filmmaker to rely upon his own expertise, imagination and ability to improvise and innovate, and in this regard, GOOPY AND BAGHA almost feels like a great, kids version of a 'new wave' film (in the best senses of the term) - willing to try the unexpected, and confident that the unexpected will work well.

A second strength is Ray's creation of a sophisticated family film that has much to offer adult viewers - GOOPY AND BAGHA offers a great amount of hope and strength in the face of a changing world, as the film was made at a time in which momentous and troubling events were occurring throughout the globe. I'm certain that Ray was mindful of this, and sought to incorporate a sophisticated engagement with changes in the outside world into the underlying philosophy in this dreamlike and magical film. Many writers have commented in vague fashion on Ray's 'humanism,' but the worldview expressed is far more detailed and wide-ranging than that term would imply - a well-thought way of looking at life connects all of Ray's films, and that includes this one.

A magnificent film, one very much deserving of wider appreciation around the globe.

A must see for all children . A fantastic adventure story with amazing effects of the time.(i think it deserved an Oscar for the effects). Satyajit Ray has made a master piece. Even today I watch the movie and am not bored.FANTASTIC.

Still not available on DVD? This film (and it's sequel) are unique for Satyajit Ray, who (except for some tongue-in-cheek detective films)spent his cinematic career portraying the conflicts and contradictions of modern Indian society in films that are both realistic and poetic (like the films of his mentor, Jean Renoir). Many of them feature characters trying to make the transition from traditional, village-based life to modern urban life (e.g. the Apu trilogy, Mahanaghar), or trying to preserve traditions in a world that no longer has a place for them (e.g. Jalsaghar). This is one of the main themes of African literature and cinema as well.

Many of Ray's films also show women trapped by tradition (Devi, Charulata) or using their education and ingenuity to escape from it (Mahanagar). But in the fairy tale world of Goopy and Bagha, both talent and opportunity are given them by divine intervention, because their desire to make music attracts the deity's attention. And when one of them is betrothed to a princess (leaving the other empty-handed) a local king obligingly asks if they need another princess. Contrast this with the plight of Apu in the real India, looking for a job after graduating from college. A prospective employer shows him a large room full of people who spend all day, every day, sorting old buttons into trays.

As other reviewers have mentioned, Ray's fantasy is beautifully photographed, and full of realistic psychological detail (as well as sly humor) which draw us effortlessly into the story. How long will it be before this, and Ray's other films, are available on DVD?

I was not merely pleased, rather I was shockingly impressed by the level of finesse in the art work of this movie. Some of the stuff is years ahead of its times.

The dark shadows of ghosts, their dances and the part of the movie in which Goopy and Bagha meet the beings from the other side is plain superb. A must see.

The film is simply superb .... a real masterpiece. The film is so rich in every respect - Nothing new to say. It had all sort of spices, ghost, a good king, an abnormal king, palaces, evil prime minister, evil magician, etc.It was a new landmark in the Indian film. This is an evergreen film for generations to come. The songs were beautiful. Only one small defect. In the last song when Goopy wanted lots and lots of sweets, they should have clapped.Because, they get food only both of them claps. Here foods came but there were no clapping! But this is very very negligible. And finally we have to admit a new quality of songs.The lyrics, the background music, the comedy within the songs - a completely new type.

This is the story of two village idiots and the fantastic gifts they get and their further adventures, the film has 2 more sequels, one of the rare films that actually has sequels ! for 1968 the special effects are amazing, remember this is no Hollywood stuff, Indian film of a low-medium budget one of the best written and directed films, definitely a must see !

the sequels (name forgotten) are also instant classics, the comedy is hilarious, and i am 20 years old and just seen this film and it wasn't outdated at all !

i am glad satyajit ray got an Oscar as life time achievement, he truly deserved that

I rate 10 to the movies I can watch hundred times, time and again. Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne is one of them. I grew up watching this movie, watched several times and each time was none the less exciting...charming.

One of Ray's great directorial acumen was to select perfect casts for the movie. If you just see the actors he chose to perform various characters in the movie, you will think that the story was actually written keeping them in mind. And the actors impeccably perform their parts.

This is the story about two simpleton musicians who were respectively banished by their village for their cacophonous music and coincidentally teamed up in a forest lived by ghosts. Furtunately the king of ghosts liked their music and gave them three magical boons. There started the adventure of Goopy and Bagha.

Another powerful aspect of Ray's movies is their music. Mostly he composed himself. He did for this movie too. One more fact keeps you wondering is how such a fairy tale movie can be made with so less special affects and low cost. The sets were adorned with crafts and symbols that accentuate the ambiance, like the Magician's room in the palace of Shundi.

This is the first of the movies about adventures of Goopy Bagha. There are two more of them - Heerak Rajar Deshe (In the land of Diamond King) and Goopy Bagha Phire Elo (Goopy Bagha Return) - each worth watching, the third movie is directed by Ray's son, Sandip Ray.

It is one of the greatest as well as, one of the most under-rated masterpiece in the history of cinema (comparing its overseas success w.r.t other notable Ray films). Handling of characterizations, simplicity, political undertones, musical sensibility and the masterly crafted visual aspects not only makes it a special gift for child viewers but also becomes a coherent masterpiece for movie lovers.

It is the adventure of goopy the singer and bagha the drummer, both driven out from their kingdom because of their horrible musical cacophony, got three boons from the king of ghost and froze everyone by their music. The rest is their terrific story that tells the the music of humanity and gracious peace. All the actors, Tapen Chatterjee, Rabi Ghosh and specially Santosh Dutta gave astounding performances. And then it is Satyajit Ray, the god of cinema, has shown how beautifully a musical which is so much Indian, can be made ....all the song are so pure,freshening and lastly so deep to the roots. Many important social aspects are presented by simple and linear narratives. Even the visual stunts for ex. dancing shadows of demons (a masterly choreographed sequence), sequences when gopy and bagha moved to their desired places by clapping or the war song where sweets appear on the sky and fell on ground is starling and fresh even in Today"s intricate visual effect era.

Lastly handling of emotions, for instances the sequence where raja of Amloki drove goopy out leaving only his father in tears and despair whereas, the villagers were having fun, or fist song "dekho re" where goopy overjoyed in disbelief hearing his own voice, or the king of halla who ran in joy at the last scenes because of his freedom, will surely touch your heart. And if you see the movie carefully, u can always feel the influence of it in a deep subconscious level. Evil surrounds a major part of the human mind and beyond desire and greed all of us ultimately want to be free and happy!! Honestly speaking the movie is like a dream where the characters have become strong enough to go above bindings of anger and greed and say so simply the futility and stupidity of war.......three boons of king of ghost came out to be the boons that every human crave for......watch it not only for cinematic experience but also for its gracious humanism that is surely going to move you.....................

In today's age where most kids and family films are nothing more than mindless action or stupid humor, this was a breath of fresh air to more enchanting times back then when it was about adventure and wonder. Some kids may balk at the fact that this is black and white and from another country (including subtitles which for newcomers can get a little getting used to), but eventually they will discover this film's magic. I would like to travel to India sometime in my life for all its enchanted splendor and the adventures of the two lovable musicians captures it beautifully. The cinematography really deserves some accolades especially in the King of Ghost song and dance number that still looks a little freaky yet still delightful. I've seen Satyajit Ray's Apu trilogy which is just as magical and this movie is never boring in any frame. This one's hard to find but worth it all.

This movie depicts three basic needs of a human being : Food, Travel and amusement. Gupi and Bagha are two characters who meet in a jungle being banished by the King of their village. They by chance meet the King of Ghosts and he gives them three boons for their simplicity and innocence. The first boon : 'They will get food whenever they want' , ' the second : 'they can go anywhere they want' and the third : 'they will master art of music and everybody will be spell bound and motionless while they sing'. Only for the first two boons they have to clap each others hand. They travel (by clapping) to Shundi (a kingdom) to participate in a music competition and win. They become the King's court musicians. They found that all the people in Shundi except the family of the King were dumb because of an epidemic. Unfortunately in Halla (another kingdom governed by the King of Shundi's brother) the Minister drugs the innocent King and prepare to war against Shundi. He engages his chemist to prepare a cure for the dumbness of the people of Shundi. The reason is strange. According to him " If the people of Shundi don't say what they need then how can I bar them from having that?". Gupi and Bagha journeys to Halla and the things start to happen.

Gupi Gyne Bagha Byne is the most famous child fantasy in bengali films.....whether a child have seen Titanic or Jurassic Park but he/she definitely have seen this movie...i first saw this movie when i was 3 yrs old.and then i have seen this movie more than 100 times.after banishing from their villages gupi n Bagha met in a jungle and became friends.and then the king of ghost impressed with their music and gave them 3 boons.first,they get food,clothes etc by clapping their hands,second,they can go wherever they want by clapping their hands,third,they'll became master of music.and then they headed to a kingdom called Shundi.where they were send to a mission which they accomplish at last.but the great director Satyajit Ray have done an wonderful job.in 1968 with a shoestring budget of 600000 rs he have done great special effects,lighting,camera work etc.so atlast i can say just one thing in the movie gupi n bagha got 3 boons and we bengalis got 1 boon which is the great Satyajit Ray.

Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne / The Adventures Of Goopy And Bagha (1969) : Brief Review -

A nice break from Satyajit's Ray regular intellectual articles. A pure entertaining kids friendly fantasy Adventure drama in Bengali Cinema. Ray had made lots of Classics before making this film and mostly mass lovers or should I say immature audience never understood his films. May be that's why he decided to make that typical entertaining film which will be loved by masses, immature audience and will have kids friendly content as well. Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne is a nice break from his regular utterly artistic films and quite possibly this one is his most amusing film i have seen. Goopy wants to sing, and Bagha wants to play the dhol. They meet accidentally and are helped by King of Ghosts. With newly endowed abilities, they land in kingdom of Shundi, where their adventure begins. You don't have to bother your Cinematic brain while watching this fantasy ride and you can definitely enjoy it with your kids too. Many Hollywood classics became a part childhood rites and even in India we had several nostalgic films made before 70s decade started and this Satyajit Ray feature is one of them. In Bengal Cinema it became a sensation and was deserving too, because that industry was always in hunt for something interesting like this. With performances and technical aspect this film scores enough passing marks. The musicals are damn beautiful, i mean they have got meanings according to situations without losing that audience friendly tone. This film was matched by Ray's own desire to make a movie that, unlike his previous movies, would cater to children. His direction is perfect considering the universal conviction he wanted to bring. Overall, a Very Good Entertainer but please don't call it a Classic.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The series introduces Satyajit Ray to most of the bengali children even today.Extracting the bests from low or at times,almost nil experienced actors.Still staying tied to a story which as always have been with Ray's movies,deals with complexities of human natures.This movies talk about peace,less demanding people who know very well how to deal with their lives properly and helps others to learn it. The rural bengal has been portrayed in this movie at it's best.The songs have soothing music and pleasant lyrics.The low cost movie uses cheap techniques of bringing special effects but the quality of the movie easily overcomes these drawbacks

A fantasy about two vagabond musicians - a singer and a drummer - who will.. No, I should not be telling the story at all. This is most telecasted Ray movie - again yes, this is a movie - in DD Bangla and shame on you if you came to read reviews before seeing this. I have not met any person who watched this film but does not like it; even all art film directors now a days put this in their fav list. Even sometimes being presented as a children's film, this is much political too, which theme will eventually lead Ray to make 'Hirak Rajar Deshe', as time demands. This movie has different kings all over the world, even a king of ghosts. I am a big fan of the war cry song which inspired the ode to arms song from 'Patalghar', another super film which I might discuss later. We all wished for the same boons as Goopy and Bagha got here. When the king of 'Halla' got his due holiday and ran away, we all can relate this to our office life. Requesting everyone to disregard my comments here with crap english and to watch the film as soon as possible. Fo those who does not know any thing about Ray, this is the best film to start with. I cannot not put a small excerpt of a dialog between the prime minister and the spy here :

Spy : "Humble respect, Mr. Prime Minister!" Prime Minister : "Come in, Spy." Spy : "I'm coming from Shundi." Prime Minister : "That's where you were sent." Spy : "Yes, Sir." Prime Minister : "Then did you think I thought you were coming from Baghdad?" Spy : "No, Sir."

//goes much better in bengali

I think anyone of us has no capability to rate or review such GODly Creation. I don't want to degrace this masterpiece by my childish word coming from zero knowledge of cinema. One line I would like to sing as a tribute to Ray is : "Maharaja, Tomare Selam!!"