idaaning

Thanks Brummund for such an excellent work. There should be more such courageous people who can tell the truth at the face of a super-hypocrite society in which we live. We live in a society which has no shortage of Sadists and very unfortunately children are the softest sufferer. I spent a year and half in a Missionary School in West Bengal, Kolkata. I was luckier than Wolfgang because my mother protected me, she did listen to me when I came home for summer vacations and complained that I will die if I go back to the mission. The film is actually so realistic, unlike what many reviewers here feel. I know that because I had been in a similar institution, though thousands of kilometres away. I remember how cruel had been many people in my locality after I returned from the coveted missionary school. There were many who asked why I returned, some suggested that I was kicked out. So I can understand why Wolfgang hit the neighbour he met on the street after he left him home without meeting his mother. Rest assured that such terrible places are still there in almost every country and will be there as long as we don't properly learn to treat others of our own species respectfully.

The history of the Peshwas are filled with filthy practices and I wonder why it is necessary to show the world how such dirty minds ruled some parts of our country. A racist mother-in-law denying her daughter-in-law, sending her away from Shanivar wada (palace) to Budhwar Pet (prostitute quarters) is trite enough in Indian culture to find multiple mentions in the daily newspaper. The Peshwas was particularly oppressive against the Dalits, who had to wear spittons in their necks, sweeps in their waist during that regime. I wish Indian directors get a better topic to make a film about that this gory history.

It is a wonderful film, but it is sad to see that IMDb is using a wrong cover picture for the film. the cover pic is actually from "Aparajito", NOT "Pather Panchali" and this mistake actually tells public attitude about this film. More people would rather talk about this film than watch it carefully. The film misses the "Ballali Balai" part of the novel by Bibhutibhushan which is a must read for a complete picture of the background of the film. Bibhuti's novel consists of three parts, a) Ballali Balai, b) Aam anti-r bhnepu, c) Akrura Sangbad. Ray covers Aam aanti-r bhnepu in "Pather Panchali" film and the "AKrur Sangbad" deals with the first half of "Aparajito" which ends with Harihara's death.