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Patol

The document tells the story of Patol Babu, a struggling actor who receives an unexpected opportunity to act in a film after years of hardship. Initially excited, he is disheartened to find that his role consists of just one word, 'Oh,' but he ultimately discovers the depth of expression that can be conveyed through this single syllable. The experience reignites his passion for acting, leading to a moment of satisfaction despite the meager payment.

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As vijayeta
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356 views6 pages

Patol

The document tells the story of Patol Babu, a struggling actor who receives an unexpected opportunity to act in a film after years of hardship. Initially excited, he is disheartened to find that his role consists of just one word, 'Oh,' but he ultimately discovers the depth of expression that can be conveyed through this single syllable. The experience reignites his passion for acting, leading to a moment of satisfaction despite the meager payment.

Uploaded by

As vijayeta
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
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actor, ’s neighbour, beyond his wildest dreams: something he 1 “Patol, are you i Nishikanto Babu, Patol Babu’ called from outside the door. ‘ « » be se he thought it 2 “Oh, yes,” said Patol Babu. “Just a minute. a ag, “What brings you here +amateur heals : * plays put up by small the market right now. Se eee c 4 “Listen, what time will you be back?” «handbills: small printed notices or 3 Patol Babu came out with a shopping b so early in the morning? I'm leaving for had not dared hope for advertisements thatare 5 “In an hour or so. Why?” giver to people 6 “[ hope you'll stay in after that. I met my youngest yesterday. He is in the film business. He said he was 3 film they're now shooting. The way he described the character—fiftyish, short, bald- headed—it reminded me of you. So I gave him your address and asked him to get in touch with you directly. I hope you won’t turn him away. ‘They'll pay you, of course.” ected such news early in the morning. ‘That an offer to act in a film beyond his wildest dreams. brother-in-law 7 Patol Babu hadn’t expt could come to him was should say no. But let’s talk to your brother-in-law first What's his name?” 1d be here around ten-thirty.” his wife’s orders and bought e brinjals. ® “[ really don’t see why I and find out some details. ° “Naresh, Naresh Dutt. He said he woul 10 In the market, Patol Babu mixed up f red chillies instead of onion seeds and quite forgot about the = This was not surprising. ™ Atone time Patol Babu had had a real passion for the stage. He hi railway factory, but he was always in demand for amateur theatricals put up by the in the neighbourhood. His name had appeared in handbi Eom sasseaneeee A handbillis a small print Design a small advertisement in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint for a theatrical ‘message short, use big fonts and make It interesting. Ga) 9 21C: Critical Thinking, Creativity; IL: Digital 1. Patol Babu _mixes up his wife's __orders because, ad a job in the old club ills on countless occasions. ted advertisement distributed by hand. But now, we can make such advertisements in @ computet reproduction of this story. Keep the looking for an actor for a scene in senergacttaby Gainethe _‘Indeed, there was a time when people bought tickets especially to see ae him, The sailing had been smooth for some years, when in 1943, a sudden cutback in his office due to the war cost him his nine-year-old musthvebeen" 55), Ever since then, Patol Babu had struggled to make a living. He had good at acting. he recalled at times with a sigh. 1 Naresh Dutt turned up two hours late at half past twelve. Patol Babu had given up hope and was about to go for his bath when there was a knock on the front door. “Come in, come in, sir! Do sit down.” “No, thanks. I—er—I expect Nishikanto Babu told you about me?” ane ® “Oh yes. I must say I was quite taken aback. xPatleabu P —-You think Til be alll right for the part?” asclifident? Patol Babu asked with great diffidence. ™ Naresh Dutt cast an appraising look at Patol Babu and gave a nod. “Oh yes,” he said. “There is no doubt about that. By the way, the shooting takes place tomorrow morning.” ‘5 “Tomorrow? Sunday?” 6 “Yes, and not in the studio. You know Faraday House near the crossing of Bentinck Street and Mission Row? It's a seven-storey office building. The shooting takes place outside the office in front of the entrance. We'll expect you there at eight-thirty sharp. You'll be through by midday.” — ‘ried every means of earning a livelihood without ever succeeding in improving his lot. Acting had become a thing of the remote past—something which + the salling had been smooth: Patol Babu's acting career had been progressing well without any difficulties + cutback: During World War ll, many companies reduced the number of employees they had so that they could save some money. «taken aback: very surprised + diffidences lack of confidence + cast an appratsing ook: looked at Patol Babu to assess whether he looked right for the part with a slight tremor in his heart: trembling because he was nervous Naresh Dutt prepared to leave. “But you haven't told me about the part,” said Patol Babu anxiously. 4 “Oh yes, sorry. The part is that of a pedestrian. An absent-minded, short-tempered pedestrian.” ® Patol Babu suddenly thought of another crucial question. “I hope the part calls for some dialogue?” % “Of course there’s dialogue and you'll be given your lines as soon as you show up tomorrow.” * Naresh Dutt left and fifty-two-year-old Patol Babu did a little skip. He felt as if he had been born again. 2 The next day, Patol Babu arrived at Faraday House on time. There was a big crowd outside the building, Patol Babu suddenly felt a little nervous. With a slight tremor in his heart, he advanced towards the entrance. Ciel Thinking os |? Naresh Dutt came up to him with tea in small clay cup. “We're about to start. Here you are, sir—the hot tea will help your throat. Your tury will come shortly.” 24 “If you'll let me have my lines now...” 25 “Your lines? Oh! I say, Shoshanko,” said Naresh Dutt to a young fellow in short-sleeyeq shirt, “this gentleman wants his lines, ‘Why don’t you write them down on a piece of paper and give it to him?” 25 Shoshanko tore off a page from the notebook, scribbled something on it and handed it to him. Patol Babu glanced at the paper and found that a single word had been scrawled on it: ‘Oh!" 27 Patol Babu felt a sudden throbbing in his head. Was the whole thing a gigantic hoax? Had they wanted to make a laughing stock out of him? How could anyone be so cruel? He said in a voice hardly audible, “I find it rather strange. Just ‘Oh’? Is that all I have to say?” 25 “What are you saying, Dadu?” said Shoshanko. "4, whatisShoshankol “You think that’s nothing? doinghere? Why, this is a regular a cortorting Patol speaking part! A speaking b. flattering Patol part inaBaren Mullick * 82bu a _ " Discuss the reason for film—do you realise what sess se rrson'o" that means? Why, you're partner. % the luckiest of actors.” a 2° A young man, Jyoti, came hoax: a trick played on up and put his hand on ‘someone to make fun Patol Babu’s shoulder ‘of therm and said, “Listen, Dadu. + audible: loud enough tobe heard Tl tell you what you have to do. Chanchal Kumar is + Dadu: grandfather arising youn jt in Bengal; here, Hei a ig executive, shoshankosaysitina (e is informed that an ‘mocking tone, making embezzlement has taken fun of Patol Babu's 28¢ place in his office, and he ‘embezzlement: misuse comes to find out what has _ «Fett of money belonging tothe emploet if happened. He getsoutof. §=§ “7 Cia Think |, Collaboration; Hs Digital his car and runs across the pavement towards the entrance. Just then, he collides with an absent-minded pedestrian. That's you. You're hurt in the head and say “Oh!”, but Chanchal Kumar pays no attention to you and goes into the office. The fact that he ignores you reflects his extreme preoccupation, see? Just think how crucial the shot is! Now, if you could please stand back?” 3° Patol Babu moved back and stood waiting in the 5. Why does the writer describe Patol Babu action egla without describing * down at the paper in his, histhoughts? hand, cast a quick look around to see if anyone Late ‘was watching, crumpled + preoccupation: when someone worries about _the paper into a ball something so much that and threw it into the teydonotpaystenton —_oadside drain, totheir surroundings safaint memory was 31 stirring: Patol Babu was slowly recollectng an old memory in Patol Babu’s mind. Words of advice given in a deep, pleasant voice by his mentor, Mr Pakrashi: “Remember one thing, Patol; however small ‘beneath your dignity: ‘not important enough for him to consider menace intone or pitch of the Sear rt you Saari consider it beneath your dignity to accept it. Asan artist, your aim should be to make the most of your opportunity, and squeeze the last drop of meaning out of your lines. A play involves the work of many and it is this combined effort that makes a success of the play.” ® Was it really true that there was nothing in the part he had been given today? » “Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh—” Patol Babu uttered the word over and over again, giving ita different — X inflection each time. After doing this a number of times he made an astonishing discovery. shade of a shop. He glanced A faint memory was stirrinj a part you're offered, never abt! XN Dae ‘The same exclamation, when spoken in different ways, carried different shades of meaning. A man when hurt said ‘Oh’ in one mean ee euccentil way. Despair brought forth a difficult kind of ‘Oh’, while sorrow tramactor — @_—_ brought out yet another kind. In fact, there were so many kinds devotedtothe —* of ‘Ohs'! The true actor could make a mark with this one sing] gle artof acting? syllable. Give a reason for votes 3 Patol Babu cleared his throat and began to practise speaking this one-syllable dialogue in various ways. He was called in exactly after half an hour, He felt a keen anticipation and excitement. It was the feeling he used to have twenty years ago just before he stepped onto the stage. 35 An idea had occurred to Patol Babu while rehearsing. 36 “Er—I was thinking—if I had a newspaper open in my hand, then perhaps—” 37 Baren Mullick, the director, cut him short by addressing a bystander, “Do you mind handing your paper to this gentleman, just for this one shot? Thanks...Now you take your position beside the pillar. Chanchal, are you ready?” ao

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