An Enemy of the People

(1989) Ganashatru (In Bengali with English subtitles) DRAMA

Adapted from the play by Henrik Ibsen music, co-written and directed by Satyajit Ray that centers on a situation of a doctor, Ashok Gupta (Soumitra Chattopadhyay) who is waiting for test results of a water from a holy temple after it was concluded the patient of his may have died from. And while he is waiting he also calls up a newspaper friend, Haridas Bagchi (Dipankar Dey) of his to wait for him at his house. And while Ashok's wife, Maya Gupta (Ruma Guhathakurta) is entertaining her guest by serving him pastry and tea, Haridas Ashok's younger brother, Nishith Gupta (Dhritiman Chattopadhya) shows up he happens to be municipal chairman of the city of Chandipur. We then meet Ranen Haldar (Bhishma Guhathakurta) who happens to be a student as well as an inspired writer. Ranen also happens to be fiance of the Gupta's daughter, Ranu who works as a teacher. And by the time Ashok shows up , he is then informs him that the water from the holy site may be contaminated. Ashok then clashes with his younger brother over this since he is the municipal chairman before he clashes with his best friend, Haridas over the posting out the story for the residents to know about.

Upon watching it, is reminiscent of another movie also based on a play called "The Big Knife" made in 1955 and the movie "Rope" in which the entire story itself is confined to just a few areas or limited areas and space. For "The Big Knife" the entire movie is limited to just the living room of the house, in this one it is limited to the Gupta's family home the newspaper office and some of it on stage where the debate was being at. I think I fell asleep upon watching "The Big Knife" and with "Rope" not so much because it was supposed to be filmed all on one long take, this one is quite good but too much dialogue the movie gets better when the debate or arguing happens between the newspaper editor the municipal chairman butting heads with the doctor.

Doctor Soumitra Chatterjee has been tracking the source of an epidemic and has concluded, after laboratory reports, that that water in the local temple has been polluted and causing the outbreak. Yet there are strong forces opposing him, not only the reigious conservatives, but business interests who see that temple as a souce of tourism and revenue. Even his brother is ranged against him, and more than willing to destroy him rather than close down the temple to fix the problem.

Satyajit Ray;s movie is based on Ibsen's 1882, and sticks mainly to the original's concerns, despite some changes made for its Indian setting. Ray's handling and ending is a little more standardized that the play, but it remains a powerful piece.

Poor health dogged Satyajit Ray during his last days. Critics have opined that his last works do not measure up to his earlier films. GANASHATRU, based on a play 'Enemy of the people' by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, is among the final works of the most famous Indian filmmaker ever. The film may be weaker in comparison to some of his best works, but this drama has a Contemporaneity in the Indian context, and in this respect, the film has a greater relevance than his well-appreciated works. The film which showcases the story of an upright doctor (Soumitro Chattopadhyay) facing a hostile municipal chairman his own brother (Dhritiman Chattopadhyay) and a hostile society for suspecting contaminated water from a temple to cause a lethal strain of Hepatitis killing several people in a mofussil town, is in essence a thought-provoking 'science versus religion' essay. Ray is possibly the only reputed Indian filmmaker who has questioned blind religious beliefs in his works (Devi, Mahapurush, Ganashatru).

"Ganashatru" is certainly one of the best movies of Satyajit Ray, though not one of his most popular ones. The story is set up in a small town of India and is brutally realistic. The film depicts the superstitions and ignorance one might find in an Indian town (or for that matter in any Indian City). The main characters are brilliantly portrayed by Soumitra Chatterjee, Dipankar Dey, Subhendu Chatterjee and Dhritiman. The reason this movie has not had any popularity is mainly because of the blind religious superstitions that lives amongst most of us and has blinded us in seeing the truth.

A must watch, if one believes that film makers have a duty towards educating the society.

Ganashatru / Enemy Of The People (1990) : Brief Review -

Medical Science faces off Mass Religious Beliefs in this Satyajit Ray's Brave Classic. Far better than many of his acclaimed works. I must say, Satyajit Ray during his last days was on different level altogether. He had few underwhelming (for his high standard i mean) flicks getting overhyped in the rush of his top 10 films during 70s and 80s but his late 90s work is highly underrated. Ganashatru was Ray'a second last film and Agantuk was his last one and these two are surely getting place in my top 10 films of Satyajit Ray. In this adaption of the Ibsen stage play, an idealistic physician discovers that the town's temple waters are dangerously contaminated. But with the community relying on the holy attraction for tourist dollars, his warnings go unheeded. His continuous efforts to spread awareness brings him down and how. Like one quote in the says in the film, "Honest is the one who suffers most." Now you get it. I personally think that the adaption factor has kept this underrated for years and if not, then may be the late 90s audience and their taste for mainstream cinema. Anyways, for me Ganashatru is certified Classic and i would be more than happy if this review helps people to watch it and personally experience whatever i am trying to say. Every actor in the film works like he/she knows exactly what should he/she must do in the role Soumitra Chatterjee, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Mamata Shankar, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Bhishma Guhathakurta, Deepankar De and Subhendu Chatterjee all gave terrific performances. Ray's direction is simply amazing. It isn't intricate, rather it's natural yet intense. That feel-good-bad touch is the best working factor. Overall, another Ray Classic which deserves as equal appreciation as his any top 10 works according to your choice.

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.