My Tribute to Iconic FOUR

 Entertainment  has a resounding effect in a very early stage of my growing years. I had a privilege to witness the gramaphone  and in rolling years philips record changer  replaced the antique in our house. What an experience to hear the sound of those amazing musical machines which seems you are hearing the music almost live. Although music and films never capture the adolescent mind when cricket football and playing under the nature with ample number of friends obsessed my mind body and soul. The memories of childhood are perhaps made of these. 

After completion of school final, I developed new school friends and still they are till to date used to come to my house to accompany me to our newly admitted local swimming club where we learned and enjoyed swimming.   While we walk towards our swimming club, abhik used to hum "I am 16 going on 17" or "Que sara sara" while Aditya tried few kishore kumar numbers. Instantly the tunes enthralled my cultural mind and i came back home to look for father's collection of records. He used to play the records in the record changer during his free time but i never take any precedence on this as i was more obsessed in Gavaskar, Malcolm Marshall, Viv richards, joel garner, Pele, zico, Garincha and the likes. I figure out the original 45 r.p.m. of Que sara sara by 

Doris Day  from our record stock and i was flattered by the song completely when i played the track.Thus began my inclination in late 80s towards music and films vociferously.    

I develop a tendency to dig deep into the entertainers personal life and his or hers body of work if i get immensely moved by the entertainment. Thus my first tribute in the world of indian vocal music and visual entertainment in both bengali and hindi languages goes towards 

Kishore Kumar  who unabashedly created a milestone in Indian film and music industry. What a joy to watch and listen the performer who has given us good many films apart from lovely songs with unique singing styles. He is a noted painter too. He is quite humble and modest person and never wish to be compared as a great singer to his contemporary colleagues. Despite of his towering success, material world never snatches away his world of simplicity and ethnic style of living. His creative work will always be my source of combating fatigue and infuse inspiration to embrace life. 

 

Our house used to have an occasional visitor sankha kaka from our neighbourhood who pay us a visit for simple adda over a cup of tea and cookies  . He used to take notice of my growing moments and encourage me with stories of his time and other stuff related to play mostly. One day he took permission from my mother to take me and other cousins for a show playing in a local theater. I was amazed by the silent film and its music and instantly fall in love with the visual entertainment. The film was Modern Times by Charlie Chaplin.  When i grew 

up, i manage to see almost all films of Charlie Chaplin. To my mind, he slipped as the greatest showman in earth who has made amazing films and gave us immense joy and laughter. Later years while digging into our pile of record stocks, i figure out the record Limelight and i played the music where Sir Chaplins voice is there apart from instrument playing the theme.  An unforgettable musical soiree that transcends your mind into a heavenly mood. Aditya and I watched Limelight made by sir chaplin in Globe theater later one day and was speechless of the content of the film and its musical score. I salute this gentleman of the holocaust days for giving us such a meaningful wonder creations which is relevant even today. My humble tribute to this little man of all times who has shown the world, the ways, to stay in this world nicely even in difficult times. The eloquent speech in film Great Dictator   addressing the armymen says it all. To Sir Chaplin with love for the work he left for us. 

My first looking back at bengali cinema began with Sonar Kella where i happen to see a handsome bengali leading actor who became an icon for me whenever i watch 

Soumitra Chatterjee's  movies. His appearance, way of delivering the dialogue, eye contact and rich voice is something which impressed me a lot. His performance in 

Drama Tiktiki  is worth mentioning. Apart from all Satyajit Ray films, 

Koni  , Saat Pake Badha  and Atanka  are great performance clad films. It is indeed a pleasure and a moment of pride for a bengali admirer getting the highest civilian honour from france and conferring with Dadasaheb phalke award. Despite of these awards, the person always remain humble, modest and easy going which reflects in his acting persona. He respects all ages of actors and has the ability to mix with easily without any notion of being a senior well acclaimed actor. I will specially miss his recitation. I salute Soumitra babu deep within my heart to cherish the body of work left for us in long run to breath on meaningful creations.  An era gone with the wind. 

One evening my father purchased 7 cinema tickets and accompany me and all my cousins to Tiger cinema to watch a hollywood film called Moby Dick  . The film cast a terrible impact in my growing mind and instantly Gregory Peck  become an idol for me. As i grew up, films like Mackennas Gold  , Snows of Kilimanjaro 

, Roman Holiday  , Guns of Navarone 
, To kill a Mockingbird  and many more such films impacted my intellect mind like a thud. With his chisel good looks, that distinctive voice and an air of strength and integrity Gregory peck was born to be a leading man. Throughout 1940's and 50's, he is one of the movie worlds biggest stars. When there are 100 men in a scene, you tend to look at him but he is more than a star quality, there is a quite power in being. Peck has given us many great performances but he would win in 1962 for the landmark role in Atticus finch in the film of Harper lees greatest novel " To Kill a Mockingbird".  He died in 2003 aged 87 and i salute this legend as long as good cinema continues to comfort human soul and mind.

 

Call of the Wild

 On the outbreak of a bright sunny morning one early winter, I packed my rucksuck and hired a yellow taxi to reach the priya cinema, Deshopriyo park, 5 kms away from our house where our 12 seater bus  is ready to ferry down to Gotkhali. Dharmender, my business companion obliged me happily for a 2 nights fam trip as a gesture of goodwill for benefitting his companies interest. The major portion of the bus is filled with foreign nationals who are pretty excited and inquisitive for the trip. The bus was well maintained and seats were comfortable to sustain the 3hr long journey with arrangement of bottled water and sandwiches, biscuits to munch for breakfast. The bus starts exactly as scheduled at 9am. We reached Gotkhali around noon where our escorts politely wavered us to hop on to the steamer awaiting near the shore. The journey inside the steamer was a fantastic ride sitting at the front of the boat with permission of the pilot is a view to cherish and looking around the area of Sunderban  covered with lush green mangrove forests and muddy banks. One can spot deers, wild boars along the river banks while we were cautioned not to put legs or hands in water as crocodiles  might give surprises alarmingly. 

Red crabs  in abundance spotted along the river beds is a new sight to watch. Finally we reached the much awaited Sunderban Tiger camp after an hours ride with a heart warming welcome.  Dharmender wave me to our allotted hut and hurried me to get fresh for lunch and thereafter to go for the first trip to the nearby crocodile observatory where the crocodiles are fed and it was a jolly good show to watch. Varieties of 

snakes inside the glass caves were precious preservations. 

Tiger camp  has lovely huts with basic facilities for a comfortable stay. A souvenir for every single guest is stored for a take away to refresh memories of an unique stay and hospitality. Place was very quiet and the food was sumptuous buffet style with variety of curry for all three meals. Food produce are either organically grown at the resort or sourced from the local market. Waste water  is used for gardening. A lovely show of the 

local tribals  during the evening marks the end of the day after a grand 

dinner.  

Following morning after a brief sandwich  breakfast we all boarded the boat to finally pay a visit to the much awaited royal bengal tiger. Tourists were specifically advised to put the phones on silent mode as we climbed the Machan   at the very top to see the magnificent creature of the wild. Over an hours wait, there comes the royal bengal tiger who passed through a path with her usual gaitey and vanished inside the jungle. Every tourists were thrilled to take the pics of the day silently. We then climed down from the machan and proceeded towards our boat to have the rest of the tour completed on water. Sajnekhali bird sanctuary is a place to watch exotic birds for those bird lovers. We finally came back to our camp to spend the rest of the evening with Dharmender gossiping on general topics. 

Next day after a 2 nights stay we all were ferried to Ghatkali to board our awaiting 12 seater bus for our trip back home cherishing the sojourn with a ravishing memory.  

News Broadcast

 News broadcasting  is the medium of broadcasting of various news events and other information via television,  

 radio,  or internet   in the field of broadcast journalism. The news content across the nation or globe is usually either produced locally in a radio studio or television studio newsroom, or by a broadcast network. It may also include additional material such as sports coverage weather forecasts, traffic reports, sports commentary, and other material that the broadcaster feels is relevant to their audience. 

Three decades back Calcuttans have witnessed the radio broadcasting news mainly (television was making a debut in early 80s) on major events happening across the nation in a subtle and sublime manner on a particular news timings. The only source of entertainment was the Radio. Those days news were gulped as news only as broadcasted in Radio besides reading print media. Television was a far off dream during early 80s and either Phillips or Murphy radio was our only source of entertainment with incredible programmes like Bournvita Quizz contest, Golpo Dadur ashor, shonibarer barbella, Music for Easy listening every weekend worth mentioning. You get to know varieties of western melodies and songs of 

perry como,  dean martin,  connie francis,  

frank sinatra,  doris day  and many more hummed our 

ears even now. 

On the advent of modern technology in television and constant current horrific news, television news has now become very visually-based, showing video footage of many of the events that are reported; still photography is also used in reporting news stories, although not as much in recent years as in the early days of Doordarshan  broadcast television. Now the news has become 24/7 order and more of an entertainment in a dramatic manner than just listening news. Selection of news has now become a subject of gossip as most controversial news are controlled and stream lined by political honchos and news channels have come under the umbrella of politics off late on airing selective news favouring the ruling party to popularise the good work done amongst public. Controversies aglore recent times on this.  

Our present anchors with smart outfit and  flawless english verbatims and oratory skills is a view to watch and listen intensely on current affair topic debates. Programmes like We the People by Barkha Dutt,  

Devil's Advocate by Karan Thapar  or 

Jaipur literary festivals  hoisted by many acclaimed journos were

enriched in content leaving a distinct mark in our intellect. 

The only area of concern becomes when most of the smart anchors of either sexes becomes judgmental and throws the debate as a court proceedings manner,  belittle the invitee guests whose comments goes under hammer at most times. Every invitee guest has their own view point and should be respected as they were, even if there is a disagreement. The anchor cannot challenge and argue on the point made but can confront in a diplomatic way. No anchor has the journalistic authority to disrespect any celebrity or minister and thereby portrays hatred among the viewers which indirectly create a raucous in the state. The ethics of journalism goes down by criminalising any perpetrators of any disturbing/breaking news of the country. Let court handle the perpetrators and not the anchors. Barring couple of channels, news feeding and debating should be in tandem by maintaining civility and healthy analysis.    

It is highly expected to keep the journalism and news broadcast in a civilised and respectable manner. Any breaking news should be conveyed as only news and not a judgement by any respected anchors. 

Then & Now

  

One day late afternoon  munching and sipping over a potfull of rice flakes and teas while chatting with mother,  it was revealed quite candidly by mother that during her time ie sixty years back ,the days were simple and better comparatively todays complicated violent and unrest times. Families of those times were content with paultry salary which seem to be sufficient to run a family happily. The value of money was vibrant. People were easy to mix with and friendly enough to rub shoulders smoothly. Hovering over snacks with friends in an eatery joint were never a tough call as delicacies or soft drinks were shared smilingly and without a feeling of hatred if other mate not been able to cough up the required share of money.   

 

I wonder on the thought shared by mother and reminisces on my childhood moments which was thorny but memorable indeed. I agree to her statement. Elders were highly regarded and respected while the super senior citizens in their 80's used to be guarded with immense care and their life's dictions were adhered staunchly even if unagreeable to an extent. The days spent were memorable and highly regarded. We were privileged enough to watch great films of our times during early 80's accompanying father or cousins mainly.  Getting a scold or a hit by parents was an occassional occurance in our growing days. Pampering was a far off thought comparing todays where material benefits comes like moving a magic wand. Playing was an intense part of our regular curriculum. Healthy adda was never a miss. Mixing with independent choosen friends was never been guarded by parents. Going to a film or a circus show with senior family members alongwith my cousins by riding a tram car was fun especially in the second class and the bell of the tram car still rings in our grown up mind even today. Withdrawing monthly family expenses by cheque were the only option available to run the entire month as the privilege of ATM facility was a distant dream. The monthly expenditure were duly met alongwith our school fees and other miscellaneous expenses although staggeringly. 

Those days were simple, fun loving and less noisy.  Working in offices on Remington typewriters and hand written files stored safely in cupboards were a age old practice albeit safe and secured. Life was slow and never in a rush unlike todays. Peace did prevail despite slow pace and less salary as the value for money existed. One telephone or television used to be in any one household where family members or localites are welcome to come and watch or made / receive phone calls. Post office used to be an important platform for posting letters, sending urgent  telegrams across the nation fast and secured. Speed posts were one of the best change in the postal department till late 90's and early 2000. Those days the high rate of interest in post offices in various schemes and also in glamorous companies has helped immensely for a middle class indian to accumulate reasonable funds for their old age or their ward marriages unlike todays vanishing lucrative rate of interest. 

 

The 21st century has given us great invention in terms of technology. Computers, mobile phones, tablets, laptops,  digitalisation were a phenomenal evolution while banking transactions has given us lesser footfalls. Emails has handicapped the function of post offices mainly while ATM facilities has redeemed the footfalls  in banks and standing in long queues while the evolution in digitalisation has helped greatly in making transactions while sitting back in offices or homes. Gas booking has become an easy matter unlike yesteryear. Paying bills or sending monies has become more convenient without moving out of home or work places. 

 

Despite of qualified professionals earning a decent salary, the quality of life has become noisy and unrest than yesteryear. Divorce rates  are higher while the relationships are mostly in turmoil.  Hatred and jealousy sadly has replaced smile and authenticity. Fake and forgery is rampant while advanced banking facility on transactions has become a matter of concern. People now has started to beleive in the old dictum of life while most try to avoid as much possible to transact online. Even withdrawing money from ATM's has become an alarming issue. 

 

Todays children  hardly has any childhood memories when the quality of most mothers are in the declining state. Material world has overtook the natural world and dispalying each ones assets has become a pride of life. Non existant of fast food deliveries in those days never dampens the spirit on the quality of life comparing of todays when eating healthy food is concerned. Pizza or chocolava cake never snatch away the simple delicious recipies of our mother or cousin aunts. 

 

Undoudtedly technology is the life blood of 21st century while the quantity has undermine the quality of lifestyle. Fame, money and displaying of ornamental assets has failed to bring smile and happiness beyond any doubt.  And this debate continues like an ocean flows at his own style uninterruptedly.