This film one saw decades post having read the works of this author, and one viewing simply isn't enough.
It reveals itself over time, and then suddenly one sees a lot more than the obvious tales presented in forefront of the whole. In that respect it is a work much superior to the obvious comparison, Hotel by Arthur Hailey and the film based on it. In fact that is where it relates to another epic film although it isn't obvious, the three part saga Mera Naam Joker of RK.
The soul of Chowringhee is unveiled, unexpectedly, in a song sung in a rare lone moment up in his room adjoint to the vast rooftop terrace, by the concierge and receptionist, in fact manager of most affairs of the hotel, played by Uttam Kumar, as the protagonist who is the author played by Shubhendu Chatterji is listening -
বড়ো একা লাগে এই আঁধারে...
মেঘের ও খেলা আকাশো পারে....
সারটি দিনের কাজে কী জানি কী ভেবে আমি...
কেমনে ছিলেম ভুলে এই বেদনকে..
কে যে বলে দেবে এই আমাকে...
মেঘের ও খেলা আকাশো পারে..
এই তো ভালো ভাবি একা ভুলে থাকা..
থাকনা পরে পিছে এই পিছু ডাকা..
চেনা আচেনা তে যাকনা মিশে...
মেঘেরও খেলা আকসো পারে...
বড়ো একা লাগে এই আঁধারে...
মেঘেরও খেলা আকাশো পারে...
This song is perhaps the only clue until this moment in the film, about any personal element of the character played in Chowrigee by Uttam Kumar - he plays the perfect manager, receptionist, concierge, who knows everything about the guests and takes care of them, at all hours, regardless of their status, much less any personal consideration for himself. And herein the connection to the RK epic, where the protagonist is a clown trying to make everyone laugh, with his travails hidden from them brought out onky for the film audience. But Chowringhee has this factor much more subtle, in that the concierge Uttam Kumar helping everyone and happy to do so, always with a wide smile and ease, is what is seen throughout the film - his loneliness is barely felt even during the song and is only in the verses of the song.
Wonder if the other one, Shubhendu Bandopadhyay, is related to Mukherjee clan in films in Mumbai - his resemblance to a young Joy Mukherjee is far too strong.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q9YJZciCI7s
It reveals itself over time, and then suddenly one sees a lot more than the obvious tales presented in forefront of the whole. In that respect it is a work much superior to the obvious comparison, Hotel by Arthur Hailey and the film based on it. In fact that is where it relates to another epic film although it isn't obvious, the three part saga Mera Naam Joker of RK.
The soul of Chowringhee is unveiled, unexpectedly, in a song sung in a rare lone moment up in his room adjoint to the vast rooftop terrace, by the concierge and receptionist, in fact manager of most affairs of the hotel, played by Uttam Kumar, as the protagonist who is the author played by Shubhendu Chatterji is listening -
বড়ো একা লাগে এই আঁধারে...
মেঘের ও খেলা আকাশো পারে....
সারটি দিনের কাজে কী জানি কী ভেবে আমি...
কেমনে ছিলেম ভুলে এই বেদনকে..
কে যে বলে দেবে এই আমাকে...
মেঘের ও খেলা আকাশো পারে..
এই তো ভালো ভাবি একা ভুলে থাকা..
থাকনা পরে পিছে এই পিছু ডাকা..
চেনা আচেনা তে যাকনা মিশে...
মেঘেরও খেলা আকসো পারে...
বড়ো একা লাগে এই আঁধারে...
মেঘেরও খেলা আকাশো পারে...
This song is perhaps the only clue until this moment in the film, about any personal element of the character played in Chowrigee by Uttam Kumar - he plays the perfect manager, receptionist, concierge, who knows everything about the guests and takes care of them, at all hours, regardless of their status, much less any personal consideration for himself. And herein the connection to the RK epic, where the protagonist is a clown trying to make everyone laugh, with his travails hidden from them brought out onky for the film audience. But Chowringhee has this factor much more subtle, in that the concierge Uttam Kumar helping everyone and happy to do so, always with a wide smile and ease, is what is seen throughout the film - his loneliness is barely felt even during the song and is only in the verses of the song.
Wonder if the other one, Shubhendu Bandopadhyay, is related to Mukherjee clan in films in Mumbai - his resemblance to a young Joy Mukherjee is far too strong.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q9YJZciCI7s
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