Q2 :
What was the news that Nishikanto
Ghosh gave Patol Babu?
Answer :
Nishikanto Babu told Patol Babu that
his brother-in law, who was in the film business, was looking for an actor for
a film they were shooting. The character he described reminded Nishikanto Babu
of Patol Babu so he gave him his address and asked him to get in touch with
him.
Q3 :
How did Patol Babu react? Why?
Answer :
Patol Babu was taken aback by the
acting offer. He was surprised as it seemed unbelievable to him that a 52-year
old nobody like him was getting a chance to act in a film.
Q4 :
Why had Patol Babu lost his first
job in Calcutta?
Answer :
The Second World War had resulted in
Patol Babu being retrenched from his nine-year-old clerical job at Hudson and
Kimberley.
Q5 :
How does Patol Babu reconcile to the
dialogue given to him?
Answer :
Initially, Patol Babu was shocked to
see his monosyllabic dialogue. However, after rehearsing his dialogue, he felt
that a true actor could make his mark even with a single syllable. His mentor's
words rang in hismind who had once said that each word spoken in a play was
like a fruit in a tree. Not everyone in the audience has access to it. So, the
actor must know how to pluck it, get at its essence, and serve it up to the
audience for their edification. These words helped Patol Babu perform the role
assigned to him with conviction.
Q6 :
Who was Mr. Pakrashi? How do his
words help Patol Babu in enacting his role?
Answer :
Mr. Pakrashi was Patol Babu's
mentor. He said, "Remember one thing, Patol; however small a part you're
offered, never consider it beneath your dignity to accept it." These words
influenced Patol Babu a lot and they helped him enact his role with confidence
and determination. From these words, Patol Babu drew spirit, energy,
inspiration and dignity to enact such a small role. He no more felt his role in
the movie to be condescending.
Q7 :
How do we know that Patol Babu was a
meticulous man?
Answer :
Patol
Babu was a meticulous man with a lot of perseverance. He was a very talented
man who was gifted with the art of acting. He never lost faith in reality and
overtook all challenges in life and faced all difficulties. He was offered a
part in a movie in this story and he took it up. He was meticulous because he
calculated the number of steps he needed to take before crashing into Chanchal
Kumar. Similarly, he practised the variation in the dialogues with different
tones. He was also a self concerned man because he ordered for a ginger tea
with his wife the day before the movie was to be shot so that his voice will be
loud and clear on the day of the movie. At last, he was a very grateful man and
never gave up the responsibilities that were given to him even though he was a
very mixed up man and a confused personality.
Q8 :
Why did Mr. Mullick turn down Patol
Babu's request for a rehearsal?
Answer :
Patol Babu suggested that he should
rehearse his scene. But Mr. Mullick turned down his request for the rehearsal,
showing impatience at his suggestion. This was because Mr. Mullick wanted to
quickly shoot the scene in the sunlight and he could see a large patch of cloud
approaching the sun, which was making him impatient.
Q9 :
What were the special touches that
Patol Babu gave to his role to make it more authentic?
Answer :
Patol Babu rehearsed the exact
number of steps for colliding with the hero, added a small grey moustache to
his look and held a newspaper open in his hand. These were the special touches
which he gave to his look for making his role seem more authentic.
Q10 :
'I hope the part calls for some
dialogue?' Who says this? Why does he /she ask this question?
Answer :
These lines are said by Patol Babu.
He had been a stage actor for many years before work forced him to come to
Calcutta. He was a very passionate actor; in fact he was obsessed with acting.
There was a time when people would buy tickets just to see him perform.
After many years, Patol Babu was
offered a role in a film. He was both surprised and happy to receive this
offer. He enquired about his role so that he could rehearse for it. He was told
that his role was that of a pedestrian. He wanted to know if the role had any
dialogues because he was very keen to show off his acting prowess.
Thanks, we will do the necessary
correction soon !!!
Q11 :
'Were these people pulling his legs?
Was the whole thing a gigantic hoax?
A meek, harmless man like him, and
they had to drag him into the middle of the city to make a laughing stock out
of him. How could anyone be so cruel?' Why does
Patol Babu have these thoughts?
Answer :
The reason for Patol Babu having
such kind of thoughts was that the dialogue that he was given shocked him. It
was for the first time that Patol Babu has got an opportunity to act in a film.
Till now he had acted on the stage. He was very excited. He reaches the
shooting site at the designated time. After watching the film shoot for
sometime, he asked for his dialogue so that he could memorise and rehearse it.
All he had to do was to collide with
the hero and utter "oh". He was very disappointed. He expected a
small role with some dialogues but here he just had to utter a monosyllable.
Patol Babu was a very good actor and he thought that by giving him such an
insignificant role they had made a mockery of him and his acting skills.
Q12 :
Patol Babu is an amateur actor for
whom walk-on part in a movie turns into an ultimate challenge. Discuss.
Answer :
Patol Babu is initially very
disappointed because of the small role he had been given. Then he is reminded
of his mentor's words that "however small a part, never consider it
beneath your dignity to accept it". Motivated by these words, Patol Babu
decides to rehearse his part before the final shoot. He chooses a reclusive
spot to practice. As he practices, he realises that a monosyllabic exclamation
could be said in different ways and carried different meanings. He also
rehearsed how he would react physically when the collision took place - he
would twist his face in pain, fling his arms, and crouch to show pain and
surprise. He really worked hard at his part and performed it to perfection.
Q13 :
Do you agree with the statement that
Patol Babu is a practical man who comes to terms with whatever life has to
offer? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer :
Patol Babu had a passion for acting.
In fact, there was a time when people used to buy tickets just to watch him.
But he left all this and moved to Calcutta from Kanchrapara because he was
offered a job with a better salary. In Calcutta, he gave up his plans of
starting a club in his neighbourhood and dabbled in various jobs to make his
ends meet. When an acting offer came by, he readily agreed to do it. Though he was
initially disturbed by the triviality of the role, he performed the part to
perfection without taking any payment for it. Patol Babu believed it was not
about whether the role that an actor plays is major or minor, rather
performance of the actor mattered the most. Thus, we can say that Patol Babu
was a practical man who accepted whatever came his way.
Q14 :
Why does Patol Babu walk away before
he can be paid for his role? What does this reveal about his character?
Answer :
Patol Babu executed his part to
perfection. However, he wondered whether the immense effort he had put in to
enact a small role would be appreciated by everybody or not. The film unit
usually got hold of some people, made them do their parts and paid them a small
amount. They were not bothered about the quality of performance.
Although Patol Babu performed a
small role, he felt that taking money for it would be trivialising his
performance. He was a true actor for whom creative satisfaction was foremost
and not money.
Q15 :
Do you think making a movie is an
easy job? Discuss with reference to the story
Answer :
The story, Patol Babu, Film Star,
describes a film shoot. Filmmaking is a long and tedious process. Every scene
has to be rehearsed many times before it is finally shot. Plenty of heavy
equipments and expensive cameras are used. Film actors have to shoot in extreme
weather conditions, sometimes in front of large crowds. The noise and extreme
weather can, at times, distract an actor. The production unit has to see minor
details, arrange for actors for small roles, and arrange for props. In short
making a film is a combined effort of many people.
Q21 :
(a)
|
Then he had a job in a Bengali
firm which he gave up in disgust when his boss began to treat him in
too high-handed a fashion
|
stimulate the imagination
|
(b)
|
A faint memory was stirred up
in
Patol Babu's mind.
|
to surrender or relinquish
|
(c)
|
At first he opened a variety store
which he had to wind up after five years.
|
staged
|
(d)
|
In Jatras, in amateur theatricals,
to gain control over one's actions in plays put up by the club in his
neighbourhood, Patol Babu was always in demand
|
to gain control over one's actions
|
(e)
|
Patol Babu was about to step
forward when he was pulled up short by a voice shouting 'Silence!'
|
shut down
|
(f)
|
Patol Babu pulled himself
together
|
Stopped
|
Answer :
(a)
|
Then he had a job in a Bengali
firm which he gave up in disgust when his boss began to treat him in
too high-handed a fashion
|
to surrender or relinquish
|
(b)
|
A faint memory was stirred up
in
Patol Babu's mind.
|
stimulate the imagination
|
(c)
|
At first he opened a variety store
which he had to wind up after five years.
|
shut down
|
(d)
|
In Jatras, in amateur theatricals,
to gain control over one's actions in plays put up by the club in his
neighbourhood, Patol Babu was always in demand
|
staged
|
(e)
|
Patol Babu was about to step
forward when he was pulled up short by a voice shouting 'Silence!'
|
stopped
|
(f)
|
Patol Babu pulled himself
together
|
to gain control over one's action
|
Writing
taskunit-5 : Solutions of Questions on Page Number : 69
Q1 :
After Patol Babu returns home he
recounts his experience in front of the camera to his wife. In pairs write out
the exchange in the form of a dialogue and enact it before the class. You may
start like this….
Patol Babu's wife: So what happened
at the shooting today? Did you get to do your role?
Patol Babu: Oh, Yes, I had the time
of my life____________
Answer :
Note: This question is to be answered on the basis of your own
understanding, experience and thoughts. It is strongly recommended that you
prepare the solution on your own. However, one sample solution has been
provided for your reference.
Patol Babu's wife: So what happened
at shooting today? Did you get to do your role?
Patol Babu: Oh, yes, I had the time
of my life. Did you know that filmmaking is very different from stage
production?
Patol Babu's wife: Oh really? Who
was the director of the film?
Patol Babu: Baren Mullick. He has
three hits in a row!
Patol Babu's wife: So what was your
role in the film?
Patol Babu: Well….well… it was a
very short role… but everybody loved my performance. Do you know there are
cameras focused at every angle? You get a chance to rehearse your part. It is
very different from stage.
Patol Babu's wife: So how many lines
did you get to speak?
Patol Babu: Well… I forgot to tell
you my role was with the hero of the film—Chanchal Kumar.
Patol Babu's wife: But you are not
telling me anything about your role.
Patol Babu: I will…I will…but first
give me something to eat. I am really hungry. I will take you to show this film
when it is released. I promise. Come let's eat something.
Q2 :
Patol Babu writes a letter to
Nishikanto Ghosh to thank him for being instrumental in his getting a role in a
film. He also shares his experience at the film shoot including the excitement
and deep satisfaction that he derived from the same. Write the letter in about
200 words.
Answer :
Note: This question is to be answered on the basis of your own
understanding, experience and thoughts. It is strongly recommended that you
prepare the solution on your own. However, sample solutions have been provided
for your reference.
Dear Nishikanto Babu,
How are you? Hope you are doing
fine. It was indeed a pleasure meeting you the other day. I wanted to thank you
for recommending me for that role.
At first, I was surprised that an
acting offer would come my way after so many years. However, as you know how
passionate I am about acting that I just couldn't refuse. When I reached the
shooting site, I realised how different acting in a film was than acting on
stage. I saw so many new things—cameras, lights, make up artists, production
people, etc. It was a completely new experience for me. I must confess
something—I was initially disappointed with my role and dialogue. It was a
very small part with almost no dialogue. however, my mentor's advice motivated
me and I rehearsed and performed my part to perfection. In fact I can say that
it was my finest performance till date.
I am very grateful to you as it was
because of you that I had this fantastic experience at the first place.
I must also add that your
brother-in-law is a thorough gentleman. He took good care of me. Thanks again.
Yours truly,
Patol Babu
No comments:
Post a Comment