Kolkata Centre for Creativity, a multidisciplinary art space in collaboration with Musui Art Foundation hosted ‘Iti, Satyajit Da’, Volume II of The Satyajit Ray Centenary Show, an exhibition which commemorates the centenary of the renowned artist and filmmaker – Satyajit Ray through his letters, postcards and especially letters he wrote to his family friend, Nilanjana Sen. These letters highlight Ray’s relays on news, his filmmaking problems, gossips about mutual acquaintances, his shooting schedules and travel plans.
About Satyajit Ray and his letters:
Satyajit Ray wrote letters copiously. He almost unfailingly replied to anyone who wrote to him (fan, stranger, journalist or friend) and he wrote or typed these letters personally. It is daunting to think of him taking care of his correspondence in the midst of his remarkably productive life – making films, drawing the films’ scenes and production details by hand, researching and finding locations and props, running the magazine Sandesh, writing stories and articles for other magazines, making illustrations, designing posters, composing music and travelling extensively.
The writer Andrew Robinson, who eventually wrote a definitive biography on Ray (The Inner Eye), began by writing him a fan letter and receiving a reply, “typed on a ribbon not in its first youth”. Recently, in a special issue of Frontline, a fan recounted how he had written to Ray when he was a college student, not really expecting a reply. “I could hardly believe my eyes when I found a letter addressed to me in the second-most famous Bengali script handwriting (the best known is Rabindranath Tagore’s).”
Satyajit Ray was called a Man of letters by KS Radhakrishnan, Sculptor and Founder of Musui Art Foundation, who fondly remembers the series of 52 letters sent to him by Ray which he dearly preserves. He further describes that those letters are rare, precious, and priceless which are his treasures and his innermost wealth.
“Following the first Volume of the Satyajit Ray Centenary Show, KCC is organising the second volume, ‘Iti, Satyajit Da’. While the first volume highlighted his works and sought to encompass the creative genius of Ray the icon, the second volume will shed light on his personality. ‘Iti, Satyajit Da’ will exemplify Ray’s prowess as a visual artist through posters, snippets from his Kheror Khata, covers of Sandesh and will also include iconic photographs. This volume will, however, focus on Ray’s letters written to a young college student, Nilanjana Sen, who later became a family friend. That a Giant of Ray’s stature used to correspond almost unfailingly with any and everyone who wrote to him is a wonder. We have all admired Ray’s work and basked in the glory of his achievements, let us now explore his creative variety along with his written word and get a glimpse into the man himself” said Ms. Richa Agarwal, Chairperson, Kolkata Centre for Creativity.
Some Excerpts from his Letters:
“Dimple Kapadia is extraordinarily good. As talented as she is attractive. The girl has made
a big mistake getting married so early.”24/11/73
“I had to plunge into work as soon as I got back to Calcutta. Have begun a new
screenplay, Jana Aranya. Have also tested a new boy, and he has made the grade.” 21/1/75
“Am sitting and thinking about what new film I might make; this situation recurs each time –
it seems as if there’s nothing I can find to make a new film on, or that there can’t be any
justification for making any film at all. Though this is a temporary situation, yet it seems to
last a bit longer every year. The question is, how long will it last this time.” 11/11/77
“It won’t do if I don’t start prepping for a new film soon. Just thinking that I haven’t done
any shooting for two and a half years makes me feel awful. It will take time to get used to it
all over again.” 29/8/86.
The late Bijoya Ray had expressed the hope that these letters “would allow people to discover another side of Satyajit Ray”. Through this exhibition, people will get a chance to catch a glimpse of his extraordinary talent by immersing themselves into his world through his handwritten letters.
