Ray classic catches re-release wave, will return to big screen on Feb 21
Times of India | 4 February 2025
Kolkata: The restored version of Satyajit Ray's ‘Nayak', starring Uttam Kumar, that will have its 59th anniversary in 2025, will be re-released in Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai on Feb 21. The film was restored to pristine quality in 2k resolution and garnered screenings in more than 40 countries since its restoration.
Incidentally, 2025 is Uttam Kumar's pre-centenary year. Sharmila Tagore, who celebrated her 80th birthday on Dec 8 last year, said: "I am overjoyed. Another generation will get an opportunity to see the film on the big screen. This is Ray's original script. It received a standing ovation in Berlin. Working with Uttam Babu was a most enriching experience." Director Sandip Ray told TOI that two generations will watch this movie on the big screen for the first time. "The restored version looks so good. The film is also significant for its technical brilliance," Ray said.
Many remain unaware that ‘Nayak' producer R D Bansal was in jail for a night prior to the film's premiere on May 6, 1966, at Sree, Prachi, and Indira. "The authorities presumed he fabricated currency notes for the dream sequence. However, they were merely theatrical props. Our family was thoroughly distressed by this incident and his involvement with films in general, as that diverged from our traditional family enterprise. But my grandfather remained undeterred," recounted Bansal's granddaughter Varsha.
Director Dibakar Banerjee emphasised the significance of the re-release by accentuating its "cinematic heritage", from which, contemporary film connoisseurs can comprehend how to "navigate their present". "It's about an uncompromising independent director collaborating with an unbeatable matinee idol on a form and genre-defying film about a film star and the true nature of his fragile fame. The meta-ness of it explains all," Banerjee said.
Sayandeb Chowdhury, who teaches at Krea University and has authored a book on Uttam Kumar, recounted the rumoured story from the film's Indira premiere where a mobbed Uttam graciously silenced his fans, emphasising that it was, after all, a ‘Ray film'. "Despite the fictional nature of the film, there is no doubt that protagonist Arindam Mukherjee is Uttam. Ray wrote the script around Uttam and wanted him to play the role," Chowdhury said.
Then there are stories about how Uttam was instructed to shoot this film virtually without any makeup. "He had recently recuperated from chicken pox. His visage bore some marks. Initially, he harboured slight reservations. However, Ray asked him to have faith. Uttam was happy upon viewing the first print, particularly since it contained numerous close-up shots," said Riddhi Goswami of Ray Society.
Director Srijit Mukherji, who paid homage to the film in his directorial debut with ‘Autograph', has been enlisted as the film's presenter. "‘Nayak' is a unique Indian film which witnessed the premier and finest collaboration between the pioneer of Bengali parallel cinema that garnered international acclaim with the star of populist Bengali cinema. I am honoured to be its presenter," he said.