Page 6 - The Endeavour

Reviews 6
Reviews 6

Friends: a show that never Prosenjit and Ritupar- Book Review: The Alche-

fails to bring a smile on its na- starrer ‘Praktan’ mist by Paulo Coelho
audience’s face turns five -by a staff reporter
- by a staff reporter - by a staff reporter “It’s the possibility of having a dream come true
t’s about love, rela- edented popularity has ouseful shows, thorough train journey that makes life interesting.”
“Itionships, careers, endured over two-and- Hover whelming of the ‘once togeth- -Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
a time in your life when a-half decades. footfall at theatres and er couple’. The Cine- ritten by Brazil- people like, the crys-
everything’s possible. The story of six pals social media posts and matography by, Gopi Wian author Pau- tal merchant, an En-
And it’s about friend- navigating their way messages had signalled Bhagat was an eye treat lo Coelho in 1988. “The glishman, Fatima, the
ship because when through the ups and the Praktan sweep at for the viewers as the Alchemist” was first Alchemist etc. He also
you’re single and in the downs of relationships released by Rocco, an faces a lot of difficulty
city, your friends are and their respective obscure Brazilian pub- which ultimately helps
your family.” — The de- careers in the 1990s, lishing house. It is an him to grow the en-
scriptor used s t r u c k international bestseller tire way. Does he find
by the writ- a chord and has been trans- the treasures in the
ers to pitch w i t h lated to more than 70 Pyramids of Egypt?
Friends to Gen X languages. The book is The Alchemist is a
NBC. A little and mil- relatively short having fantastic book and the
more than lenni a l around 167 pages only. storytelling is beau-
25 years ago, v ie wers The theme is about tiful. The choice of
when Ra- growing Source: Google finding one’s destiny or words is impeccable,
chel Green, a Source: Google up at that purpose in life. Coelho full of wisdom and
runaway bride, time, but cinemas in 2016. The use of drone and var- wrote “The Alchemist” philosophy. The story
barged into a Cafe Friends is a rare TV film (directed by Nan- ious scenic places of in only two weeks. is very enchanting and
named Central Perk show— and yet much dita Roy and Shibopro- Kolkata with its sur- The story is about a bursts with optimism
in her wedding dress, more than a TV show sad Mukhopadhyay) roundings, grabbed Shepherd boy from which I think is very
looking for her high — that attracts viewer- saw many landmark huge attention. The Spain whose name is important in our lives.
school friend Monica ship across generations. moments, one of them musical pieces of An- Santiago. He keeps get- The book emphasizes
Geller, only to eventual- The strong bond of all being Prosenjit Chat- upam Roy tied the ting the same dream on the importance of
ly move in with her and the six characters and terjee and Rituparna emotions of the view- about treasures that are faith, hope and spiritu-
set off a six-pronged crew members both Sengupta coming to- ers with the storyline lying in the Pyramids ality through the story
tale of friendship, few on-and-off set was gether on screen after of the movie. of Egypt. He embarks of an ordinary boy. I
could have predicted seen again after ages 15 years. “The film also Praktan has now be- on a journey to follow think this book appeals
that Friends would not on the much-anticipat- opened a new chapter, come the biggest ever his dream after meet- to everyone because
only play out for 10 ed Reunion episode. in terms of box-office Bengali-film release ing an old king who of- we all have dreams and
years and over 236 ep- With, Rachel, Monica, collections,” Prosenjit breaking many earlier fers him magic stones sometimes, we just
isodes, but also become Phoebe, Ross, Joey and told. As Praktan turned records of the film in- and advice. The book want someone to tell
one of the most suc- Chandler, aged up after five on this 2021, Shi- dustry. It also received details his journey and us that they may come
cessful sitcoms in tele- 25years of the comple- boprosad went down the International Film the various encoun- true. Overall, “The Al-
vision history. Today, tion of the series sitting his memory lane. The Business Award 2016 ters that he experienc- chemist” is a very ex-
the show has become together and discuss- basic notion of the film for becoming the High- es when following his citing fiction novel and
a global pop-culture ing their life on set, was within the flash- est Grossing Movie of dream. Throughout it deserves a space at
phenomenon whose brought tears to eyes’ back scenes of a back- the Year – Bengal. the journey, Santia- everyone’s bookshelf.
relevance and unprec- of their fans. ground story and the go meets many new

Nayak: One of Styajit Ray’s accomplishments in the world of movies
-by a staff reporter
he movie Nayak place of conscience. He and smart wit, run- gance and intelligence, nation, Aditi walks up is a romantic at heart
Tor The Hero, com- had already expressed ning back and forth exuding a calm confi- to Arindam Mukher- in one scene, he is re-
posed, written and di- an eagerness to reach thanks to flashbacks dence that catches the jee to say goodbye, and pentant and frustrated
rected by Satyajit Ray. a wider audience, tears up the sheets of in another — all within
With Nayak, Satyajit and here he begins to paper in which she had the span of one film.
Ray goes to the heart of stitch glamor and in- recorded her interview A careful watching of
the question — who is trospection together with the hero. When the film, and a little
truly happy? — turning into something at once Arindam Mukher- reflection would make
the question around soul-searching and jee asks her why did us realise that perhaps
on its head, and asking fast-moving. she do that, and if she the most inconsequen-
instead: what, in fact, is A superstar from the knew the interview by tial characters of the
true happiness? movies gets on a train heart, she replies by film are the ones who
For Ray, after a series of and sees his life un- saying — ‘I’ll…keep it are truly happy, which
films widely acclaimed ravel through giving Source: Google in my heart.’ could, in turn, proba-
across the world—and an interview to a jour- Then there is Uttam bly make us wonder —
as different as possi- nalist and taking a tour and dream sequences, star’s attention, be- Kumar. Bengal’s great- have we been looking
ble from the madcap back to his memories. and taking its time to cause he is normally est superstar plays for happiness in all the
escapism and song- The Satyajit Ray clas- denude the protagonist used to see the obliged Bengal’s greatest su- wrong places all this
and-dance routines sic made in 1966, star- of his external garb of faces of fans and sy- perstar in Satyajit Ray’s while?
of Bollywood—The ring Uttam Kumar and casual indifference, cophants crowding Nayak. He smiles and Nayak is a film that is
Hero was a chance to Sharmila Tagore is a Nayak is perhaps the around him. In one cries, he is frightened so rich, so deep and
meditate on the na- psychological drama best example of one of the most poignant and begs for his life, yet, told in such sim-
ture of role-playing, with all the character- of Satyajit Ray’s many scenes of the film, he is vindictive and ple language that per-
to reflect on the costs istics of a Ray master- cinematic skills — his one which is studied ruthless, he is a king haps it would not be a
of make-believe, and piece. mastery over the nar- by film enthusiasts all and a wretch, ambi- mistake to claim that
to address perhaps the Told in free style, rative. over the world today, tious in the beginning it featured among the
dominant theme of punctuated with the Sharmila Tagore plays when the train is about and hopeless when he best works of Satyajit
his middle period, the occasional humour Aditi with grace, ele- to reach its final desti- has achieved it all, he Ray’s illustrious career.