Page 110 - The Apu Trilogy_ Satyajit Ray and the Making of an Epic

Pather Panchali: Critique 97

the boys.) Harey! Harey! What are up to now?
How many more times must you moisten your
duster? Eh? Sit down! ‘Deep in the heart of
Janasthan ...’ Well, Puti, what do you want?
Girl customer: One paisa worth of puffed rice.
Schoolmaster: Puffed rice? A paisa worth? Hand over the money
then. ... ‘the lordly mount Prasraban stands ... the
lordly mount Prasraban stands! Its godlike
summit ... Its godlike summit ...’ (Puti collects her
puffed rice. The schoolmaster yawns.) ‘... wears as
a crown ... ever-moving clouds ... which ceaseless
gales ... which ceaseless gales ...’
(A village elder, as he approaches the shop/school, starts a loud con-
versation with the grocer/schoolmaster, who pretends to listen, while
continuing to glare at the class.)
Village elder: How are you, Prasanna?
Schoolmaster: ... which ceaseless gales ... ’ Oh welcome, wel-
‘
come, Mr Majumdar!
Village elder: (stepping past a hole in the road) Dear me, it’s a
trap to kill people!
Schoolmaster: ‘... urge down ... the paths of the air ...’
Village elder: (to a man sunning himself outside the shop)
Namaskar, Mr Chatterji. Everything alright
with you?
Schoolmaster: ‘... the paths of the air.’ Welcome, welcome!
Village elder: You’ve netted a fine catch, eh? How many pupils
now?
Schoolmaster: (smiles) The new boy makes nine.
Village elder: Good heavens! The nine gems!
Schoolmaster: (glaring at the boys) What’s that? Apurba! Why
are you grinning? –
Village elder: (chatting to the man outside the shop) Take my
grandson, just eight years old ...
Schoolmaster: (addressing Apu) – Is this a playhouse? (He
scratches his back with his cane.)

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