Page 143 - The Apu Trilogy_ Satyajit Ray and the Making of an Epic

130 The Apu Trilogy

you; you give me a straight answer, and all our
troubles will be over.
Apu: Go ahead.
Landlord: (sternly) What is the date today?
Apu: Th e tenth.
Landlord: And how many months’ rent do you owe me?
Apu: Th ree.
Landlord: Th ree. Three times seven, makes twenty-one

rupees. Do I get the money now, or do I have to
come back in the evening?
Apu: That makes three questions, not one. It’s not fair.

Landlord: A lot of things are not fair, Apurba Babu. Is it fair
that I should house you for nothing? Is it fair that
you should burn up precious electricity in the day-
time? You have had education. You have pictures of
great men hanging on the wall. Is it fair that you
don’t pay the rent?
Apu: It’s a sign of greatness, you know.
Landlord: (coughing) I can’t win a battle of words with you,
Apurba Babu. I could turn a pretty phrase too,
but it won’t be fi t for your young ears. Anyway, I’ll
come back this evening. Either I get my money, or
I shall look for a new lodger.
Apu: Straight talk.
Landlord: Straight talk.

As he exits the room, the landlord pointedly switches off the
light. Apu promptly switches it on again, and then, childishly,
goes outside and switches on a second, equally otiose light.
This is the landlord’s only appearance in The World of Apu,
yet his is a remarkably substantial presence. Not only because of
the nuanced performance, but also because Ray shows at least
some sympathy for the character. ‘The awful thing about life
is this: Everyone has his reasons.’ – Jean Renoir said famously
(through his role as Octave) in The Rules of the Game. Ray fully

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