Seemabhaddha Review (1971)

Simabhaddha, directed by Satyajit Ray, is the second of his famous Calcutta trilogy preceded by Pratidhwandhi and followed by Jana Aranya. The film focuses on Shyamalendu Chaterji, a coming of middle class man on his way to the upper class, working in Hindustan Peter’s as a sales manager, until one day he encounters a serious problem in his work may throw his ambitious career in the bin.

Living along with Tutul, his wife’s sister, a secret admirer of him and his wife Dolan, the trajectory of this ambitious man as he faces a morally threatening decision forms the movie.

Anyone who sees Simabhaddha before watching The Apu Trilogy, Abhijan or some of his Ray’s earlier movies would think the latter films were made by a different director. Gone are the long takes, minimal edits replaced by French New Wavey-esque cuts, voiceover, freeze frames and a cinematographic style which makes me feel Martin Scorsese was more than inspired by Satyajit Ray.

HE apes Ray. The film is filled with the trademark Ray shots and classical music.

The film, which is set approximately in 1971 (the year the movie released), concerns itself about the corporate culture which was steadily increasing in a post-independent India that was rapidly modernising. Barun Chandra is slick as the posh, English talking, a slightly naïve but no less cunning Shyamal who is deservingly envied by his contemporaries. Sharmila Tagore playing Tutul, is innocently beautiful as Shyamal’s sister in law who becomes the moral centre of the story.

Shyamalendu is ambitious, but to what extent? A character Ramalingam quotes a fantastic line which summarises Shayamlendu’s ascent. Barun Chandra makes Shyamal endearing even when he commits acts that are not correct, but as the movie inches towards the climax, we wonder if it is right to like him despite what he’s done or take it easy because he just wants to grow in life? Tutul’ s view on her Brother-in-law also changes as the film, grows just like us.

Like other Ray movies, swimming in subtlety ,the film doesn’t offer easy answers but comments on what is ambition, the morality of it and its effects.