Aami

Can Dhurandhar Dhar create a single frame like any of these?! Unrelated, but can’t help but notice that 1963-64 was Ray’s years in world cinema. Mahanagar & Charulata were released successively. Today clowns are talking about Dhurandar 1&2. Absolute degeneracy!

Wrong comparison. And Wrong match of expectations too. Bengali Cinema did have a lot of influence on early Telugu Cinema but here, the early film makers down here adapted those narratives to build rooted versions while also weaving logical closures and denouements. You show a story that's intrinsically inspiring and not depressing. Satyajit Ray sadly showcases poverty porn though something about him has to be good for all the hype I guess. May be it is more of the character driven thing which suits the typical elite brooding but not an aspirant's hunger for inspiration. Elite watch art films to patronise and support art. For the middle class, Cinema is an investment of time and money for their own rejuvenation. So the RoI has to speak better than some reflections and vignettes. Themes of espionage is all about a character growing out of his personal survival crisis to stand for something larger than himself. Dhurandhar here feels like a good RoI for the effort put in. Not to belittle Ray's film making but I don't think I would pay and drive to a theatre to invest my weekend to see poor kids stare at a train in remote historical India. That's more for some laid back watching if time and mood permit.

Why would Satyajit Ray make Dhurandhar when he can make films like Nayak???

North indian sanghis are exactly the kind of “backward audience” that Ray talked about His utter nonsense has been cooked in community notes