Patalghar Revisited

Last night I watched the Bengali movie Patalghar (the underground chamber) once again and found something new. Among the Bengali movies Hirak Rajar Deshe holds the distinction to present the scenario of the Indian politics in a way which is vivid and subtle at the same time. Patalghar too has some strong political message. But here the international politics is more important than its Indian counterpart.

The nomenclature and the functionalities depict the International political scenario in an apparently camouflaged way. But it is adequately understandable to those who thrive on grey matters.

Firstly, China was symbolised by the character of Vik (the character played by Biplab Chatterjee). He comes from the planet Nyapcha, the very word the Bengali people use to refer the Mongolian clan. Vik remained asleep for 150 years which stands for the opium age in China. Due to the effect of the opium the Chinese people didn’t find themselves energetic enough to excel in various aspects of life.

Secondly, the character played by Mita Vashishth symbolises the United States of America who are not intelligent enough to invent something new. But they worship the war as it’s the only way of their survival. They have enough money to invest. And that’s precisely the trap in which the emerging nations like India fall into. Like the true business minded persons the Vashishth & co initially run after anything specific (like the instrument of Aghor Sen) but waste no time when they find something better, or, the insrument which suits their style best (like the laser gun of Vik).

Thirdly, the director has shown clear differences between the two segments of the Indian society. The burgeoisie are not afraid of inventions or discovery. But they take a backward step when it comes to the implementation of that very invention or discovery. That is why Bhutnath holds the lantern while Kartik opens the door of the underground chamber. The lower strata of the society still lack education and hence they are largely influneced by the concepts of voodooism and mumbo-jumbo. The character of Gobinda Biswas (Apaya i.e. ominous) symbolises that mindset.

The director has put enough emphasis on the ancient and modern historical aspects. That is why he used a Mongolian and an American-Indian as the servants of Aghor Sen. It should be taken into account that even amidst the booming of science and technology these people have managed to carry on with their own culture. The more striking aspect is the first civilizations of the world developed in the Asia and the Americas.

At the same time, the director has put enough stress on the modern history of India. During the 19^th century India bloomed in every aspect of life (the Renaissance). So, a genius scientist like Aghor Sen is the embodiment of that very period.

The film ends with a semi-positive note as an Indian gets the chance to explore the new side of the galaxy. But at the same time, Kartik, who was the most instrumental person to open the underground chamber was denied the due opportunity.