HIS CAMERA SPEAKS

 HIS CAMERA SPEAKS


                    In 1964, ‘ESSO World Theater’ asked Satyajit Ray to make a short film for a cultural showcase which was to be telecast on television. And hence he created a poignant fable and named it ‘Two’. Instead of opting English as the language for the film, he made this film without any words. And this he did to generalize the story and the theme of the film. He composed the music for the film and set a hunting flute tune as the background music. “Two” also known as “Parable of Two” has been screen played within 12 minutes. This film is a part of Academy’s Satyajit Ray Collection, which include 18 feature films directed by him.

Before you read the rest watch this short film by Ray and then come back. Click Here. 

Within this 12 minute he marvelously portrayed the clash between the two section of the society, the rich and poor. Two children acted in this short film, one represented rich and the other poor. This fable illustrated how the rich enjoys and misuses resources more than their needs. And on the other side the poor who enjoys very limited resources and live a very simple life. Every second so beautifully designed that all the actions and gestures give us a clear general characterization of rich & poor and paints contrast between them.

The film starts with introducing us with a child from rich family who is surrounding with lots of comforts and he simply misuses the resources as he is lighting the matches and bursting balloons. Soon he shifted his mind in playing with his toys. Among a plenty of toys he played with some but nothing was consistent. Though he has many toys but his facial expression revels that he wants more toys as if he was not satisfied with those. As soon as he heard a flute playing, he looks outside the window and sees a poor kid playing flute. Soon a competitive nature grows within him and to overpower the kid he too started playing a plastic trumpet. Then the kid, malnourished yet hopeful comes with a dhol (hand drum) and starts to play. The rich child then comes with a toy monkey which is beating drums. Then the kid wears a mask and with a bow and arrow starts to dance. In reply the boy from inside his room shows him his collection of masks and with an aggressive attitude acted as if he is attacking. As the poor kid is wearing mask so we can not see his facial expression but his gestures elucidates that he is a bit sad. Then the rich boy took an apple to eat which again clarifies that the rich has all sorts of food within their reach and enjoys good nourishments. After that when he sees the kid flying kite he tries hard to destroy it and finally end up destroying it by shooting the kite with his air rifle. With heavy heart the small kid rolls back the kite string and go back. Seeing this the boy is very happy and again started playing with his toys with all glee until and uptill the kid again started playing flute. This sketches the nature of the poor that though deceived & deprived but  still a sunken hopeful and joyous attitude is present within them which money cannot buy.


The rich boy though tried various means to overpower the kid’s happiness but could not. Instead he became fade up with his toys and was dejected. Again money and resources cannot buy happiness all the time. The boy inside his rich house, surrounding by toys, well dressed, properly nourished but still does not know to find happiness. But the kid in rags runs in the lap of nature and finds happiness within whatever he has.

Again it proves the greatness of Ray. Within 12 minutes he portrayed an entire society where the creamy layer always suppress the poor.

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