My Story

Screenplay

Language : Bengali

Genre : Biopic

Seen 1

Midday, Ext: we find catkins at Boral. Besides that the railway track goes on. Manik, Banshi, Subrato and all others are waiting there for train. They have come here for shooting. They setup the camera besides the track. Little Subir (Apu of Pather Panchali) is caning the bushes with a small stick in his hand. Subir wore only small dhoti, but bare body. Manik wore shirt & pant, others wore dhoti-punjabi . At last, after waiting for train for a long time, they gave up. So they packed up, manik was searching for Anil babu(production manager).

Seen 2

Night, indoor: A flat of South Calcutta. Manik is working on his illustration by sitting on his bed. Bijaya (Manik’s wife) comes. They both lie down to sleep. Bijaya asks for the shooting. Manik tells her. Bijaya said that Lahiri babu had come, he invited them for her daughter’s marriage ceremony. Manik ascents her.

Seen 3 (A & B)

Indoor. day : Manik finishes up his meal. He is in a hurry to go to his office. He has an attaché case in his hand. Bijaya said her goodbye.
Ext, day : Manik buys a cigarette from a nearby Panwala shop. While smoking he notices a boy is going along the footpath. He has a large box in his hand. He wears dhoti Punjabi. Manik says to himself, “this is Apu”

Seen 4

Day, Indoor : after entering into the office Manik quickly goes to his cabin. Then he puts his attaché there and brings some pages out of it. Quickly goes to the cabin of Mr. Broom, the CEO. Manik shows those illustration to him. He is very pleased with it, asks about the shooting. Manik said it was not satisfactory.

Seen 5

Afternoon, indoor : Manik and Subhas Mukhopadhyay (poet) is talking about film. Both they are anxious about film. They are lacking of funds. Manik is strolling inside the room. Subhas is sitting beside a table. Suddenly Subhas calls him to listen to a record. The word “record” lit up Manik and he shouts. Subhas does not understand it. He looks Manik is taking note of his record collection.

Seen 6

Mid-day, indoor : Manik sells all of his record collection to a buyer. Counting money Manik finds it is Rs. 800/- . He enters the room and searches the almirah. Bijaya also comes in. Both they found insurance policy of 7000/- Bijaya (at that time pregnant) asks him what is he expecting ? Manik says he needs a son…….

Seen 7

Day, ext. : Manik & his assistants take a close-up shoot of pond and grasshopper. But problem comes when Kanu Bandyopadhyay (Apu’s father in Pather Panchali) mistakes a shot for 7 times. The shot is – while eating he has to say, “Luchi aar Mohanbhog”. Instead he always says “ Luchi aar Mohanbagan”. Manik at last becomes fade up with it and calls to pack up.

Seen 8

Afternoon, ext. : “A carriage quickly passes on the lane. Bell of Presidency College rings. Day becomes little cold. It is yet to snowfall. Suddenly Dr. Watson’s sound comes, ‘Look Sherlock, that Fitton turns left……..”

Manik is thinking all of these while crossing the coffee house. Suddenly Subhas’ push make him conscious. He is thinking about all these after entering coffee house. There are few friends waiting, Mrinal(Sen), Rithwik(Ghatak), Chidananda(Dasgupta). But Manik is still thinking if Sherlock are crossing this road, what will be happened then !!!

Seen 9 & Seen 10

[these two seen are intertwined.; Seen 9 has 9A, 9B, 9C & Seen 10 has 10A,
10B]

9A (Day, indoor) : Chief minister Bidhan Roy in his chamber at Writers’ Building. Manik enters into his chamber. Today Mr. Roy’s niece has also come to recommend Manik. #

10A (Noon, ext.) : Open field. The seen of film goes that a “few moments ago character Apu and his elder sister Durga has been quarreled. Now they come to a open unknown field. Apu is searching for Durga.” Manik makes Subir(Apu) understands the shot. He goes for an action. Subir is told to put his steps aimlessly with his searching eyes. But while action Subir does not make what he is asked for. Manik asks the reason why he hasnot done so? He says he is not in mood. Manik starts thinking. ***

9B (Day, indoor) # (continuation) Manik is in Writers’ Building, CM’s chamber. Bidhan Roy is asking how can he help him? His niece tries to convince him that only fund is needed. Everything will be done smoothly. Bidhan Roy is hesitating about giving fund. He actually doesn’t know whether “pather Panchali” is a marvelous novel or not. But his niece affirms it.

10B (Noon, ext.) : *** (continuation) Manik again arranges his men, camera etc. They all put small sticks and grasses on the pathway of Subir. He then tells Subir to go on there, and quickly calls “action”. Subir crossing those scattered sticks, boughs, bushes… Some of the unit members calling Subir from behind. His eyes finding them. So he moves his head to search. So the actual shot of Apu is searching for Durga become possible. Manik cries happily….. “Cut, Excellent shot”.

9C (Day, indoor) : # (continuation) Manik makes it clear that he needs that money as a loan. He is sure, after releasing of that film, money will come back. Therefore, Manik leaves chamber. Dr. Roy’s niece is still there. She is forcing Bidhan Roy to help Manik. She reminds Bidhan Roy that Manik is only son of famous Bengali ‘Non-sense rhyme’ poet Late Sukumar Ray. Bidhan Roy ascents her.

Seen 11

11A : Great headline comes. “Pather Panchali hits Cannes” That train-Apu photograph get motion, we can see that scene inside a news paper.

11B (indoor, afternoon) : Bijaya is now at her room, she gives birth of a boy-child. The baby is on her lap. All India Radio sounds with NEWS. The Film Pather Panchali conquers “Best Human Document” award in Cannes Film Festival 1955. Bijaya calls her mother-in-law, runs towards her.

Seen 12

12A Momentum shots : Now momentum comes. Manik in making one after another film. In “Aparajito”, Manik takes shot behind the camera in Venaras “Jalshagarh”, Biswamvar Ray is felling down from horse “Parash Pathar”, Tulsi Chakravarty making gold from iron one by one film posters, awards get by Manik and clappings……………… Manik says ‘cut’ when in “Devi” film Sharmila Tagore faints.

12B (ext. day) Manik comes out from the palace of Nimtita, smoking a cigarette. A post man comes by his bi-cycle, handed Manik a telegram. The telegram goes, “MOTHER IS NO MORE”. Manik shatters.

Seen 13

13A (ext. afternoon) : Manik is in Gurudasha (state of period of mourning on the death of a parent). In spite of this, Manik comes to “Brahmo Samaj” office. His mother was Brahmo. So the Brahmos will fix the Shraddha ceremony.