No Bollywood or Kollywood people in this one… The director was some guy named Satyajit Ray. (Hey, just kidding there about the “some guy” part!)
The music is marvelous, done by the famous Vilayat Khan. Reportedly, he had some kind of rivalry with Ravi Shankar. Like Shankar, though, he apparently worked with the kind of music that influenced western rock musicians who liked to alter their own minds some years after this film was made.
Almost needless to say, the dancing is quite a joy to watch, too. (Of course, that is the main reason I’m posting this.)
The very end is a bit unpleasant. When that one guy uses his walking stick to stop the other from tossing money, that looks like some kind of confrontation in the making. Well, at least he didn’t pull out a gun and blow the money away like in that scene from Pakeezah.
Actually, I am most interested in seeing this film because of the comparisons made with Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam over at Philip’sfil-ums.
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P.S. Thanks to Bollyviewer/Old Is Gold for the Satyajit Ray link.
Dances on the Footpath 
Nice Commentary and yeah the dancing is awesome.. hey but wish the camera got a bit closer to the footsteps when the thihaee’s are being rolled out..
Thank you for the nice words, Sydhwaney. I see from your blog that you are very knowledgeable about Indian music and dance. And it is a very interesting blog, I’m going to look at it some more.
Yes, I wish the camera got a little closer at times. I guess that would be when the thihaee’s are being rolled out. I must admit, I’m not exactly sure if I’m thinking of the moments of the thiahees (which I assume is the same as “tihahees,” as I’ve seen it spelled?)… I’ll have to learn some more of these terms. I think I know a little more about some of the terms in bharatanatyam than in kathak (and even then, I wouldn’t claim to know that much!)
I saw this tonight at Lincoln Center, with friends unfamiliar with Indian cinema, Bollywood and otherwise. The print is so clear, like a moving silver gelatin photograph– this scene was one we couldn’t stop talking about. If you can, go! Tomorrow (Thurs) at 4pm is the only other showing. A wonderful movie too.
Hi, Kate. Thanks for the nice feedback on this. (A “moving silver gelatin photograph” – that’s a great description!) Unfortunately, no, I didn’t make it over there itoday.