LESSON 4

PATOL BABU, THE FILM STAR

1. The words do not reflect the exact excitement that Patol Babu felt upon receiving the offer to

act in a film. At one time, Patol Babu had a real passion for theatre and acting. In spite of having

a job in the old railway factory, he was always in demand for amateur theatricals put up by his

neighbourhood club. So, getting an opportunity to work for a real film was like a dream come

true for him. Deep down, Patol Babu felt jubilant.

Patol Babu is trying to hide his excitement to maintain his composure. Simply put, he does not

want to look too enthusiastic, like a child.

2. Patol Babu gave up acting in 1943, when there were sudden dismissals in his office due to the

Second World War. Ever since he lost his nine-year-old job, he struggled to make a living. He had

tried every means of earning a livelihood without ever succeeding in improving his lot. Hence,

acting had become a thing of the remote past. Patol Babu regretted having to give up on acting.

The line “Acting had become a thing of the remote past—something which he recalled at times

with a sigh” shows this.

3. No, the role is not truly crucial. It is a very small part of the film, intended to show the distress of

the main character played by Chanchal Kumar.

The member of the crew said this to Patol Babu to make him feel better about the part and to

keep him motivated so that the shot can be completed successfully.

4. a. These were the words of advice given to Patol Babu by his mentor, Mr Pakrashi.

b. At first, Patol Babu was feeling deeply dejected. He had been given an insignificant role in a

movie where his only dialogue was “Oh”. But when he remembered the words of advice given

to him by his mentor, he felt a bit more hopeful. Mr Pakrashi had told him that a combination of

small and big roles make up a play. Patol Babu started rehearsing his mono-syllabic dialogue in

different rhythms and tones.

c. Mr Pakrashi, Patol Babu’s mentor, had advised him to take every role seriously in a play. He had said

that it is not one main role, but a combination of roles that made a play successful. On remembering

Mr Pakrashi’s words, Patol Babu stopped feeling miserable about his role. He started rehearsing his

mono-syllabic dialogue with firm commitment. This is how he became a sincere team-player.

5. a. Patol Babu is referring to the syllable “Oh”, his only dialogue in a film he was offered to act in.

He tried saying “Oh” with despair once and again with sorrow and continued expressing the
syllable in many ways. He realised that one syllable could be said in different ways to express

different emotions..

b. The shooting began and Patol Babu walked down the pavement to bump into the hero. His head

banged sharply with Patol Babu’s and for a moment, Patol Babu saw stars in his eyes. Then he slowly

gathered himself and with a perfect blend of surprise and irritation, he said “Oh”. He seemed so

natural that the director complimented his acting skills and said that he was quite an actor.

c. This did make Patol Babu a true actor. Even though it bothered him initially, he took the small

and insignificant role in his stride and made it a point to give it his best shot. He rehearsed

his dialogue and came up with ways to make his acting look natural. His performance was

enthusiastic and natural, so much so that the director took note of it and complimented his

acting skills. True to his mentor’s words, Patol Babu did prove that every role in a play or a film

was important in making the whole thing complete.

6. Patol Babu was not a typical film star. He was not a well-known face in the industry. But he was

passionate about acting and had tried his hands in theatre. He had never been in a film, so when

he got the chance to play a part in a film, he was overjoyed.

Patol Babu took in his stride the small role that he was offered by the film crew. At first he felt

dejected because his role was not as significant. He just had one dialogue to deliver. But later he

regained his enthusiasm when he remembered what his mentor had told him—no matter how

small the role is, it is not beneath anyone’s dignity to accept it. In fact, smaller roles make the

play or the film complete. Soon, Patol Babu was seen rehearsing his monosyllabic dialogue over

and over again. To make himself look more natural, he asked for a prop before the shoot. When

the shoot was over, Patol Babu was praised by the director for his effortless performance. The

fact that Patol Babu did not shy away from delivering a single dialogue and gave his absolute

best makes him no less than a star.

The title is not mocking, but sincere. It hails Patol Babu as a film star and nothing less. Even

though he was not a full-time actor or a celebrity actor, he had the spirit of one.

Literary appreciation

The character traits of the protagonist, Patol Babu, are highlighted through the sequence of events in
the text. The story focusses on Patol Babu’s realisation that the role of a true actor is to be a perfect
part of a whole team. His mentor, the absentee character, Mr Pakrashi had told him that being an
actor was to be a good team-player and Patol Babu understood what he meant when he had to speak
just a word as a minor character in a movie.
His learning process forms the plot in the story:

Patol Babu is thrilled that he has been found suitable for a role in a movie after he had lost hopes of
ever acting again. But, he is disappointed to find that he has only one word to speak in a very minor
role; he even wonders if he was the butt of a joke. However, he soon realises that there is nothing like
a big role or a small role, and that every role is important for the success of the play/film. This
realisation enables him to act his part to perfection by uttering that one syllable, ‘Oh!’ with the right
intonation. More importantly, it makes him realise his true worth as an actor. He had contributed his
bit to the success of the film and he feels that there is no need to be paid for it.

Supporting characters:

The neighbour and the film’s crew form the supporting actors who indirectly help Patol Babu realise

what it means to be an actor.

• Nishikanto Babu, Patol Babu’s neighbour, introduces him to Naresh Babu, scouting for a character

in a movie.

• Naresh Babu provides vague instructions regarding his role so much so that Patol Babu is left

confused and anxious in the beginning. But finally, it is Naresh Babu who is left wondering why Patol

Babu had left before he could be paid.

• Shoshanko helps Patol Babu to understand his role in a short scene.

• Jyoti enables him to see how his part is crucial, though it seems small and unimportant.

• Chanchal Kumar, the hero, appreciates Patol Babu’s timing in playing his part convincingly.

• Baren Mullick boosts Patol Babu’s morale by complimenting him on his acting.

The narrative style is distinctly in the style of a film, using film techniques like the flashback, the

close-up, the voice-over and the eureka-moment.