tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512798575068184046.post7618098619138694475..comments2024-01-23T03:03:38.990+13:00Comments on The Film Sufi: “Abhijan” - Satyajit Ray (1962)The Film Sufihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04322383474504278378noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512798575068184046.post-64494514553074786732018-09-12T12:02:54.906+12:002018-09-12T12:02:54.906+12:00Thank you for your comment, William Robert. I app...Thank you for your comment, William Robert. I appreciate your perspective. Admittedly, I apply the ‘existentialist’ tag rather loosely and across a relatively wide compass of films. To me, “Abhijan” qualifies for this designation, because the principal character is concerned with the nature of his own existence and who he really is -- how he is seen on the outside and how he sees himself on the inside. This touches here on existentialist themes of alienation and authenticity, and this feeling is enhanced by Soumitra Chatterjee’s sensitive portrayal of Nar Singh. <br /><br />Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.The Film Sufihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04322383474504278378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512798575068184046.post-70029655825461052512018-08-29T14:30:26.321+12:002018-08-29T14:30:26.321+12:00I appreciate the review in Sufi of S Ray's Abh...I appreciate the review in Sufi of S Ray's Abhijan. However, the label that it is existentialist is out of focus, out of frame. Existentialism as a philosophy, associated no doubt, with Heidegger, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus etc. has a base in the Kierkegaar's religious philosophy and the German philosopher's 'death of God' celebration. It is centred in human existence sans the divine; living a saintly life 'without the divine transcendent.'<br />S Ray is far from it and the novel too is far from it; as a consequence, the film too. There are issues and themes of human life. But that does not make it 'existentialist' in the strict sense of the word.<br />With great appreciation for Sufi reviews. I like them and have used as source material for my own seminars. With best wishes, William RobertDr. William Robert Da Silvahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13061319834208771950noreply@blogger.com