What Happens in Patol Babu, Film Star? Themes and Exam Insights
Satyajit Ray was a renowned Indian filmmaker who made films in Bengali. He is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of the twentieth century. He was also a fiction writer, illustrator, and music composer. He authored many short stories and novels for children and adults. He was a multi-talented person. He received the lifetime achievement award at the Oscars.
Theme
The story of Patol Babu written by Satyajit Ray is a story of a man who was very passionate about acting. He was a famous stage artist in his youth. This story depicts the experiences and struggles he went through in his life. The story tells us how a small role in the film rekindled the passion of acting in Patol Babu after a break of twenty years. This is the story of his bond with acting, which was above all monetary benefits. The only thing that Patol Babu wanted to have was full satisfaction while performing his role well.
Summary of Patol Babu Film Star
Patol Babu, the protagonist of the story, was a middle-aged man. He was around fifty years old. He was a short and bald man. He worked for the theaters and stopped acting a long time ago. It was almost twenty years since he last worked in the theaters.
One fine morning, when Patol Babu was going out to the market, he was visited by his neighbor Nishikanto Ghosh. He told Patol Babu that his brother-in-law was making a film and he was looking for an actor who would be around fifty years old, short with a baldhead. The description of the character best suited Patol Babu, so Nishikanto was asked to inform him if he was interested in doing that small role in the film. Nishikanto also told him that he would be paid remuneration for the role. He informed Patol Babu that his brother-in-law Naresh Dutt would come to see him at 10:30 am.
Patol Babu was very surprised by the offer. He never thought that he would get an opportunity to work in films. He was completely dumbstruck. He was so nervous and excited that he bought the wrong vegetables from the market.
Patol Babu worked in the old railway factory but he was passionate about acting. He acted in small theatrical stages in the neighborhood club and people were very fond of his acting. They actually bought tickets to see Patol Babu’s acting. His acting was progressing very well without any difficulties. In 1943, because of the war, his nine-year-old job at the railway factory was terminated. So he had to quit his job and ever since then, he was struggling to make a living for his family. He tried everything to make a livelihood but he was not successful. In the process of earning for survival, Patol Babu almost forgot his passion for acting.
When Patol Babu informed his wife about the offer, she did not believe but he did not give up hope. He waited for Naresh Dutt at 10:30 am. Naresh Dutt finally arrived and introduced himself. Patol Babu lacked confidence and asked him if he really thought he was the best suited for the role. Naresh Dutt assessed him and said that he was perfect for the role. He asked Patol Babu to report to the site, Faraday House, the next morning. When Patol Babu asked him about his role, Naresh Dutt said that his role was of an absent-minded and short-tempered pedestrian who had to collide with the hero of the film. Patol Babu was extremely happy and informed his wife but she did not show any expression. Instead, she expressed her reservations.
The next morning Patol Babu reached Faraday House on time. He saw a big crowd with lots of cameras and shooting instruments there. Naresh Dutt instructed him to wait for his turn. Patol Babu was curious to know his dialogues. Naresh Dutt asked Shoshanna to give him his dialogues. Sosanko tore a page and wrote something on the paper and handed it over to Patol Babu. He was very disappointed to see his dialogue. It was only one word “Oh!”.
He thought that he was called there to be made fun of. Shoshanko convinced him that he was playing a very significant role in the scene and he should not resent. Shoshanko and Jyoti explained the scene in detail to Patol Babu and instructed him to wait on one side. He felt very let down and crumpled the paper and threw it. He wanted to leave the site but then he remembered his mentor when he acted in his youth. His mentor Mr. Prakashi had told him that no role was big or small and one must make the best of every opportunity. It was in the hands of the actor to make the role effective.
Patol Babu was convinced and he rehearsed his one-word dialogue with many expressions. Finally, when his turn came, he suggested to the director that the scene could be more realistic if he collided with the hero while reading a newspaper. The director immediately arranged a newspaper. The director suggested putting a false mustache on Patol Babu’s face. He gave his best shot for the scene and everyone appreciated his acting skills. Patol Babu was satisfied with his performance and he stood near the paan shop. He felt very proud of himself that his acting skills had not faded but he was dejected at the very next moment. It was because the filmmakers did not give much attention to momentary work. He knew that he wanted the remuneration for his work very much but that twenty rupees could not be measured against the intense satisfaction of his performance. Patol Babu left the place without taking his amount. The director searched for him but then the next minute everything was forgotten and the camera started rolling for the next shot.
FAQs on Patol Babu Film Star Summary: Key Points & Character Analysis
1. What is the core summary of the story 'Patol Babu, Film Star'?
The story 'Patol Babu, Film Star' by Satyajit Ray revolves around a middle-aged man, Patol Babu, who is given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to act in a film. Initially thrilled, he becomes disheartened upon learning his role consists of a single-word dialogue: 'Oh!'. However, remembering the advice of his mentor, Gogon Pakrashi, he understands that no role is small. He pours all his dedication into perfecting that one word, ultimately delivering a flawless performance. In the end, he leaves without collecting his payment, realising that the artistic satisfaction he gained was far more valuable than any monetary reward.
2. What are the key points of Patol Babu's character sketch?
Patol Babu is a man of simple means but rich in artistic integrity. His key character traits for revision include:
- Passionate: He has a deep-seated, dormant passion for acting from his days on the amateur stage.
- Meticulous: He is a perfectionist who rehearses his single-word dialogue countless times to convey the right mix of emotions.
- Principled: He lives by the words of his guru, believing that every role, no matter how small, deserves complete dedication.
- Content: He prioritises inner satisfaction and creative fulfilment over financial gain, as shown when he walks away without his payment.
3. Who was Gogon Pakrashi and what was his key advice to Patol Babu?
Gogon Pakrashi was Patol Babu's acting mentor from his younger days on the stage. He was a revered actor whom Patol Babu held in high esteem. His key advice, which becomes the story's central philosophy, was: 'Remember one thing, Patol; however small a part you're offered, never consider it beneath your dignity to accept it. As an artist, your aim should be to make the most of your opportunity and squeeze the last drop of meaning out of your lines.' This advice is the turning point that inspires Patol Babu to embrace his role with full commitment.
4. How did Patol Babu prepare for his single-word dialogue, 'Oh!'?
Patol Babu's preparation showcases his meticulous nature. He broke down the single word 'Oh!' into various emotional nuances, practising it with different inflections to express surprise, pain, and annoyance. He even calculated the exact number of steps he needed to take before colliding with the hero to make the scene look authentic. He also suggested that holding a newspaper would make his character, an absent-minded pedestrian, more believable. This detailed rehearsal process highlights his professionalism and dedication to the art of acting.
5. What is the central message or theme of 'Patol Babu, Film Star'?
The central message of the story is that true satisfaction comes from work done with dedication and passion, not from fame or financial reward. The story teaches that no work is insignificant if one approaches it with sincerity and gives it their best effort. It champions the idea of finding fulfilment in the act of creation itself, a reward that is far more profound than any payment.
6. Why did Patol Babu leave without his payment, and what does this reveal about his values?
Patol Babu left without his payment because he felt that the small sum of money was trivial and almost an insult when compared to the immense creative satisfaction and spiritual joy he had just experienced. Performing his role perfectly was a deeply personal achievement. This action reveals that he values artistic integrity and personal fulfilment far more than material wealth. For him, the art itself was the ultimate reward, and putting a price on it would have diminished the purity of that experience.
7. What is the significance of the title 'Patol Babu, Film Star'?
The title is wonderfully ironic. On the surface, Patol Babu is the opposite of a 'film star'—he's an ordinary man with a walk-on part. However, the title's true significance lies in its deeper meaning. While his role was tiny, Patol Babu approached it with the soul, dedication, and meticulousness of a true star. The story suggests that stardom isn't about screen time or fame, but about the sincerity and passion an artist brings to their craft, making him a 'star' in spirit.
8. How does the story contrast artistic satisfaction with financial reward?
The story creates a clear conflict between these two values. Initially, the film offer represents both a creative and financial opportunity for Patol Babu. However, when the role turns out to be minor, the financial aspect becomes insignificant. His mentor’s words make him shift his focus entirely to the artistic challenge. The climax of this contrast is his final decision to walk away from the payment. He weighs the money against his feeling of accomplishment and finds the money wanting, establishing that for a true artist, creative fulfilment is priceless.
9. What does Patol Babu's past passion for theatre reveal about his character?
Patol Babu's past as a respected stage actor reveals that his dedication is not a sudden whim but a deeply ingrained part of his character. This history explains why he holds his craft in such high regard and why the words of his mentor, Gogon Pakrashi, resonate so powerfully with him decades later. The film offer does not create a new passion; it simply rekindles a dormant fire within him, showing that he has always been, at his core, a true artist waiting for a stage.
