Focus on SATYAJIT RAY: Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969)

Just when you think you have a handle on a director, they can pull out something completely bizarre. In Ray's case, I've been lapping up his measured social realism, his straight laced approach to acting performance and, despite my love of musicals, his hard line on song and dance numbers. If his characters have no reason to break into song, you can bet your life they won't be breaking into song.

Well...

Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne is a little different, but that is all down to audience. The film is squarely aimed at the kiddies and came about after Ray's son asked his father to make a film of his great grandfather's story. This all singing, all dancing spectacular is the result.

In all fairness, Ray hasn't jettisoned all his rules. Goopy and Bagha have every reason to burst into song. Goopy's dulcet tones and Bagha's lulling percussion stop even the most blood-lusting enemies in their tracks, and they bump into a few of those. Their magical musical prowess is a boon they picked up from the king of the ghosts after stumbling on a spectral rave. They've also acquired the ability to clap an all you can eat thali out of thin air, as well as a couple of pairs of slippers that can whisk them away to anywhere in the blink of an eye.

Magical powers, ghost kings, warring maharajahs, veiled princesses... You're probably guessed that social realism isn't high on Ray's agenda this time around.

I slotted Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne into this director focus on the back of its high ranking on IMDb. I didn't realise at the time that it was such an outlier in Ray's oeuvre. Having now seen it, I'd wager much of the film's popularity is a holdover from hundreds of thousands of childhoods. It is easy to see why. Goopy and Bagha are an infectious pair of clowns and their charisma is only matched by their adorable ineptitude.

It's no great work of art but it is super watchable. I'm glad I didn't back away from it and I'm now kind of looking forward to the sequel, which I also programmed in.

Next up: Days and Nights in the Forest...


This post contributes to Director Focus: Satyajit Ray.