Murmurs: Moments with Soumitra Chatterjee (Episode 1)

Standing tall, from the private collection of the author

Trees listen to us humans. Certain trees do more than others, in every corner of the earth. Trees inhale whispers that roam around the city speaking of the dead. They become friends; trees outlive us, see life as a whole, forgive and remember.

I remember addresses through trees. Not the names, but the shapes, sizes, colour, fragrance, frames. Probably because I tend to write I find stories in trees, about its tresses. Always. Addresses without trees are barren, unidentifiable, lost.

Trees, to me define gravity, balance space, murmur peace and arrest time. Trees make us believe that life has been the same, and also that it has flown down our winter sleep.

Trees remind us of timelessness. Eternity.

Trees also connote shelter, shade, support. The green interconnect between the red earth and the blue sky.

‘Gaach’, in Bengali meaning tree, is the name of the first documentary on him.

My friend Catherine Berge, of mesmeric energy and French efficacy looked for the roots in search of a tree.

I watched it first twenty years ago, in Brussels after a vegetarian dinner in the cozy, half-lit apartment of Bo van der Werf.

‘Gaach’ reminds me of time standing still. Looking at the unrepeatable moments of time.

Soumitra Chatterjee reminds me of the same – the unrepeatable moments of standing still.

This is a preview collection of interactions that is set to release as the book Murmurs: Moments with Soumitra Chatterjee by Amitava Nag, on 19th January 2021 to celebrate the legend’s 87th birthday.

Click here to read all published episodes of Murmurs: Moments with Soumitra Chatterjee.

 
Catherine Berge’s Gaach (The Tree, 1998) is a rare documentary on Soumitra Chatterjee. Silhouette is grateful to Catherine and producer James Ivory for providing permission to make it available to the Silhouette readers.

More to read on Soumitra Chatterjee

Ke Jaino Go Dekechhe Aamay: The Songs of Soumitra

Soumitra Chatterjee – A Habit of Our Lives

Soumitra Chatterjee on Acting in Satyajit Ray’s Films – Exclusive Interview (Part 1)

Soumitra Chatterjee on Acting in Satyajit Ray’s Films – Exclusive Interview (Part 2)

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