{"id":10492,"date":"2025-12-21T23:50:04","date_gmt":"2025-12-21T18:20:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=10492"},"modified":"2025-12-21T23:50:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-21T18:20:05","slug":"nabendu-ghosh-in-conversation-with-ameen-sayani","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/nabendu-ghosh-in-conversation-with-ameen-sayani\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018My heart swells with pride when I see their work’: Nabendu Ghosh in conversation with Ameen Sayani"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Ameen

(L) Ameen Sayani and (R) Nabendu Ghosh<\/p><\/div>\n

Ameen Sayani<\/strong>: So Nabendu Da, our listeners are very eager to know about your three companions.<\/p>\n

Nabendu Ghosh<\/strong>: Ameen Sahab, a shloka in Sanskrit says,\u00a0Aahu saptapadi bhava\/\u00a0<\/em>Walk the seven steps with me. A companion is a person who has walked seven steps with you, sharing happiness and sorrow, hardships and hurdles. These are the foundation of friendship.<\/p>\n

Then, there are different compartments in a person’s life, and there are different co-passengers in each compartment.<\/p>\n

AS<\/strong>: But Nabendu Da, I think the biggest compartment of your life is that of the film line. So please tell our listeners about your three film companions.<\/p>\n

NG<\/strong>: The first place among the film companions is that of the great producer-director whose teachings, thoughts, loyalty and dedication have left a deep imprint on my heart. And that is Bimal Roy.<\/p>\n

\"Bimal

Bimal Roy (1903 – 1966)<\/p><\/div>\n

AS<\/strong>: Okay, Bimal Roy! So Nabendu Da, when did you forge a bonding with Bimal Roy?<\/p>\n

NG<\/strong>: Ameen Saab in 1944, when my second book Daak Diye Jaai<\/em>\/ The Clarion Call was published, I had to quit my government job because this novel was on the Quit India Movement. Since then, there was only one path for me: The pen’s labour.<\/p>\n

I went to Kolkata from Patna to work as a writer. I earned a lot of fame. After reading my novels Bimal Roy was keen to meet me.\u00a0We met for the first time in 1949. And in 1951, when he came to Bombay, I was with him.<\/p>\n

AS<\/strong>: You mean, Bimal Da came to Bombay with his entire unit?<\/p>\n

NG<\/strong>: No sir. Among those who came with him on the same train were myself, director-comedian Asit Sen, editor Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and actor-dialogue writer Paul Mahendra.<\/p>\n

AS<\/strong>: Okay.<\/p>\n

NG<\/strong>: Then came cameraman Kamal Bose and Nazir Hussain followed by art director Sudhendu Roy.<\/p>\n

AS:<\/strong> Dada, all the people you have named are famous!<\/p>\n

NG<\/strong>: Ameen Bhai, this is where Bimal Roy’s talent lies! He was a distinguished person as well as an institution. The people who walked in step with him, have all made a name for themselves. Just listen to the names: Salil Chowdhury, Mani Bhattacharya, Basu Bhattacharya, and now Gulzar.<\/p>\n

AS<\/strong>: Hmmm!<\/p>\n

NG<\/strong>: Ameen Sahab, Bimal Roy was an honest, kind-hearted, and sensitive person.\u00a0And so sensitive that if someone used an abusive word in his presence, he would go red in the face!<\/p>\n

\"Bimal

Bimal Roy busy in work<\/p><\/div>\n

AS<\/strong>: Really?!<\/p>\n

NG<\/strong>: But when it came to his work, this soft-spoken sensitive man would be as staunch and unyielding as iron.\u00a0He worked with great dedication and meticulousness. He would work till midnight, and the next morning he would be raring to go to work. He would be oblivious to all else \u2013 whether his wife or children were sick, or he was required to attend to some other engagement. Everything could wait if he had a shoot. He wouldn’t share his pain with anyone, nor would he pry into the woes of others.<\/p>\n

AS<\/strong>: I see\u2026<\/p>\n

NG:<\/strong>\u00a0Day and night he would think only about the film. Ameen Sahab, I have not come across another person as hard-working, and as dedicated to cinema as Bimal Roy. Even today, when I think of him, this song effortlessly comes to my lips\u2026<\/p>\n

O jaanewale ho sake to laut ke aana<\/em>\/ O dear departed one, come back if you can\u2026<\/p>\n

O jaanewale ho sake to laut ke aana<\/strong><\/em> (Bandini,<\/em> 1963) SD Burman \/ Shailendra \/ Mukesh<\/span><\/p>\n