Literature Reader Chapter 5 Patol Babu, Film Star

a) The speaker is Patol Babu.
b) Patol Babu thought that he was being made a laughing stock because he had been assigned a very little role to play in the film. He just had to utter a single word.
c) 'Hoax' is an act of deception or a fraud performed deliberately.

a) The speaker is Patol Babu.
b) Patol Babu thought that he was being made a laughing stock as the role that had been assigned to him was a very small part in the film. He just had one dialogue to deliver, “Oh”.
c) 'Hoax' is a deliberate falsehood or a fraud performed by deceiving or cheating someone.

234, Shanti Nivas
Gokhale Road
Thane 

Dear Sujata,
It’s been ages since I’ve heard from you. Yesterday, I read a story that prompted me to write this letter to you. The story was, ‘Patol Babu, Film Star’ written by Satyajit Ray. While reading it, I realised that we would have enjoyed discussing it.
In the story, Patol Babu, the protagonist is a stage actor who gets to speak a single word in a film. Seeing him disappointed, his mentor advises him that there is no humiliation in playing a minor role. You must always perform your best irrespective of the significance of the role.
It struck a chord in my heart; it meant that no opportunity is worth turning away from no matter how insignificant it may seem. I have always advised you about the same virtue. Remember how I reprimanded you about turning down the seat at VJTI? I hope that you learnt something significant through that episode. Remember, opportunities don’t always come knocking on our doors. Be sure to make the most of your life. What are your thoughts? Do write to me. 

Yours truly,
Akshaya

(a) None of the above
(b) Naresh Dutt
(c) He had offered him a role in a film.

(a) The breeze stopped blowing and the sails dropped
(b) The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by S.T.Coleridge
(c)  Alliteration

Patol Babu was disheartened because he didn’t get to even speak properly in the movie. Sosanko tried to console him by saying that at least he got a chance to speak a single word in the movie where a hundreds of people appeared in a Baren Mullick film without having anything to say. Moreover, the lead actor Chanchal Kumar also had no lines to speak. So, it was a once in a lifetime chance for Patol Babu.

Patol Babu is considered to be a strange fellow by the film makers because he did not take the payment for playing his role in the movie. He had an ardent desire for acting. He gave his hundred per cent to the role and did the maximum innovation he could in his monosyllabic dialogue. He considered performing of his role with full devotion and dedication more important than just getting paid. This is why when he was praised by Baren Mullick, he felt he had accomplished his desire and left without waiting for his payment. This shows him as a passionate, disciplined, hard-working and meticulous man.

a) Patol babu repeated the word ‘oh’ over and over again because he wanted to make the most of the opportunity he had received and squeeze every last drop of meaning out of the role that was given to him.

b) Patol Babu made an astonishing discovery that the same exclamation, when spoken in different ways carried different shades of meaning.

c) The word ‘uttered’ means ‘said something’.

Mr. Gogon Pakarshi was Babu's mentor. He was also a wonderful actor without a trace of vanity in him.Mr Prakashi used to say that it is the responsibility of the actor to serve the essence of his dialogues to the audience for their edification. He also told Patol Babu that no matter how small a role is, he should never consider it below his dignity to accept it. As an artist, his aim should be to make the most of the opportunity he has received.

Nishikanto Ghosh told Patol Babu that his Brother-in-law, Naresh Dutt, a film producer, was looking for an actor whose looks are exactly the same as of Patol Babu, for a role play in his movie. 

Patol Babu got excited after hearing the news as he was a passionate actor in his times. He acted in Jatras where people used to buy tickets to watch his performances. In excitement, he brought the wrong provisions home.

In 1943, a sudden retrenchment in his office due to the second world war made him lose his high paid clerical job in Calcutta. 

When Patol Babu glanced at the paper and found that a single word 'oh!' was written on it. He felt offended and said how can the people make fun of an old and harmless man like him. 

Gogon Pakrashi was Patol Babu's mentor, a wonderful actor and a saintly person. He once told Patol Babu that 'no matter how small role is given to you, never consider it beneath your dignity to accept it'. Then he uttered the exclamation 'oh' several times with different inflections and realised that a true actor can make a mark with a single syllable.

Patol Babu was a meticulous man because he realised what his mentor advised him. He realised that a true actor can make a mark with just a single syllable. He was a humble and modest person in nature. He rehearsed well before his shot. He also suggested ideas of how he could make the scene look more realistic. 

Mr. Mullick turned Patol Babu's request for a rehearsal because he was a busy director and didn't want to waste time on a small scene. Also, he wanted to shoot the scene in the sunlight and the clouds were seen approaching. 

He rehearsed well before the scene. He practiced how his features would be twisted, how he would fling out his arm, how his body would show pain and surprise. He uttered the exclamation in several ways to decide which one suits the situation. He suggested the director that if he would hold a newspaper in his hand during the collision, it would appear natural. 

Patol Babu said this to the producer of the film, Naresh Dutt. He asked this question as he wanted to know about his role and dialogues in the scene.

He was a good actor in his times and had performed in Jatras, theatres. He felt dejected when he came to know that he was offered a role with a monosyllable dialogue. That's why Patol Babu had these thoughts at that time.

Patol Babu felt dejected when he first came to know that he was given a monosyllable dialogue. Then he memorized his mentor's words that 'no matter how small is the role, never consider it beneath your dignity.' He realised his mistake. Then he tries to utter exclamation 'oh' in different inflections and understood the various meanings that can be brought by them. In order to give his best, he rehearsed well before the shot. He practiced on how he will react physically during the collision. And during the shot acted with perfection.

Yes, I agree with the statement that Patol Babu is a practical man who comes to terms with whatever life has to offer. When he had lost his clerical job, he struggled a lot to make a living. He opened a variety store, worked in a Bengali firm, worked as an insurance salesman. He was offered a small role in the movie but he rehearsed well before the shoot and gave his best. 

He was humble, modest and truthful towards his acting. He acted in the scene because he wanted to. Acting was his passion. He wanted to do his part of role with perfection to satisfy himself even if it was insignificant. He had realised the true quality of an actor, so he didn't care for the money. 

unassuming

modest

talented

Diligent

Punctual

Meticulous

Talented

Hard working

Humble

Passionate actor

Dear Nishikanto Babu,
Hope you are fine. I am writing this letter to thank you for recommending me the role as because of you only I got the opportunity to have some good experience.
When you asked me about the role play in a movie, I didn't know that I will get a chance to show my acting skills ever again. Acting have always been my passion. 
Next day when I reached there, I was told that I only have a monosyllable dialogue 'oh!'. I felt dejected at first and thought they called me there to make fun of me. But then I remembered the advice of my mentor, he once told me that 'no matter how small a role has been given to you, never consider it beneath your dignity'. It motivated me to perform well. Then I tried speaking the exclamation 'oh!' in various inflections and I made an astonishing discovery that with a different utterance of the same exclamation, the meaning gets changed. I realised that a true actor can make a difference with a single syllable. 
I got super excited and I asked when I have to perform. I was told that I will be called after half an hour. I thought to do the rehearsal before in the meantime. I practiced how I will react physically after the collision. During the shot I suggested him that if I'll hold a newspaper in hand while colliding, it will look natural and authentic. He agreed. I did my best and I felt very satisfied. 
Hope you liked reading it. Thank you once again.
Yours faithfully,
Patol Babu

The writer says that he did not specialize in writing ghost stories but more or less they seemed to specialize in him. Whenever Jenkins called on the author to write a ghost story for his magazine he had always been able to manage to write one for him, not really understanding how the idea of the plot came to him.