For the last six decades Soumitra Chatterjee has been revered, followed, worshipped – he had been a way of life, for many. There is no doubt that he is a product of our time, our culture for over half a century. Yet, he knew the secret to transcend time and culture in the most magical way.
Probably he approached life with openness and generosity which is why he seemed transparent, yet arty. He could sport naturalism as his ego, less judgmental and hungry. Fastidious about his own art he was liberal to concepts, who perfected a sense of emotional detachment in order to engage himself in a mental and esoteric travel to other eras, other moments in history.
The idea of this book stems from the many discussions the author had with Soumitra Chatterjee for over the last few years. This is not a biography. Nor a hagiography of a bright star of the collective mental sky.
Comment from the legendary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan
The book holds the author’s many anxieties, questions, hazy perceptions and unresolved miseries. In the discussions, there have been some common themes – separation, return, fear and death. Then painting, poetry, reading. The themes repeat though not in this same order.
Just like a good cinema must reflect some good shots, a good writing must also leave behind, apart from others, a few good sentences. The silent steals, the distant murmurs, the broken dreams. A memoir needs to teem with unfulfilled love, the moments of grief and pain. And silence.
This book is written in the present tense throughout. In discussions of soul time freezes, fleets and flies. In these we probe the boundaries of words. What is left to thinking if there aren’t words as friezes?
For glimpses into the book, read the previews here:
2 reviews for Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee
Rated 5 out of 5
Avijit Mullick –
Lyrical and poignant reverberation
Review on Amazon
Self Murmurs in my heart and head continues even after 1 hour post reading Great personal musings. Prose- poetry demarcation line has faded totally .It seems Amitava Nag has discovered a new fresh lyrical poignant language that touches ones heart and the reverberation continues Great job sir?
Looking forward to something autobiographical in future.
Seems you have several untold stories to share.
Rated 5 out of 5
Saswata Guha –
Unique and introspective exploration
GOODREADS REVIEW
Book: Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee Author: Amitava Nag Publisher: Blue Pencil Published: 2021 Genre: Non Fiction ISBN: 9788194392118 Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee” by Amitava Nag is a unique and introspective exploration of the legendary Indian actor’s life and his impact on the author. This book goes beyond a traditional biography or hagiography and delves into the author’s personal anxieties, questions, perceptions, and unresolved miseries. Through their discussions, the author and Soumitra Chatterjee touch upon various themes such as separation, return, fear, death, painting, poetry, and reading.
One of the standout aspects of this book is its narrative style. Written entirely in the present tense, the author captures the essence of their discussions where time freezes, fleets, and flies. This adds a sense of immediacy to the storytelling, allowing readers to delve into the depths of Soumitra Chatterjee’s thoughts and experiences alongside the author.
Nag’s prose is both thought-provoking and poetic, creating a lyrical atmosphere throughout the book. The author’s admiration for Soumitra Chatterjee shines through every page, as they describe him as a product of their time and culture, while also transcending those boundaries. Chatterjee’s approach to life, characterized by openness, generosity, and a sense of emotional detachment, is beautifully explored, making him appear transparent and yet arty.
The book dives into the nuances of Soumitra Chatterjee’s art and his ability to engage with different eras and moments in history. Nag captures the actor’s fastidiousness about his own craft, while also highlighting his liberal approach to concepts. The discussions between the author and Chatterjee provide insights into the actor’s mindset and his unique way of navigating the world of cinema and beyond.
While “Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee” is not a conventional memoir, it is filled with unfulfilled love, moments of grief, pain, and silence. The author’s personal anxieties and unresolved miseries add depth to the narrative, creating a connection with the readers who may find echoes of their own emotions within the pages.
The book also emphasizes the power of words and their limitations. Through the exploration of boundaries and the repetition of themes, the author challenges the reader to consider the role of language and its impact on our understanding of the world. Nag’s use of evocative imagery and poignant sentences leaves a lasting impact, ensuring that the book resonates with readers long after they have finished reading.
In conclusion, “Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee” is a beautifully written and introspective book that offers a unique perspective on the life and artistry of Soumitra Chatterjee. Amitava Nag’s exploration of his discussions with the legendary actor is filled with poetic prose, personal reflections, and thought-provoking insights. This book is a must-read for both fans of Chatterjee and those interested in the deeper aspects of art and life.
An excerpt from a new essay of conversations with the legendary actor – “Frankly, I never thought it like this. Yes, I was lucky in the initial days with my choice of films. I think you have a point. It will be a privilege to be compared with Tendulkar, any day, he flashes his brilliant smile in happy sustenance.”
Don’t miss this intimate conversation with Soumitra Chatterjee.
~ Scroll.in carries an excerpt of Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee
'Murmurs: An Abstract Tapestry That Succeeds in Keeping the Reader Hooked'
Learning and Creativity | January 4, 2021
Noted film critic and documentary film maker Subha Das Mollick previewed ‘Murmurs’ and mentioned — “It is not an easy task to hook the reader with stream of consciousness words, phrases, sentences through 90 pages and 19 chapters. Amitava Nag’s book Murmurs: Silent steals with Soumitra Chatterjee succeeds in keeping his reader hooked as he weaves an abstract tapestry with fragments of memory around the author’s numerous engagements with Soumitra Chatterjee…..”
Amitava Akash Nag’s New book Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee is a memoir unlike any other. An introspective and ruminative recollection of the author’s conversations with the late actor, the book offers us an intimate look at the man who was much more than an actor.
“In cinema, I did reject roles on merit at times. I was never very perturbed about remunerations a role may offer. Why else do you think I rejected the offers from Bombay? Even from Hrishikesh Mukherjee. But in hindsight, a stint in Bombay would have secured the future, he fiddles with his ancient non-touchscreen, petite mobile phone.” – An excerpt from the book.
Cinemaazi Magazine publishes a beautiful preview of the book along with excerpts from the book.
“A teenage boy stood and waited outside the gate of the actor Soumitra Chatterjee’s house hoping to catch a glimpse of the then-sexagenarian legend. Over the years that boy managed to befriend the legend away from his screen life. Starting with an interview back in 2009, author Amitava Nag and Soumitra Chatterjee weaved a warm and translucent friendship that transcended the barrier that usually exists between actors and their admirers” – Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee is a result of that wonderful friendship.
The Hindu BusinessLine | By Sathya Saran | January 18, 2021
Noted author and editor Sathya Saran reviews Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee in The Hindu Business Line
*The setting for these meetings is a garage turned into a very basic study with a low roof where the sunlight often struggles to enter
*We learn that he is inspired by Tagore as a painter, and not, as one would expect, Satyajit Ray
*Nag also draws out Chatterjee’s admiration for Pele, Gary Sobers, and to an extent Tendulkar
'New Homage to Soumitra Chatterjee, the Man Not the Actor'
Issu.com | January 13, 2021
New Book Paints Intimate Portrait of the legendary Soumitra Chatterjee, as a person and not the actor • Author Amitava Nag’s Rambling yet Entertaining Narratives Make for a Great Coffee Table
The Statesman | By Shoma A Chatterji | May 28, 2021
Amitava Nag's incredible book of conversations with Soumitra Chatterjee reads like an intimate close-up of the screen icon's life. Noted film scholar and critic Shoma A Chatterji reviews.
The Indian Express | By Gautam Chintamani | May 30, 2021
At the time of his death in November 2020 following COVID-19 complications, he was preceded perhaps by only Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray when it came to reverence. Noted author and film historian Gautam Chintamani reviews
'Reflections on films and mortality: no yesterday and no tomorrow'
National Herald | Book Extract | January 18, 2021
‘This book is not on cinema as such but on reflections on life by a star who was always human as he shared parts of his life with a much younger friend,’ says Nag of his book ‘Murmurs’
Amitava Nag’s deeply reflective and personal book on Bengal's last Renaissance man, Murmurs, is an intriguing literary work. It makes us wonder whether while celebrating the actor, we have overlooked the cerebral and deeply sensitive artiste who was constantly evolving and asking himself if he had given back as much as he had received over the course of his long and illustrious career.
While "Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee" is not a conventional memoir, it is filled with unfulfilled love, moments of grief, pain, and silence. The author's personal anxieties and unresolved miseries add depth to the narrative, creating a connection with the readers who may find echoes of their own emotions within the pages.
Amitava Nag is an independent film critic based in Kolkata and editor of Silhouette.
His most recent books on cinema are 75 Years 75 Films: India’s Cinematic Journey and The Cinema of Mrinal Sen: A Quest for the Unresolved (edited). His other books on cinema include Ghunchu Kirtan; Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee; The Cinema of Tapan Sinha: An Introduction; Soumitra Chatterjee: A Life in Cinema and Beyond. His earlier writings include the acclaimed books Satyajit Ray’s Heroes and Heroines; 16 Frames; Smriti Satta o Cinema and Beyond Apu: 20 Favourite Film Roles of Soumitra Chatterjee.
Amitava also writes poetry and short fiction in Bengali and English – observing life in a platter. His poetry collection Forever Meera and translation anthology of Soumitra Chatterjee’s English poems titled Walking Through the Mist were published in 2020. He has penned two short story collections in English and Bengali and a couple of poetry anthologies in Bengali as well. Amitava can be reached at amitavanag.net.
Avijit Mullick –
Lyrical and poignant reverberationReview on Amazon
Self Murmurs in my heart and head continues even after 1 hour post reading
Great personal musings.
Prose- poetry demarcation line has faded totally .It seems Amitava Nag has discovered a new fresh lyrical poignant language that touches ones heart and the reverberation continues
Great job sir?
Looking forward to something autobiographical in future.
Seems you have several untold stories to share.
Saswata Guha –
Unique and introspective explorationGOODREADS REVIEW
Book: Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee
Author: Amitava Nag
Publisher: Blue Pencil
Published: 2021
Genre: Non Fiction
ISBN: 9788194392118
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee” by Amitava Nag is a unique and introspective exploration of the legendary Indian actor’s life and his impact on the author. This book goes beyond a traditional biography or hagiography and delves into the author’s personal anxieties, questions, perceptions, and unresolved miseries. Through their discussions, the author and Soumitra Chatterjee touch upon various themes such as separation, return, fear, death, painting, poetry, and reading.
One of the standout aspects of this book is its narrative style. Written entirely in the present tense, the author captures the essence of their discussions where time freezes, fleets, and flies. This adds a sense of immediacy to the storytelling, allowing readers to delve into the depths of Soumitra Chatterjee’s thoughts and experiences alongside the author.
Nag’s prose is both thought-provoking and poetic, creating a lyrical atmosphere throughout the book. The author’s admiration for Soumitra Chatterjee shines through every page, as they describe him as a product of their time and culture, while also transcending those boundaries. Chatterjee’s approach to life, characterized by openness, generosity, and a sense of emotional detachment, is beautifully explored, making him appear transparent and yet arty.
The book dives into the nuances of Soumitra Chatterjee’s art and his ability to engage with different eras and moments in history. Nag captures the actor’s fastidiousness about his own craft, while also highlighting his liberal approach to concepts. The discussions between the author and Chatterjee provide insights into the actor’s mindset and his unique way of navigating the world of cinema and beyond.
While “Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee” is not a conventional memoir, it is filled with unfulfilled love, moments of grief, pain, and silence. The author’s personal anxieties and unresolved miseries add depth to the narrative, creating a connection with the readers who may find echoes of their own emotions within the pages.
The book also emphasizes the power of words and their limitations. Through the exploration of boundaries and the repetition of themes, the author challenges the reader to consider the role of language and its impact on our understanding of the world. Nag’s use of evocative imagery and poignant sentences leaves a lasting impact, ensuring that the book resonates with readers long after they have finished reading.
In conclusion, “Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee” is a beautifully written and introspective book that offers a unique perspective on the life and artistry of Soumitra Chatterjee. Amitava Nag’s exploration of his discussions with the legendary actor is filled with poetic prose, personal reflections, and thought-provoking insights. This book is a must-read for both fans of Chatterjee and those interested in the deeper aspects of art and life.