Now that you may know what a Bhadralok is, we move on to seeing different caricatures of the same. These intellectual gentlemen who brought about a Bengal Renaissance were cultural icons in more ways than one. These Babu’s and Bibi’s soon were seen in Bengali cinema, and literature and they still exist many centuries later in our popular culture. We have already delved into their representation in visual arts and learned about the Bhadralok artists who made them. This is the last of the Bhadralok series and we shall learn about 10 Bharalok characters in popular culture – be it characters in cinema or literature.
1. Bimala and Nikhil from Ghare Baire
Satyajit Ray’s characters in many of his films reflect the genteel/intellectual man. Ray was a renaissance man himself, many claimed him to be the last renaissance man – a true Bhadralok who made cinema with characters reflecting the Bhadralok-ness. Ghare Baire (1984) reflected the Bengali nature. The story revolves around Bimla and Nikhil, an upper class couple, while Nikhil is western educated, “modern”man who is not bound by traditions. Bimla, on the other hand is impressionable, yet aware. She represents the struggles and aspirations of the Bhadralok woman during the Swadeshi movement. The film is an adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s novel of the same name, the film reflected the mind of Bengal and how people thought.
2. Charulata
Another female character by Satyajit that was revolutionary in nature was that of Charulata, the film was on the same name at the character. Translating to ‘The Lonely Wife’, it is also based on Rabindranath Tagore’s short story Nashtanirh (The Broken Nest). Charulata is the wife of a rich upper class babu called Bhupati, she spends her days reading and pursuing different artistic activities and fulfilling her domestic duties. With the arrival of his cousin, Amal, things begin to change in the film and the lonely childless wife falls for the cousin.
3. Feluda
Continuing the streak of characters depicted in Satyaji Ray’s films, we have feluda, who is a 27 year old private detective with acute observation skills and has a sharp mind to quickly make deductions, he epitomises the intellectual bhadralok of bengal. Another similar character in the series is Topshe, a 14 year old sidekick to Feluda, who is an able assistant, he is insightful and indispensable to his older cousin. All the characteristic traits present in both of them reflect the babu characteristics. Feluda, tall and athletic with proficiency in martial arts, predominantly relied on his analytical prowess and keen observation to solve mysteries. He selectively undertook cases demanding intellectual acumen, seldom resorting to his .32 Colt revolver. Rising early for yoga, he enjoyed delivering lectures and utilized his oratory skills to elicit confessions during climactic scenes. A smoker and occasional consumer of pan, Feluda was also an avid reader. Despite advancements in investigative techniques, he favoured simplicity, relying on his intellect for success, as one of Ray’s characters acknowledged.
4. Byomkesh Bakshi (Byomkesh Bakshi series)
Another iconic Bengali detective character, Byomkesh Bakshi was created by author Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. Byomkesh is a sharp-witted and logical detective who investigates various crimes. At the outset, Byomkesh appeared as a fair, handsome, and well-built young man, epitomizing the educated Bengali bhadralok with a keen intellect reflected in his eyes and demeanor. What distinguished him from other heroes of the genre was his reluctance to label himself as a “detective.”
5. Ashok Ganguli
Ashok Ganguli, in the Namesake. In Jhumpa Lahiri’s The Namesake, the Gangulis, a Bengali American family, navigate themes of love, loss, and identity against the backdrop of the last three decades of the 20th century. In the film, the main protagonist is Ashoke Ganguli, an example of bhadralok man, who embodies quiet sensitivity and deep affection, dedicated to his wife and two children, recognizing the obligation to provide for his loved ones. Yet, he’s also unafraid to challenge conventional norms, questioning the notion of “normalcy.”
6. Sona Da (Professor Subarna Sen)
Another creation of Satyajit Ray, Sona Da is a charismatic and eccentric professor who leads a group of young adventurers in solving mysteries and uncovering hidden treasures. Sona Da’s wit, intellect, and unconventional methods make him a memorable character in Bengali literature
7. Bhashkor Banerjee
Bhashkor Banerjee, a character played by Amitabh Bachchan in the film Piku by Shoojith Sirkar. The film showcases the poignant relationship between Bhashkor Banerjee and his daughter Piku. Bhashkor embodies the pompous Bengali man who is independent and harbours strong opinions about the world and towards his upbringing of his daughter. Bhashkor is showcased to have modern thoughts and strong ties with his home in Bengal and his culture. He is a man of his word, albeit stubborn but truly reflects the characteristics traits of a bhadralok. Continuing on the characters reflected in the film, Piku, we also have a strong independent female character that signifies the Bhadralok nature. This is Piku herself, played skilfully by Deepika Padukone. The film captures her responsibility towards her father, her fierce nature and ambitious streak. She is an intellectual, urban woman who lives by her principles.
8. Shekhar in Parineeta
Another representation is that of Shekhar’s in the film Parineeta. His background is relatively prosperous, and he is portrayed as a well-educated, well-cultured member of the metropolitan middle class. The dynamics of the plot are greatly influenced by his social standing and interactions with the Bhadralok society, especially in regards to his relationship with Lalita and the social standards they have to deal with. The politically progressive and modern Shekhar, portrayed by Saif Ali Khan, however, is still an enabler of patriarchy, he listened to Elvis and wore imported clothing. He addresses his concerns about Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech in the United Nations General Assembly and also reflects the true bengali identity, representative of the Bhadralok community.
9. Kakababu (Raja Roychowdhury)
Created by author Sunil Gangopadhyay, Kakababu is a fictional adventurist and detective who travels to exotic locations around the world, often accompanied by his nephew Santu. Kakababu’s bravery, intelligence, and adventurous spirit make him a beloved character among readers of all ages.
10. Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Devdas
A terrible story of love and heartache, centered on the character of Devdas and his tragic relationship with Paro. Dev babu in the film is the London returned rich protagonist who epitomises then Bhadralok identity. He wears western clothes, speaks the colonial tongue, smokes a cigar and acts like an entitled man with his progressive views. Dev is one of the most popular characters to have been written and then portrayed on celuloid.
Bhadralok identity and culture has been represented in Cinema, Literature, Plays etc since the concept came into inception in the early 19th century. Some of the other mentions are: Pakhi Roy Chaudhary’s character played by Sonakshi Sinha in the film Lootera, Aisha Banerjee in Wake Up Sid, and many more. Bengali bhadralok artists and intellectuals have been pioneering South Asian artistic and intellectual debate in literature and cinema for decades, if not centuriesBengali bhadralok has always been portrayed positively by the Mumbai-based Hindi cinema industry with a little prinkle of ironical stereotyping of the quintessential Bengali identity. Bhadralok men themselves such as Satyajit Ray and Rabindranath Tagore has given rise to many characters that resemble the Bahdralok identity. While gentlemen have been popularly known and celebrated, women of the same identity have not been given the same due. This article presents a list of both the genders. The Bhadralok identity and ideology still persists in the arts even if Modern Day Bhadralok ceases to exist.
Feature Image: Amitabh Bachhan as Bhashkor Banerjee in Piku|Courtesy: Business Standard
References:
https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/byomkesh-bakshi-uncovered-113071201061_1.html
https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/charulata-satyajit-rays-brilliant-re-telling-of-tagores-classic-story-of-a-lonely-young-wife-4357825.html
https://feminisminindia.com/2020/07/23/parineeta-critique-progressive-bengali-bhadralok-patriarchy/
https://smashboard.org/mahanagar-to-piku-and-beyond-bhadralok-women-and-the-working-class/
https://www.penguin.co.in/meet-feluda-and-other-characters-from-satyajit-rays-feluda-omnibus/
From Aristocracy to Artefact: Introduction to Kolkata’s Bhadralok Culture
