Chapter: Great Film-maker Satyajit Ray
Answer the following questions:
- Guess the language in which the first talking Indian film was made.
The first talking Indian film, Alam Ara, was made in Hindi. - Mention 4 interesting things about Satyajit Ray’s first film.
- His first film was Pather Panchali (1955).
- It was made on a part-time basis while Ray worked as a commercial artist.
- The film was self-financed despite Ray having no previous experience in film-making.
- It won a prize at the Cannes Film Festival and brought Indian cinema to global attention.
- What profession did Ray follow before he became a film-maker?
He worked as a commercial artist from 1943 to 1956. - Name the international awards Ray won for his films.
- Pather Panchali – Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
- Aparajito – Venice Golden Lion
- Asani Sanket – Berlin Golden Bear Award
- Pick out some of the words/phrases used by Richard Attenborough in his tribute to refer to the greatness of Satyajit Ray as a film-maker.
Rare genius, exquisite pieces of cinema, master, total revelation, enormous pleasure, an education, a major milestone. - How did Richard Attenborough show his faith in Satyajit Ray as a film-maker when Ray asked him to act in his film The Chess Players?
He accepted the offer without even reading the script, which he had never done before in his acting career. - Richard Attenborough himself is a great film-maker. How is his manner of making films different from Ray’s?
Attenborough relied on a team of experts for various aspects of film-making, while Ray handled almost everything himself – writing, directing, composing music, designing sets, and even operating the camera. - Pick out some words/expressions used by Richard Attenborough showing his reaction to his experience of working with Ray.
Enormous pleasure, an education, a major milestone, extremely content, revelation, unbounded energy, his sure touch.
Words
Match the types of films with their descriptions:
| Type of Film | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Feature film | d. A long film/movie with a story |
| 2. Ad film | f. A film made to tell people about a product or something they can buy |
| 3. Tele film | a. A film that is specially made to be shown on television |
| 4. Animation film | b. A film in which drawings of people and animals seem to move |
| 5. Documentary | c. A film that gives facts about something |
| 6. Soap opera | e. A story about the lives and problems of a group of people, shown on TV several times a week |
Chapter: Great Film-maker Satyajit Ray
B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the box:
Word Bank: unbounded energy | expertise | tribute | exquisite | milestone | swan song
- The Taj Mahal is an exquisite piece of architecture.
- India has now enough scientific and technological expertise to build very good cars.
- Getting admission in a medical college will be a great milestone in my life.
- My mom works for 12–14 hours a day and does not get tired. She is a woman having unbounded energy.
- Hundreds of people had gathered to pay their last tribute to the heroes who had lost their lives in the war.
- This great painting was his swan song. He died the day after he had completed it.
Writing
Farewell Speech for a Retiring Teacher
Respected Principal, dear teachers, and my fellow students,
Today, we gather to bid farewell to one of the most respected and beloved teachers of our school, Mr./Ms. [Teacher’s Name]. It is difficult to say goodbye to someone who has been an inspiration to us all.
Mr./Ms. [Teacher’s Name] has served our school for over [number] years with full dedication and love. As a teacher, [he/she] has always been kind, patient, and deeply committed to the learning of each student. Whether inside the classroom or in the corridors, [he/she] has always greeted everyone with a smile.
Not only was [he/she] an excellent teacher in [subject], but also a mentor, a guide, and a true friend to many students. [He/She] always listened with empathy and offered advice with wisdom. Students respected [him/her], and teachers admired [his/her] honesty and discipline.
The school will definitely miss your warm presence, your wise words, and your loving nature. We wish you all the best for the next chapter of your life. May it be filled with peace, happiness, and good health.
Thank you for everything. You will always remain in our hearts.
Follow-up
A. Meanings of film-related expressions:
- Feature film: A full-length film, usually with a story, meant for cinema release.
- Tele film: A movie made specifically for television broadcast.
- Documentary: A non-fiction film presenting facts and real-life events.
- Ad film: A short film made for advertising a product or service.
- Animation film: A film in which drawings or computer-generated images are made to move.
- TV serial: A continuing television show with episodes broadcast regularly, often weekly.
B. Meanings of terms related to cinema:
- Cinema: A place where films are shown to the public; also refers to the film industry as a whole.
- 3-D cinema: A type of cinema experience where films are shown in three dimensions using special glasses.
- Cinemascope: A wide-screen format used in movies to create a panoramic visual effect.
- Multiplex: A large cinema complex with multiple screens, showing several films at the same time.