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Satya Prakash's POV

A Great Tribute to Mahasweta Devi

( LITERATURE & FILMS)

The great literary legend Mahasweta Devi passed away todat at her 90 years with plenty of rich literary works  for the next generations. She has been influencing many generations through her fabulous writings and social activism. She has never been confined to the geographical outline of West Bengal. She was actively associated with  theatre Budhan Theatre – the theatre group of Chhara Denotified Tribals of Gujarat.

Mahasweta Devi had been critical of previous and present ways of ruling West Bengal, indicating that she had been pro humane and pro suppressed and oppressed people of country.

Mahasweta Devi had unbiased mind and kept writing novels and short stories. Her writings have influenced the middle class educated Bengali gentry as well as others in India and away in other countries. Her writings have contributed much to Indian and world Cinema.

Her writings fascinated Film Makers like Harnam Singh Rawel for Film“ Sungharsh” in 1968, based upon her Bengali  short story “ LAYLI ASMANER AYNA” that narrates the story beyond West Bengal about Vendetta within Thuggee cult in holy city of Varanasi. The film has Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Balraj Sahini, Vyjantimala.

Other Film Maker like Kalpana Lajmi directed a class movie “RUDAALI”  on Mahasweta Devi’s short story in 1993. Dimple Kapadia had fetched The Best National Award. “Rudaali” is the real story of certain regions of Rajasthan where the weepers of low castes are hired to weep on the eve of death of persons of upper caste that has no custom to express their emotion. So ironically, such female weepers do this.

Film Director Govind Nihalani made an awesome movie “Hazar Chaurasi Ki Maa” based upon the novel “Hazar Chaurasi ki Maa” written by Mahasweta Devi. For this novel, Mahasweta Devi got Magsaysay and Jyanpeeeth Award.Film has also got the Best National Film Award in 1998.

Many films have been produced upon Mahasweta Devi’s writings even in Bengali language.

The film “Gangor” is a Bengali film , produced by Italian production in 2010.The story” Gangor” was such a creation that has attracted Italian director Italo Spinelli.Later on, it is dubbed in Italian language and fetched a series of accolades like New Jersey Best Film and director ‘s awards.

Many novels and stories like TIN KORR SADH etc will be fascinating all of us to write for positive society.

The forthcoming generations around the globe have rich heritage of writings of Magsaysay award recipient Mhasweta Devi.