Character Sketch of Patol Babu
‘Patol Babu, Film Star’ by Satyajit Ray, is the story of an unassuming, humble, and modest man. He is a 52-year-old man who gets an offer to play an insignificant role of a pedestrian in a film. He gets really very excited about his role. However, when he reaches the shooting scene for enacting his role, he is disappointed to know the insignificance and shortness of his scene. He is assigned the role of a pedestrian who is to bump into the hero and just exclaim the word ‘Oh!’ He wants to get away from the scene. He does not want to play such a small role.
However, he is a passionate actor who reveres acting and stage. He remembers his mentor, Guru, Gogon Pakrashi’s words. He had told him many years ago that he must never refuse any role, however small it might be. As an artist, his aim should always be to make the most of the opportunity and squeeze the last drop of meaning out of his lines. Remembering his Guru’s words, Patol Babu resolves to give his best to the small role offered to him. He rehearses it many times, infusing different shades of emotions into the word ‘oh’. This shows he is very meticulous. At last, the scene is shot, and everyone appreciates his acting. Finally, he leaves the shooting scene modestly, without even receiving his payment.
Character of Gogon Pakrashi
Gogon Pakrashi was Patol Babu’s mentor and Guru. He himself was a great actor, without a sign of vanity; a saintly person. He had a lot of influence on Patol Babu’s outlook on life. He had instilled in him strong moral and ethical values. He had taught him many years ago that he must never refuse any role, however small it might be. As an artist, his aim should always be to make the most of the opportunity and squeeze the last drop of meaning out of his lines and deliver it to the audience for their edification. Patol Babu admired him a lot.
Character of Patol Babu’s wife.
Though there is not much written about Patol Babu’s wife in the chapter, the two sentences she spoke indicate she was quite a practical lady. She did not like her husband’s idealism, daydreaming, and boasting about his past. After he broke the news about the role he was going to play in a movie, she scolded him not to count his chickens before they are hatched. She appeared to be quite critical of Patol Babu’s idealistic and dreamy attitude towards life. She believed these flaws in his personality did not let him become successful in life.
Character Sketch of Sosanko
Sosanko was a young fellow, perhaps the writer of the script of the film for which Patol Babu had gone for shooting a scene. When he gave Patol Babu his monosyllabic dialogue, he sensed his disappointment. He tried to make him feel good by explaining to him that his role was really important. He explained to him how lucky he was to have got an opportunity to work in Baren Mullik’s film.
Character Sketch of Naresh Dutt
Naresh Dutt was Nishkanto Gosh’s youngest brother-in-law. He was in the film business, production department. He was a strapping young man about thirty. He came to Patol Babu’s house to offer him a role in a movie they were shooting. He was not punctual and upright. He reached Patol Babu’s home quite late and did not describe the role honestly to him. He kept him in the dark about the role.
Character Sketch of Baren Mullik
Baren Mullick was the director of the movie in which Patol Babu was playing the role of a pedestrian. He was quite much in demand those days as he had had three smash hits in a row. He took a keen interest in ensuring all the aspects of each and every scene before shooting it. He always seemed in hurry to shoot as much as he could. He was quite open to creative and innovative ideas. For instance, when Patol Babu suggested if he carried the newspaper while walking, it would make the scene look more natural, he immediately accepted it. His focus, creativity, and passion for his work were the secrets of his success.
Character sketch of Chanchal Kumar
Chanchal Kumar was a kind of super-star of his time. His movies were liked by people. However, Patol Babu thought he had a feminine look. If he had been wearing a Bengali dhoti and Panjabi instead of a suit, and given a peacock to ride on, he would make a perfect God Kartik. Monotosh of Kanchrapara--who was better known by his nickname Chinu--had the same kind of looks. He was very good at playing female parts. He did not appear to be physically strong as he had to massage his head after the collision with Patol Babu.