The Hero (1966)

 Satyajit Ray's "The Hero"


With the post-modern films of the 1960s came another layer to the cinematic experience - the metatext of narrative. Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray, who perfected his visual aesthetic by this time, used his 1966 film "The Hero" to abed this specific kind of narrative. The film's lead actor, Uttam Kumar, known for his screen presence in Indian cinema as "The Great Hero," essentially played himself in Ray's production.

Arindam Mukherjee, a Bengali film star known for his 'heroic' roles, is taking a 24-hour long train ride to Delhi where he will receive an award. While on the train, he comes across a variety of people, including an editor for a woman's magazine, Aditi. Her attempts to interview Arindam opens him up to past memories - which psychological haunt the superstar actor.

Of course, the title of "The Hero" gets interrogated in Ray's film. The idolic actor's pristine and mysterious image are simply an illusion meant to shadow him from his own hypocrisies. Ray typically centers his stories around 'ordinary' people - real people. This is a point of contention within the film, as Aditi notes how Arindam's film lack 'truth' due to their concentration on larger-than-life and heroic leading men. 

As the story unfolds, we discover the moral bankruptcy of our 'hero' and the moral sacrifices he made to get to the top of his industry. Ray slowly lifts the veil of a pristine covering to demonstrate the dark corruption hiding underneath. In the beginning, we seemingly identify with the protagonist. But, his revelations render our feelings lacking. By the end, you pity the actor - and hope his flops come soon (for his own benefit). 


 

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