NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CLASS 10 - ENGLISH NOTES - PATOL BABU, FILM STAR - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - CBSE

 

PATOL BABU, FILM STAR

 

a) What was the news that Nishikanto Ghosh gave Patol Babu?

Ans: Patol Babu was just to go out when Nishikanto Babu called on him. He told Patol Babu that his youngest brother-in-law was in film production department and he was looking for an actor for a scene in a film they were shooting. A character should be of fiftyish, short and bald. So he gave him Patol Babu’s address. They would pay him, of course.

 

b) How did Patol Babu react? Why?

Ans: Patol Babu hadn’t expected such news at the beginning of the day that an offer to act in a film could come to an ordinary man who was 52 years old. That was beyond his imagination.

 

c) Why had Patol Babu lost his first job in Calcutta?

Ans: Patol Babu worked as clerk with Hudson and Kimberley in Calcutta and was lucky to have a flat in Nepal Bhattacharji Lane. He lost his factory job because of retrenchment in the office.

 

d) How did Patol Babu reconcile to the dialogue given to him?

Ans: The youngster Jyoti produced a red dot pen and gave it to Sosanko who scribbled something on a page and handed it to Patol Babu. Patol Babu saw a single word “Oh!” scrolled on it. He was surprised that this was the only dialogue he had to speak. He remembered his mentor’s advice that however the dialogue and the role are short, it should be done with dignity.

 

e) Who was Mr. Pakrashi? How do his words help Patol Babu in enacting his role?

Ans: Mr. Pakrashi was Patol Babu’s mentor. He used to say, “Each word spoken in the play is like a fruit in a tree. Not everyone in the audience has assessed to it. But you, the actor, must know how to pluck it, get at its essence, and serve it up to the audience for their edification. “The memory of these words of his Guru made

Patol Babu how his head in obeisance.”

 

f) How do we know that Patol Babu was a meticulous man?

Ans: Patol Babu had to say only one word “Oh!” Patol Babu began giving the exclamation a different inflection each time he uttered it. After doing it for a number of times he made an astonishing discovery. The same exclamation when spoken in different ways carried different shades of meaning. He suddenly felt that he could write a whole thesis on that one exclamation. A true actor could make a mark with this one single syllable.

 

g) Why did Mr. Mullick turn down Patol Babu’s request for a rehearsal?

Ans: Mr. Mullick turned down Patol Babu’s request for a rehearsal and shook his head impatiently. He said there was a large patch of cloud approaching the sun and this scene must be shot in the sunlight.

 

h) What were the special touches that Patol Babu gave to his role to make it more authentic?

Ans: Patol Babu told Mr. Mullick that Mr. Mullick that if he had a newspaper open in his hand and if the collision took place while he had his eyes on the paper then perhaps the scene would be more effective.

 

DETAILED ANSWERS

a) ‘I hope the part calls for some dialogue?’ Who says this? Why does he / she ask this question?

Ans: These words are spoken by Patol Babu. He asked this question because the part that he had to play was of a pedestrian. An absent-minded, short-tempered person, thought he part was not a big one but that was not the main thing, what was important was that he would be playing a part in a film. Patol Babu was very keen on acting in films. At one time he had a real passion for the stage, in fact he could not think of anything else accept working in the theatre. He was always in demand, his name was also on the handbills, people liked his acting and now he was getting a chance to work in a film. He thought he was perfect for the part but he was curious to know about his dialogues, so he asked this question. He thought this was the first step on the ladder, the first step that would make him successful. He thought his lifelong desire would come true.

 

b) ‘Were these people pulling his leg? Was the whole thing a gigantic hoax? A meek, harmless man likes him, and they had to drag him into the middle of the city to make a laughing stock of him. How could anyone be so cruel?’ Why does Patol Babu have these thoughts?

Ans: Naresh Dutt asked Sosanko to give Patol Babu his dialogues. Sosanko turned to Patol Babu and said, “Come along ‘grandpa.” He told Jyoti to give him his dialogues. Jyoti produced a red dot pen and Sosanko scribbled something on it and handed it to Patol Babu. Patol Babu saw that a single word had been scrolled on it- ‘Oh! Patol Babu felt a sudden throbbing in his head. He felt very strange,’ he had expected some longer dialogues. Sigh came out of the depths of his heart. Just one word-no, not even a word, a sound- ‘Oh! He felt stifling.’ Sosanko said, ‘what’s the matter grandpa?’ You don’t seem to be pleased; several questions were arising in Patol Babu’s mind. Were these people pulling his leg? Was the whole thing a gigantic hoax? Why did they want to drag this simple man into the middle and make a laughing stock of him? How could these people be so cruel? Patol Babu could hardly speak. He slowly said, Just ‘Oh. Is that all I have to say? I find it rather strange.” Sosanko raised his eyebrows and said, “You think that nothing, at least you are getting a speaking part in a Baren Mullick film, do you realize what that means? You are the luckiest of the actors.”

 

c) Why did Patol Babu walk away before he could be paid for his role? What did he reveal about his character?

Ans: Patol Babu was surprised to get his dialogue for it was only a single syllable ‘Oh’. He felt very discouraged. He thought he would be made fun of. Things were much better on the stage. A faint memory was stirred up in his mind. The words of his mentor Gogon Pakrashi rang in his ears, “Each word of the dialogue is like a fruit on a tree. As an artist one should make the best of his opportunity. However small a part may be, never consider it below your dignity.” This small single syllable if spoken in different ways would carry different meanings. A true actor makes the best of it. Now he completely got over his apathy. All he felt was a keen anticipation and excitement. He performed his part well. He had put all his labour in this one act. It was the satisfaction of doing it with perfection. Money did not matter though he needed it. So he went off without being paid. This showed that he was not only talented but a diligent, passionate actor.

d) Do you think making a movie is an easy job? Discuss with reference to the story.

Ans: Although movies are interesting but making a movie is not an easy job. It requires finances as well as proper actors for particular roles. The setting, background music, dialogue delivery must correlate with each with each other. The movie should have an effective ending so that it leaves an impact and message to the audience.