Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee (Revised & Updated Second Edition)

113 Pages | Paperback

$11.99

FREE Delivery anywhere in India

For the last six decades Soumitra Chatterjee has been revered, followed, worshipped – he had been a way of life, for many. The idea of this book stems from the many discussions the author had with Soumitra Chatterjee for over the last few years. The Revised Second Edition features an Exclusive Bonus of 20 Poems of Soumitra Chatterjee Translated + Rare & Unseen Photos

Curated bundle | Save $0

MURMURS-2nd Edition front-cover
Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee (Revised & Updated Second Edition)
$11.99
The Other End of the Tunnel
The Other End of the Tunnel - A Novel
$11.99
Fragmented Kolkata in Pieces
Fragmented: Kolkata in Pieces
$19.99
Total: $ You pay: $ You save: $Add to Cart

About the Author

Amitava Nag

Connect

Amitava Nag

|

Author page

Author | Poet | Film Critic | Editor-in-Chief of Silhouette Magazine

Amitava Nag is an independent film critic based in Kolkata and editor of Silhouette.

His most recent books on cinema are 75 Years 75 Films: India’s Cinematic Journey and The Cinema of Mrinal Sen: A Quest for the Unresolved (co-edited). His other books on cinema include Ghunchu Kirtan; Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee;  The Cinema of Tapan Sinha: An Introduction; Soumitra Chatterjee: A Life in Cinema and Beyond. His earlier writings include the acclaimed books Satyajit Ray’s Heroes and Heroines; 16 Frames; Smriti Satta o Cinema and Beyond Apu: 20 Favourite Film Roles of Soumitra Chatterjee.

Amitava also writes poetry and short fiction in Bengali and English – observing life in a platter. His poetry collection Forever Meera and translation anthology of Soumitra Chatterjee’s English poems titled Walking Through the Mist were published in 2020. He has penned two short story collections in English and Bengali and a couple of poetry anthologies in Bengali as well. Amitava can be reached at amitavanag.net.

More

Amazon Bestseller
Asavari Bose

$-1

Details

Revised Second Edition
Featuring an Exclusive Bonus of

20 Poems of Soumitra Chatterjee Translated + Rare & Unseen Photos

Foreword by Shyam Benegal

Special note by Atanu Ghosh
For the last six decades Soumitra Chatterjee has been revered, followed, worshipped – he had been a way of life, for many. There is no doubt that he is a product of our time, our culture for over half a century. Yet, he knew the secret to transcend time and culture in the most magical way.

Probably he approached life with openness and generosity which is why he seemed transparent, yet arty. He could sport naturalism as his ego, less judgmental and hungry. Fastidious about his own art he was liberal to concepts, who perfected a sense of emotional detachment in order to engage himself in a mental and esoteric travel to other eras, other moments in history.

The idea of this book stems from the many discussions the author had with Soumitra Chatterjee for over the last few years. This is not a biography. Nor a hagiography of a bright star of the collective mental sky.

Adoor Gopalakrishnan
Comment from the legendary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan

The book holds the author’s many anxieties, questions, hazy perceptions and unresolved miseries. In the discussions, there have been some common themes – separation, return, fear and death. Then painting, poetry, reading. The themes repeat though not in this same order.

Just like a good cinema must reflect some good shots, a good writing must also leave behind, apart from others, a few good sentences. The silent steals, the distant murmurs, the broken dreams. A memoir needs to teem with unfulfilled love, the moments of grief and pain. And silence.

This book is written in the present tense throughout. In discussions of soul time freezes, fleets and flies. In these we probe the boundaries of words. What is left to thinking if there aren’t words as friezes?

sharmila tagore

 

Murmurs is listed on Goodreads

 

Reviews

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee (Revised & Updated Second Edition)”

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In the Media

Excerpt in Scroll.in

Scroll.in | January 2, 2021

An excerpt from a new essay of conversations with the legendary actor – “Frankly, I never thought it like this. Yes, I was lucky in the initial days with my choice of films. I think you have a point. It will be a privilege to be compared with Tendulkar, any day, he flashes his brilliant smile in happy sustenance.” Don’t miss this intimate conversation with Soumitra Chatterjee.~ Scroll.in carries an excerpt of Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee

More

Murmurs: An Abstract Tapestry That Succeeds in Keeping the Reader Hooked

Learning and Creativity | January 4, 2021

Noted film critic and documentary film maker Subha Das Mollick previewed ‘Murmurs’ and mentioned — “It is not an easy task to hook the reader with stream of consciousness words, phrases, sentences through 90 pages and 19 chapters. Amitava Nag’s book Murmurs: Silent steals with Soumitra Chatterjee succeeds in keeping his reader hooked as he weaves an abstract tapestry with fragments of memory around the author’s numerous engagements with Soumitra Chatterjee…..”

More

Excerpt in Cinemaazi

Cinemaazi.com | January 5, 2021

Amitava Akash Nag’s New book Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee is a memoir unlike any other. An introspective and ruminative recollection of the author’s conversations with the late actor, the book offers us an intimate look at the man who was much more than an actor.“In cinema, I did reject roles on merit at times. I was never very perturbed about remunerations a role may offer. Why else do you think I rejected the offers from Bombay? Even from Hrishikesh Mukherjee. But in hindsight, a stint in Bombay would have secured the future, he fiddles with his ancient non-touchscreen, petite mobile phone.” – An excerpt from the book.Cinemaazi Magazine publishes a beautiful preview of the book along with excerpts from the book.

More

Result of a Warm and Translucent Friendship

The Space Ink Magazine | January 13, 2021

“A teenage boy stood and waited outside the gate of the actor Soumitra Chatterjee’s house hoping to catch a glimpse of the then-sexagenarian legend. Over the years that boy managed to befriend the legend away from his screen life. Starting with an interview back in 2009, author Amitava Nag and Soumitra Chatterjee weaved a warm and translucent friendship that transcended the barrier that usually exists between actors and their admirers” – Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee is a result of that wonderful friendship.

More

Behind the scenes with Soumitra

The Hindu BusinessLine | By Sathya Saran | January 18, 2021

'Murmurs' book review: Transcending time

The Indian Express | By Gautam Chintamani | May 30, 2021

At the time of his death in November 2020 following COVID-19 complications, he was preceded perhaps by only Rabindranath Tagore and Satyajit Ray when it came to reverence. Noted author and film historian Gautam Chintamani reviews

More

Reflections on films and mortality: no yesterday and no tomorrow

National Herald | Book Extract | January 18, 2021

‘This book is not on cinema as such but on reflections on life by a star who was always human as he shared parts of his life with a much younger friend,’ says Nag of his book ‘Murmurs’

More

Book review: Amitava Nag's Murmurs showcases Soumitra Chatterjee's sensitive and cerebral nature

Cinestaan.com | January 19, 2022

Amitava Nag’s deeply reflective and personal book on Bengal's last Renaissance man, Murmurs, is an intriguing literary work. It makes us wonder whether while celebrating the actor, we have overlooked the cerebral and deeply sensitive artiste who was constantly evolving and asking himself if he had given back as much as he had received over the course of his long and illustrious career.

More

मरमर्स: कई विधाओं का समुच्चय

Amar Ujala | Review | June 27, 2022

सौमित्र चैटर्जी एक अभिनेता रहे हैं इसके साथ वे बहुत एकांतप्रिय हैं। सत्यजित राय की ‘अपुर संसार’ से प्रारंभ कर तकरीबन छ: दशक उन्होंने अभिनय किया।

More

Unique and introspective exploration

Goodreads | July 20, 2024

While "Murmurs: Silent Steals with Soumitra Chatterjee" is not a conventional memoir, it is filled with unfulfilled love, moments of grief, pain, and silence. The author's personal anxieties and unresolved miseries add depth to the narrative, creating a connection with the readers who may find echoes of their own emotions within the pages.

More