NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Literature Reader Chapter 5 - Patol Babu, Film Star

TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS (SOLVED)

3. Answer the following questions briefly.

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

Ans. Nishikanto Ghosh informed Patol Babu that his brother-in-law Naresh Dutt was in the film business and he was looking for someone like Patol Babu, to play a role in his film.

(b) How did Patol Babu react? Why ? [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]

Ans. Patol Babu had always nurtured a passion for acting and theatre. So he was extremely thrilled at the prospect of playing a role in a film, after 52 years of deep longing.

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

Ans. Patol Babu was doing well in his job and he was also in the good books of his boss. But due to sudden retrenchment in his office because of war, he lost his nine-year-old job.

(d) How does Patol Babu reconcile to the dialogue given to him? [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]

Ans. Initially, Patol Babu was very dejected to know that he was required to speak just one word ‘Oh!’, but later he accepted it because the director told him that he was the only one who had a speaking part that day. Even the lead actor had no dialogues to speak that day.

(e) Who was Prakashi? How do his words help Patol Babu in enacting his role?  [C.B.S.E. 2012 (T-2)]
Or
 What was the advice of Patol Babu’s mentor, Gagon Pakrashi?

Ans. Mr. Prakashi had been Patol Babu’s mentor. He had advised him that each word spoken in a play is like a fruit in a tree, so full justice must be done to each part. So Patol Babu not only got over his disappointment but also practiced speaking ‘‘Oh!’’ in many different ways.

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

Ans. Patol Babu, practiced each step of his tiny role thoroughly. He enunciated ‘‘Oh!’’ in various ways, he practiced his features would be twisted in pain after a collision and how he would fling his arms, how would he crouch his body to express pain and surprise. He requested the director for a rehearsal also, which was declined.

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

Ans. Mr. Mullick was a very busy and preoccupied director. He had no patience to grant rehearsal for an insignificant role. Moreover, the scene had to be shot in sunlight and as the clouds were seen approaching, he had to take the shot quickly. So he declined Patol Babu’s request for a rehearsal.

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

Ans. Patol Babu suggested that he should be reading a newspaper when he collided with the lead actor. Later the director added a butterfly kind of mustache to make his character look more authentic.

4. Discuss the following questions in detail and write the answer in your notebooks :
 (a) ‘‘I hope the part calls for some dialogue.’’ Who says this? Why does he/she ask this question?

Ans. The above query is made by Patol Babu to Naresh Dutt, the director of the movie. Patol Babu only wished to act out a speaking part and so out of curiosity he asks this question.

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

Ans. Patol Babu had gone to the Faraday House with a lot of aspirations and desires. After 52 years of waiting, a role had come his way and he had already confirmed from Naresh Dutt, the director that he had a speaking role. He had not come all the way to be a part of the crowd scene. When he told that he just has to speak one syllable ‘Oh!’, his hopes are shattered and he feels humiliated and insulted. He was modest, ordinary, but why did the film people chose to make a fool of him. He is disappointed and frustrated and wishes to go back home.

(c) Patol Babu is an amateur actor for whom walk-on part in a movie turns into an ultimate challenge. Discuss.

Ans. Patol Babu was blessed with an artistic temperament and meticulous nature. In his walk-on role, he was just required to speak ‘Oh!’. After the initial disappointment, Patol Babu remembered the words of his mentor, ‘‘However small a part you’re offered, never consider it beneath your dignity to accept it .... make the most of your opportunity.’’ He geared up for a superlative performance. He uttered ‘‘Oh!’’ with different inflections, tried to say it differently in different situations. He believed that a true actor could make a mark with one single syllable and set out to achieve this aim. Patol Babu went near a side-street and practiced all the steps – how he would react physically, how his features would twist in pain, how he would fling his arms and how he would crouch his body and resume his walk.

When the time for the shoot arrived, Patol Babu suggested a rehearsal. This suggestion was declined but he was allowed to walk with a newspaper, during the collision with the lead actor. He was extremely pleased to support a big mustache which made his character more interesting. He gave an excellent performance, which earned him compliments like ‘‘Jolly good! why you’re quite an actor” from an indifferent director. Even the lead actor, Chanchal Kumar commented “My God! you timed it so well that I nearly passed out.’’

So Patol Babu’s unfulfilled aspirations were ignited when he was already 52 years old. Who knows maybe a fire would follow. Truly, a true artist believed in perfection and not in remuneration.

(d) Do you agree with the statement that Patol Babu is a practical man who comes to terms with whatever life has to offer?

Ans. Patol Babu had an artist’s mind and heart. He was very emotional and the moment he realized that he was supposed to utter just one syllable ‘Oh!’, he wanted to quit. He felt he had been taken for a ride and didn’t wish to look like a fool. But then the advice of his mentor makes him stay and do the job perfectly. Patol Babu does complete the assignment but he cannot be called practical. He labors and sweats too much for fraction of a scene and then walks away without taking the money. He felt hi perfection and dedication couldn’t be measured by twenty or fifteen rupees.

(e) Why does Patol Babu walk away before he can be paid for his role? What does this reveal about his character?

Ans. Patol Babu is very pleased with his performance and felt that he had made his mentor, Prakash, proud. But he felt that the film people could never appreciate how hard he had labored for that one shot. The film people were mechanical and even if they paid him fifteen or twenty rupees, could that money ever compensate for the great effort he had put in. That was not the befitting remuneration for such a perfect and dedicated work.

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

Ans. Movie-making is extremely tiring, painful and a long process. Locations have to be fixed and hired, proper characters who fit the roles have to be scouted, called. Moreover, there is heavy equipment that is needed and has to be carted along. During shooting minute details like a mustache for Patol Babu, has to be looked into. The crowds become uncontrollable during shootings and that also has to be seen. The director and other spot boys like Baren Mallik have to sweat it out in the open. Moreover, the director is always on tenterhooks to finish the shooting. When Patol Babu wanted a rehearsal, the director declined it because that particular shot had to be caned in broad daylight.

5. Use the words given below to tell about Patol Babu’s character.

(a) That an offer to act in a film - - - - - - - - -beyond wild dreams
Ans. – unassuming, modest

(b) Indeed - - - - - - - - - - him.
Ans. – talented / passionate actor.

(c) I was with Hudson - - - - - - - - - - single day.
Ans. –diligent / meticulous

(d) It didn’t matter - - - - - - - - - - so many people.
Ans. – modest / humble

(e) Patol Babu - - - - - - - - - - glass window.
Ans. – meticulous / diligent

(f) It is true - - - - - - - - - - dedication ?
Ans. – passionate actor / humble