"Patol Babu, Film Star" by Satyajit Ray is a heartwarming story from Class 10 English that highlights the importance of passion, dedication, and self-respect in one's work, regardless of its scale or recognition. The story revolves around an ordinary man, Patol Babu, who rediscovers his love for acting through an unexpected opportunity.
Patol Babu, a 52-year-old man, lives a modest life in Kolkata. Once a passionate stage actor, he had to give up his dreams due to financial hardships. Over the years, he worked in various jobs to support his family, losing touch with his artistic pursuits.
One day, his neighbor, Nishikanto Ghosh, informs him that his brother-in-law, who is in the film industry, is looking for someone to play a small role in a movie. Excited by the opportunity, Patol Babu reminisces about his acting days and eagerly agrees to participate.
The next day, Patol Babu arrives on the film set and learns about his role. To his disappointment, he is given only a minor part with a single word of dialogue: "Oh!" Initially, he feels disheartened and undervalued, wondering if his time and talent are being wasted. However, his love for acting soon rekindles his enthusiasm.
Patol Babu prepares for his role with meticulous detail, considering the right expression, voice modulation, and timing for the single word. When the scene is shot, he delivers his dialogue with perfection, impressing everyone on the set. Despite being a minor role, he takes immense pride in doing it to the best of his ability.
After the shoot, Patol Babu leaves quietly, without waiting for his payment. He realizes that the joy and satisfaction of performing with dedication matter more to him than money or recognition.
Patol Babu is a 52-year-old man living in Kolkata who was once a passionate stage actor. Over time, he had to give up acting due to financial challenges and worked various jobs to support his family.
The story revolves around Patol Babu getting an unexpected opportunity to act in a film after many years. Although his role is minor, with just one word of dialogue ("Oh!"), he performs it with dedication and takes pride in his work.
Initially, Patol Babu feels disheartened and disappointed upon discovering that his role involves only a single word. However, his love for acting motivates him to prepare and perform it with sincerity.
The story highlights that every task, no matter how small, deserves effort and sincerity. Patol Babu’s commitment to perfecting his role shows that dedication to one’s work is more important than its scale or recognition.
Patol Babu values the joy and satisfaction of performing with passion over monetary rewards. He believes that his dedication to the art of acting is more fulfilling than being paid for the role.
