Iron to Gold: The Translocal Claim of PARASH PATHAR – Neepa Majumdar (Pittsburgh)
PARASH PATHAR (The Philosopher’s Stone) from 1958 is a light-footed thought-experiment that was initially dismissed by critics and educated audiences as a comedy that was only of local interest, but which has layers and references that point far beyond that. Ray liked to talk about how much fun he had making it. Joy, rather than humor, is the key to the mood of this film.
Neepa Majumdar is Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.
Film: PARASH PATHAR (The Philosopher’s Stone) India 1958, 90 min