The Hero
The Hero • 1h 57m
Directed by Satyajit Ray • 1966 • India
Starring Uttam Kumar, Sharmila Tagore, Bireswar Sen
In this psychologically rich character study, written and directed by Satyajit Ray, Bengali film star Uttam Kumar draws on his real-world celebrity to play Arindam Mukherjee, a matinee idol on the brink of his first flop. When Mukherjee boards an overnight train to Delhi to accept an award, a journalist (Sharmila Tagore) approaches him seeking an exclusive interview, which initiates a conversation that sends the actor reeling down a path of self-examination. Seamlessly integrating rueful flashbacks and surreal dream sequences with the quietly revelatory stories of the train’s other passengers, THE HERO is a graceful meditation on art, fame, and regret from one of world cinema’s most keenly perceptive filmmakers.
Up Next in The Hero
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Sharmila Tagore on THE HERO
The following interview with actor Sharmila Tagore was recorded in 2008 by producer Nasreen Munni Kabir.
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Meheli Sen on THE HERO
In this interview, produced in 2017, Meheli Sen, associate professor of cinema studies at Rutgers University, shares her observations about Satyajit Ray’s THE HERO; its lead actor, Uttam Kumar; and its unique setting, storytelling style, and peripheral characters.
