An Enemy of the People (Ganashatru)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Mrs. Bijoya Ray

Dr. Dineshchandra Mallik Dr. Kantibhusan Bakshi

Mr. Dipankar Sarkar Truth Press - Basanti Press - Sandesh

Sri Ramkrishna Pharmacy Anandabazar Patrika Ltd

Ajkal Mr. Balai Sarkar

- Is this the newspaper Janavarta ? - Yes.

- Am I speaking to the editor? - Yes.

Haridas,

this is Dr. Gupta speaking, Ashoke Gupta.

Yes, sir?

I'm calling you with some news.

What news?

There have been some jaundice cases here in Chandipur.

Yes, what we call infective hepatitis.

There have been cases of other waterborne diseases as well,

such as typhoid, gastroenteritis and others.

We've seen cases in our hospital and also among private patients.

None of these diseases have ever occurred before in Chandipur.

I'd like you to print this information so that people can be made aware.

- Do you know why this is happening? - No, not yet.

We can't find the source of the contamination.

- ShouId I tell you what I think it is? - Yes, do.

The Santoshpur ChemicaI Factory is just across the river.

It couId be Ieaking chemicaI impurities into the water,

because we know the fish are dying.

We printed that too. Haven't you read it?

No, chemical impurities wouldn't cause these diseases.

I'm sure you know better.

Will you print it?

ShouId we say infective hepatitis or jaundice?

Jaundice is better understood by the public.

All right.

I'll send over a reporter, Sanat Dasgupta.

PIease give him all the detaiIs.

All right. I'll keep you informed.

National Film Development Corporation, India presents

An adaptation of Henrik lbsen's play

An Enemy of the PeopIe

Satyajit Ray's

AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE ( Ganashatru )

Soumitra Chatterjee Dhritiman Chatterjee, Dipankar Dey

Ruma Guha Thakurta Mamata Shankar

Cinematography Barun Raha

Art Direction Ashoke Bose

Editor Dulal Dutta

Produced by National Film Development Corp., Ltd.

Screenplay, Music and Direction Satyajit Ray

- Homemade, I presume? - Yes.

Like it? - Delicious.

l usually just have tea at the office. Here, I could not resist the temptation.

I was wondering how you found the time to come.

I thought newspaper editors worked until midnight.

That's true,

but, as I said, I have to meet with the doctor urgently on business.

He's usually here by now.

There seems to be an epidemic.

- What epidemic? - Jaundice.

- Again? - So it seems.

We wrote an article about some jaundice cases in Janavarta.

The doctor himself told us about them.

It's never happened here before.

He's been worried for the past few days.

There have been quite a few cases at his private practice as well.

I hope it will end soon.

Ever since Bhargava's temple was built 10 years ago, things have changed so much.

It's still two months until Shivratri, and the hotels are already fully booked.

Chandipur is an important place now.

We love it here.

We were born and raised here.

Chandan!

Of course, he studied medicine in Calcutta.

After our marriage, we lived there for a time while he practiced medicine.

I didn't like it.

l felt at peace again when we returned to Chandipur.

We prefer small towns.

Compared to Calcutta's pollution--

- What a surprise. Look who's here. - I'm afraid I never find the time to drop by.

May I present Haridas Bagchi, the editor of Janavarta?

This is my brother-in-law-- - Of course!

I'm a journalist. I recognize the chairman of the municipality.

Hasn't he come home yet?

Maybe he's with a patient.

Will you have some tea? - No, I just had some.

- The snacks are homemade. - I don't eat between meals.

Still having trouble with your digestion?

Ashoke's prescription didn't work,

so I'm trying herbal medicine.

- Won't you have anything? - Just a glass of water.

How's your paper doing?

Still running.

You seem to have moved a bit to the left lately.

Has it improved circulation?

Do you read our paper?

At times. It's the only daily newspaper in Chandipur.

Didn't your paper run the first story on the jaundice cases?

Thanks to the doctor.

That's strange.

He didn't say anything to me.

Maybe he didn't find the time.

You know how absentminded he is.

What does he think about the situation?

Nothing in particular, but he's quite worried.

Even if it is jaundice,

it won't stop people from coming to the festival.

Ever since the Tripureshwar temple was built,

visitors have increased threefold.

l needn't tell you. You're the president of the Bhargava Trust.

Have you ever been to the temple?

Of course. Both of us have been there.

I'm not like Ashoke. l believe in religion.

A week of praying at the temple, and my spondylitis was cured.

- Really? - They say Shiva is very powerful.

That must be my husband.

I hope so. I have some business with him.

I have to go soon.

Any news from your son?

He decided to stay there.

- In America? - So it seems.

Oh, Nisith. What brings you here?

Sit down. I'll tell you.

l saw Ronen coming on foot, so I gave him a lift.

Please, have a seat.

They've all been waiting for you.

- I got delayed by a patient. - Jaundice again?

Yes, but he's out of danger now.

Any news from the hospital?

That's what I came to find out.

The hospital isn't the problem. It's this increase in jaundice cases.

Bhargava wants to know if you have enough medical supplies.

No worries there.

What worries me is the cause of this water contamination.

ls it stemming from any particular area?

I think so, but it requires investigation.

We should investigate further.

- Ronen, some tea? - Yes, please.

- Ranu isn't back yet. - That's all right. I'll wait.

By the way...

any letters for me?

None.

If you need anything, please don't hesitate to let me know.

That won't be necessary.

Bhargava has done the public a great service by building the hospital.

Chandipur has all the facilities now.

I think no other small town could compare with Chandipur.

Even culturally, we aren't lagging behind.

Look at Ronen. He's from here.

See what he's achieved?

We're doing what we can.

We've formed a theater group.

The doctor's daughter is also a member.

A year ago, we started publishing a quarterly literary journal.

Ronen works in a bank. He has a lucrative job.

That's good.

What's your journal called?

The Torch.

Which way do you lean?

Right? Or left?

Today, most journals lean a bit to the left.

But we're just getting started. We have a lot to overcome.

We don't have many subscribers.

It's the effort that matters.

You told them everything but the most important thing.

I leave that to you.

- What is it? - He's our future son-in-law.

Is that so?

- When is the happy day? - This May.

Is Ranu still teaching at the school?

Yes, but she won't have to anymore starting in May,

because Ronen's going to be promoted in January.

Haridas, you've been very quiet.

How are you doing? - I'm looking forward to your story.

- About what? - About Chandipur.

You wrote about the climate here once.

Now write something else.

This new cultural scene could be a good subject.

No.

Leave it for now. - Why not?

It would be a very good thing for Chandipur.

The news about jaundice must have upset many people.

I'm upset too.

Terribly upset.

I'm in no mood to write.

But to refuse to write...

Don't you wish the best for Chandipur?

Of course, a hundredfold! More than anyone.

That's great.

We're trying to turn Chandipur into a major tourist destination in West Bengal.

We need your active support.

As for these virus cases,

rest assured the municipality is behind you.

- Leaving already? - Yes.

I'll stop by some other time. - Don't forget.

- Ronen, send me a copy of your journal. - I will.

The chairman seemed to be in an affable mood.

He's usually in a bad mood...

when he has indigestion.

I thought he'd be upset at meeting me.

Did you hear what he asked about my journal?

Don't take that seriously.

No, I was between a rock and a hard place.