A filthy rich raja reigns over a land that is flush with diamond mines. He is so rich that a tiger guards his wealth. Yet, the common folk is forced to live in abject poverty. When his royal guests are on a visit, these very poor are put out of sight and their makeshift homes on the way leading up to the palace razed. 

Yet, the biggest opponent for the mighty king is a small-time school teacher, Udayan (Soumitra Chatterjee). The tyrant gets his little school closed down and his books burnt.  

“The more they study, the more they know, and the lesser they follow orders.” 

The most intriguing part about the kingdom is a secret chamber, where a scientist, who the raja mockingly calls a magician, invented and now runs an instrument that can brainwash any dissenters. 

To exemplify the king’s oppressions, Satyajit Ray has sensibly used a farmer, a poet/singer (art), and a teacher (education). This triad is usually among the first to get suppressed by tyrants. 

Exaggeration is another tool that the auteur effectively employs to put the point across, like with the raja’s herd of ministers singing in unison “theek, theek” to anything he has to say. In fact, Ray takes the mocking of such yes-men a step further by making all characters talk in rhymes. Except for one: Udayan. The school teacher is a free thinker and doesn’t accept being a puppet like others. 

That’s one reason why the film is better enjoyed by those who understand Bengali. Everybody else like me will have to make do with English subtitles that tend to be a little less engaging. 

Hirak Rajar Deshe (literally: in the country of the diamond king) is out-and-out a political satire (perhaps Ray’s only work of this kind) that was released disguised as a children’s film. That could be possible because the film featured the goofy and magical duo of Goopy Gyne and Bagha Byne from Ray’s film universe. They have a few magical tricks up their sleeves, including the ability to literally spellbind the listeners with their singing. Those new to these characters will get a brief introduction in the opening sequence of this musical film in their trademark style. 

Here’s the trailer.

This film is from 1980. One could consider it an “unpatriotic depiction of India” or ahead of its time, but the thing is that it’s neither. This simple social commentary depicted the time it was released in, and it still doesn't feel out of place, even after decades. 

Drawing parallels with today’s time is inevitable. Our reality may not match the exaggeration in the film, but it isn’t too far either. Brainwashing still happens, books are still censored, and art is still suppressed — only the means have changed. Oh, and the poor and their poverty continue to be concealed behind a tarpaulin; no upgrades here. 

On Satyajit Ray’s birth centenary last year, his son Sandip Ray reckoned that his father would’ve made the second part of Hirak Rajar Deshe if he were around today. But in his absence, this 40-year-old “ahead of its time” movie could at least use a re-release as recreating something like it wouldn't come easy. 

As the British Film Institute showcases all of Ray’s films for the newer generation to get familiar with his work, the time is right to (re)watch Hirak Rajar Deshe and his other films. 

Image source: IMDb

Hirak Rajar Deshe is streaming on Prime Video and Hoichoi in India.