Teen Kanya: The Postmaster – Satyajit Ray’s Short Film Review
Plot Summary
40 minutes of magic. That's what Satyajit Ray weaves in the first of the Teen Kanya anthology — The Postmaster.
Your heart goes out to Ratan, the young orphan child who tirelessly serves her master, the postmaster. For Nandlal, this is a wretched posting, one that almost takes his life. But for Ratan, it is life-changing. She likes Nandlal. She happily does the chores and tends to him when he is unwell. But more than anything, he gives her ambition and hope. Nandlal teaches Ratan how to read and write, and encourages her to wear clean clothes — small gestures that transform her world.
Character Analysis
Nandlal, true to his character of being a weak person, cannot survive in Ulapore. He decides to quit his job and go back to the comforts of Calcutta. But this destroys Ratan. In the final scene, Nandlal is walking away from the village, while Ratan approaches with a pail of water for her new master. He calls out to give her a gift and say goodbye. She does not look up. She walks away — that silence tells us everything about Ratan’s heartbreak and quiet dignity.
Why You Should Watch It
If you want to learn about character exposition, watch this short feature. Every glance and gesture says more than dialogue could.
About the Cast
There's not much known about Chandana Banerjee, except she once won a Teen Princess award. But what an actor! Her understated performance leaves an indelible mark — a testament to Ray’s ability to bring out the extraordinary from the ordinary.
If you enjoyed this, you might also like my review of Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali.
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