Patol Babu is an amateur actor. The walk-on part in a movie is a great challenge for him. But Patol Babu accepts this challenge and gives a sterling performance to every body’s satisfaction.
Acting had become a thing of remote past for Patol Babu. At one time he had a real passion for the stage. As an amateur actor he used to take an active part in jatras, theatrical and the plays of a local club. But acting in a movie is a different thing. But Patol Babu prepares himself for his new job. His role is very small. He is to act as a short-tempered pedestrian in a scene. When he knows from Sosanko that he has to utter only a monosyllabic word “Oh!”, he feels cheated and humiliated. He considers that ‘those people’ are pulling his leg. However, the priceless words of his guru Pakrashi make him prepare for the job. He realises that however small a role be he should not reject the offer. Patol Babu now accepts the challenge with new interest, hope and excitement. The previous apathy is gone. He gives the exclamation “Oh!” a different inflection each time. He makes an astonishing discovery. The same exclamation spoken in different ways, carries different meanings. He pulls himself by a supreme effort. ‘Mixing 50 parts of anguish, 25 of surprise and 25 of irritation, he utters “Oh!” And what a wonderful performance! He feels satisfied. All those years of struggle have not blunted his sensibility.
