Actor Vidya Balan is basking in the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, which released on Diwali, with the film said to be making more money than Ajay Devgn's Singham 3 that released on the same day. In a recent video circulating widely on social media, Vidya can be seen reciting a Bengali poem along with her Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 co-star Rajesh Sharma. Vidya has done several Bengali and Bengal-centric films, and so has Rajesh, and both speak good Bangla. The poem they recite together is 'Satpatra' from Sukumar Ray's 'Aabol Tabol' collection, a 1923 book that has remained one of the most popular works in modern Bengali literature.


In the viral video, Vidya says she learnt the poem from Rajesh long back.


"In between scenes,on a night shoot for BB3, I attempt remembering the 1st #aaboltaabol I learnt from my dear co-actor amar bondhu #RajeshSharma 7 years ago on another set," her comment with the video posted from her Instagram handle reads.
   






'Satpatra' Full Poem & Meaning


Shunte pelam Posta giye —  Tomar naki meyer biye?  
Gangaramke patra pele? Jante chao se kemon chele?  


Mondo noy se patra bhalo, Rong jodio bejai kalo;  
Tar upore mukher gothon, Onekta thik penchar moton;  


Bidye buddhi? Bolchi moshai — Dhonyi cheler oddhyoboshai!  
Unishtibar Matric-e she, Ghayel hoye thamlo sheshe.  


Bishoy ashoy? Gorib bejai — Kostey-shrustey din chole jay.  
Manush to noy bhaigulo tar — Ekta pagol, ekta goanr;  


Arekti se toiri chjele, Jaal kore note gechen jail-e.  
Konishto ti tabla bajay, Jatra dole panch taka pay.  


Gangaram to kebol bhoge, Piler jor ar pandu roge.  
Kintu tara uchcho ghor, Kangsarajer bongsho-dhor!  
Shyam Lahiri Bonogramer, Ki jeno hoy Gangaramer.  


Jahok, ebar patra pele, Emon ki ar mondo chele? 


In 'Satpatra (A nice groom)', Sukumar Ray appears to have humorously critiqued the process of arranged marriages, and the ways in which unsuitable qualities of a prospective groom are glossed over or justified by emphasising trivial connections or family lineage. The poem is written as a conversation between the father of the bride and his acquaintance who knows the prospective groom. 


The narrator describes the groom, Gangaram, in a hilariously unflattering light, emphasising his flaws and the issues with his family. He begins by mentioning that Gangaram is quite dark-skinned and has a face somewhat resembling an owl’s. His academic record is far from admirable, as he failed his matriculation exams 19 times before finally giving up. Financially, the groom’s family is struggling, and his brothers are almost "useless" — while one is illiterate, and another is not mentally fit, the third brother is in jail for counterfeiting, and the youngest plays the tabla for a traveling theatre troupe, earning a modest income.


The narrator then notes Gangaram's poor health — he suffers from recurring fever, jaundice, and other ailments. 


Yet, despite these deficiencies, the narrator concludes on an absurdly positive note that Gangaram isn’t such a bad match after all, because he comes from a high family lineage, allegedly descended from King Kansa from the Mahabharat!


About 'Satpatra' Poem And 'Aabol Tabol'      


'Satpatra' is one of the most popular poems from Sukumar Ray's 'Aabol Tabol' collection. 'Aabol Tabol' means 'the weird and the absurd' in English, and true to its name contains a collection of all 'nonsensical' poems. Published in 1923, 'Aabol Tabol' is written in the spirit of Lewis Carroll’s 'Jabberwocky' or Edward Lear's 'Limericks', 'Aabol Tabol' is filled with quirky characters, imaginative creatures, and absurd situations, with the poems capturing a unique sense of humour and fantasy. 


In today's time, one may ask if it's politically right to say certain things such as the comment on Gangaram's colour of skin and look in 'Satpatra', but the language used by Ray is crafted with such flair and rhythm that 'Aabol Tabol' remains one of the most beloved books and a timeless classic in Bengali literature.


The poems in 'Aabol Tabol' — like the mischievous Ha-Ja-Ba-Ra-La, the confused 'Khichudi', the unpredictable 'Ramgarurer Chhana', or the beasty 'Kumropotash' — embody Ray’s knack for mixing the surreal with the everyday. The poems often contain moral undertones, poking fun at human follies, societal norms, and political pretensions, but always in a light-hearted way that children can enjoy for its rhyme and rhythm while adults can appreciate the satire in them.


Who Was Sukumar Ray?          


Sukumar Ray was a popular Bengali poet, writer, and playwright best known for his wit, satire, and whimsical storytelling. Born in 1887 in Kolkata, Ray came from a family deeply rooted in literature and art. His father, Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury, was a writer, painter, and publisher. Cousin Leela Majumdar was a celebrated author too, with a great body of work to her credit. 


Sukumar Ray's son was the renowned filmmaker Satyajit Ray, who carried forward the family's creative legacy. 


Sukumar Ray was a master of children's literature, known for infusing his work with humour, satire, and wordplay that always resonated with children and adults alike. He died young, at the age of 35, on September 10, 1923. Satyajit Ray was only around 2 years old at the time.