0Books which have a universal appeal and withstand the tarnish of time are referred to as classics in literature. These books entertain and educate. They are a source of inspiration to many readers. Some of these classics become such an integral part of our lives that they seem to become our companions throughout life. There are many such classics in Bengali and English literature. As the audio-visual medium started growing in popularity, the practice of converting these classic books into movies became quite common. However, one often observed that while turning classics into movies, some changes were made to the plot which ruined the movies. Another problem was acting and direction. One can easily observe how classics have been completely ruined by turning them into movies where actors and directors are all mediocre, to say the least. However, the reverse is also true. Some classics like Pather Panchali, have so wonderfully been depicted in the form of a movie that it has left an indelible impression upon our minds and hearts. In modern society, people have a concise attention span. They are quite restless and perusing through the pages of a classic is not a common hobby these days. Thus, in an age where people are slowly losing the reading habit, the audio-visual means is an effective way in which they can be made aware of the classics. Adequate care and utmost caution must, however, be exercised while making a movie from a classic. The essence and spirit of the book and the story itself must be depicted accurately. A well-made movie can inspire a person to read the classics as well.
On the other hand, people who have already read the book might want to watch the movie as well. However, there is always the danger that today's impatient generation might not make an effort to read the book after watching the movie. This will definitely deprive them of the enriching, and ennobling influence, which reading a classic book gives to the mind of the reader. If a movie is made from a classic, the movie must try to magnify the charm of the book and try to inspire the audience to read the original classic as well.
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