Banno gives us a screenplay summary of the opening scenes of Bimal Roy’s “Parakh” and how within a span of minutes six different characters are introduced:

So, in virtually one scene set in the post office, within the first 6-7 minutes of the film, we meet 6 characters and one off-screen character. We learn a little bit about each character, what they are like, what they believe in, and what their problems could be. We also get a glimpse of the village where the post office is, and the country where the village is, and the problems that beset it – unemployment, poverty, caste. Not only that, but the premise of the film is set down as well – money, and the greed for it.

Go read it: its interesting.