Once upon a time, Bengal and Kerala created brilliant cinema. Helmers like Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen, as well as John Abraham, Aravindan, Adoor Gopalkrishnan and Shaji N. Karun gave us films that filled us with joy and a sense of immense satisfaction.
Known as one of the most influential and thought-provoking voices in Indian cinema, Ghatak’s films continue to move hearts and inspire minds even decades after his passing.
Small wonder that as many as 24 members of Ghatak’s family have bared their angst ~ “This act of using any content from his films ~ which does not fit into the context ~ to support a law which seeks re-establishment of identity, talks about the possibility of taking away the citizenship of a particular minority community is deemed unacceptable. It violates the values and principles espoused by Ghatak”. Pre-eminently, he was an ardent believer in humanism and secular ideals”.
While many talk about Tagore being a contemporary influence on popular cinema, many forget his contributions to and impact on silent films before talkies came into being.
Apart from that, they have also restored six of his films, namely namely Ajantrik (1958), Bari Thekey Paliye (1959), Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960), Komal Gandhar (1961), Subarnarekha (1962), Jukti Takko Aar Gappo (1974).
In all, Mrinal Sen made 28 full length movies and four documentary films; he also authored six Bengali and English books on subjects related to films
Sen’s films mostly dealt with the simmering anger in the middle class society.
The short film, Kaala, inspired by the attacks on Africans in Delhi (NCR), is a voice against racism.
Country’s oldest cinematographer Ramanda Sengupta, who worked with legends like Jean Renoir, Ritwik Ghatak and Mrinal Sen, died in Kolkata…
If Ritwik Ghatak’s films have not suffered the same fate that they did when he was alive, it was because…
