Most of us are very much aware of Bengali culture, but the culture also falls prey to many stereotypes. A lot of people I have come across tend to think that Bengali culture mostly consists of fish, Rabindrasangeet and a couple of Satyajit Ray films, as they seem to be the only things that have managed to permeate popular culture outside West Bengal, letting many other beautiful things disappear into oblivion. Like its movies.
Bengali movies have an extremely rich history. The history of cinema in Bengal dates back to the 1890’s when the first ‘bioscopes’ were shown in theatres in Calcutta. The first Bengali feature film was in fact produced as early as 1918. Before Satyajit Ray, directors like Ritwik Ghatak began a new trend of realistic cinema, charting a new form of filmmaking known as parallel cinema.
Over the years, cinema in Bengal has transitioned in many ways. Bengali films are known for their hard-hitting storylines, characters, and dialogues. Some movies, over time, have etched themselves in the memories of many people as classics. These films cannot be forgotten and they constantly remind me, and I am sure, many others, of the beauty of story-telling. This list may not be exhaustive, but I have tried to compile a list of Bengali movies you should definitely watch. Because these movies can’t be missed!
1. Matir Moina (2002)
A Bangladeshi movie, but it’s a must-watch for every fan of Bengali cinema. The film is completely in Bangal language and portrays the pain of people during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was also Bangladesh’s first movie to be shortlisted for the 2002 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
2. The Japanese Wife (2010)
637 letters, 4 phone calls, 17 years of marriage, but they still haven’t met – what can be a more beautiful love story? Aparna Sen, one of the most successful directors of modern day Bengali cinema, who won the National award for her movie, 36 Chowringhee Lane, directed this film, which was a critical success. The movie revolves around the life of Rahul Bose, who marries his Japanese pen friend but never meets her in his lifetime. Who can forget the last gut-wrenching scene of the film?
3. Chokher Bali (2003)
Based on a novel by Rabindranath Tagore of the same name, Choker Bali is Rituparno Ghosh’s most controversial and critically acclaimed film. The film stars Prosenjit Chatterjee and Aishwarya Rai. The story is a widow who has an affair with a married man.
4. Antaheen (2009)
Antaheen is one of modern Bengali cinema’s best movies, starring Rahul Bose and Radhika Apte in lead roles. The movie is a critique of modern society, where some relationships are broken beyond repair and some relations are never meant to be, as they are just bonds created over the internet. Three parallel stories run throughout the movie, with the principal protagonists meeting the other characters throughout the movie. Antaheen went on to win the National Award for Best Film in 2009.
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