This is a list of 100 of my favorite Bangla films that I have had the opportunity of seeing over the years.
I would like to recommend viewing of these very films to understand and appreciate Bangla Cinema, that has undergone much evolution.
I have consciously avoided the segregation of the films into mainstream and parallel genre. However, I have tried to see that the films which appealed to me as a viewer are also of some substantial interest in general.
I am grateful for the endeavor of my dear friend Iman Bhattacharya, without whom I wouldn't have been able to rely on memory alone.
[Aishwarya Rai in 'Chokher Baali']
1) Saare Chuattor (d:Nirmal Dey, 1953)
2) Pather Panchali (d: Satyajit Ray, 1955)
3) Aparajito (d: Satyajit Ray, 1956)
4) Saaheb Bibi Golaam (d:Kartik Chatterjee, 1956)
5) Deep Jwele Jai (d: Asit Sen, 1957)
6) Kaabuliwalaah (d: Tapan Sinha, 1957)
7) Ajantrik (d:Ritwik Ghatak, 1958)
8) Jalsaghar (d: Satyajit Ray, 1958)
9) Paras Paathar (d: Satyajit Ray, 1958)
10) Apur Sansar (d: Satyajit Ray, 1959)
11) Baari Theke Paaliye (d: Ritwik Ghatak, 1959)
12) Ganga (d:Rajen Tarafdar, 1959)
13) Meghe Dhaka Tara (d: Ritwik Ghatak, 1960)
14) Baaishey Sraabon (d: Mrinal Sen, 1960)
15) Debi (d: Satyajit Ray,1960)
16) Komal Gandhar (d: Ritwik Ghatak, 1961)
17) Saptapodi (d:Ajay Kar, 1961)
18) Teen Kanya (d: Satyajit Ray, 1961)
19) Kanchenjungha (d: Satyajit Ray, 1962)
20) Mahanagar (d: Satyajit Ray, 1963)
21) Saat Paake Bandha (d: Ajay Kar, 1963)
22) Nirjan Saikate (d: Tapan Sinha, 1963)
23) Kaancher Swarga (d: Jaatrik, 1963)
24) Chhaya Surjya (d:ParthaPratim Chowdhury, 1963)
25) UttarFalguni (d: Asit Sen, 1963)
26) Palatak (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1963)
27) Charulata (d: Satyajit Ray, 1964)
28) Kaapurush-O-Mahapurush (d: Satyajit Ray, 1965)
29) Abhaya-O-Srikanto (d: Haridas Bhattacharya, 1965)
30) Atithi (d: Tapan Sinha, 1965)
31) Kinu Goalar Goli (d: O. C. Ganguly, 1966)
32) Golpo Holeo Sotti (d: Tapan Sinha, 1966)
33) Naayak (d: Satyajit Ray, 1966)
34) Basonto Bilap (d: Dinen Gupta, 1967)
35) Chowringhee (d: Pinaki Mukherjee, 1968)
36) Goopi Gayen Bagha Bayen (d: Satyajit Ray, 1968)
37) Aapanjan (d: Tapan Sinha, 1968)
38) Notun Paata (d: Dinen Gupta, 1969)
39) Nishipadmo (d: Arabinda Mukherjee, 1970)
40) Aranyer DinRatri (d: Satyajit Ray, 1970)
41) Nimantran (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1971)
42) Seemabaddha (d: Satyajit Ray, 1971)
43) Dhonnee Meye (d: Arabinda Mukherjee,1971)
44) Choddobesi (d: Arabinda Mukherjee, 1971)
45) Maalyadaan (d: Ajay Kar, 1971)
46) Kuheli (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1971)
47) Calcutta-71 (d: Mrinal Sen, 1972)
48) Bilet Pherat (d: Chidananda Dasgupta, 1972)
49) BonPalashir Padabali (d: Uttam Kumar, 1973)
50) Ashani Sanket (d: Satyajit Ray,1973)
51) Sreeman Prithviraj (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1973)
52) Sonar Kella (d: Satyajit Ray, 1974)
53) Debi Choudhurani (d: Dinen Gupta, 1974)
54) Raja (d: Tapan Sinha, 1975)
55) Jana Aranya (d: Satyajit Ray, 1975)
56) Agniswar (d: Arabinda Mukherjee, 1975)
57) Datta (d: Ajay Kar, 1976)
58) Harmonium (d: Tapan Sinha, 1976)
59) Joy Baba Felunath (d: Satyajit Ray, 1978)
60) Dooratwa (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1978)
61) Neem Annapurna (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1979)
62) Noukodubi (d: Ajay Kar, 1979)
63) EkDin Pratidin (d: Mrinal Sen, 1979)
64) Baanchharamer Baagan (d: Tapan Sinha,1980)
65) Daadar Kirti (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1980)
66) Hirak Rajar Deshe (d: Satyajit Ray, 1980)
67) Aakaler Sandhane (d: Mrinal Sen, 1980)
68) Kharij (d: Mrinal Sen, 1982)
69) Grihajuddha (d:Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1982)
70) Phatikchaand (d: Sandip Ray,1983)
71) Konee (d: Saroj Dey, 1984)
72) Ghare Baire (d: Satyajit Ray, 1984)
73) Mohonar Dikey (d: Biresh Chatterjee, 1984)
74) Bhalobasha Bhalobasha (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1985)
75) Chopper (d: Nabyendu Chatterjee, 1986)
76) Antarjali Jatra (d: Goutam Ghose, 1987)
77) Phera (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1988)
78) Sati (d: Aparna Sen, 1989)
79) Parashuramer Kuthar (d:Nabyendu Chatterjee,1989)
80) Shakha Proshakha (d: Satyajit Ray,1990)
81) Agantuk (d: Satyajit Ray,1990)
82) Tahader Katha (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1992)
83) Hirer Aangti (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 1992)
84) Charachar (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1993)
85) Antareen (d: Mrinal Sen, 1993)
86) Shwet Pathorer Thala (d: Prabhat Roy, 1994)
87) Unishe April (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 1994)
88) Yuganta (d: Aparna Sen,1995)
89) Daamu (d: Raja Sen, 1995)
90) Dahan (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 1998)
91) Baariwali (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 1999)
92) Paromitar Ekdin (d: Aparna Sen, 2000)
93) Dekha (d: Goutam Ghose, 2001)
94) Mansur Mianr Ghoda (d: Nabyendu Chatterjee, 2001)
95) Utsab (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 2001)
96) Chokher Baali (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 2004)
97) Antarmahal (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 2005)
98) Dosar (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 2006)
99) Bibar (d: Subrata Sen, 2006)
100) Herbert (d: Suman Mukherjee, 2006)
[The title card of 'Pather Panchali']
I would like to recommend viewing of these very films to understand and appreciate Bangla Cinema, that has undergone much evolution.
I have consciously avoided the segregation of the films into mainstream and parallel genre. However, I have tried to see that the films which appealed to me as a viewer are also of some substantial interest in general.
I am grateful for the endeavor of my dear friend Iman Bhattacharya, without whom I wouldn't have been able to rely on memory alone.
[Aishwarya Rai in 'Chokher Baali']
1) Saare Chuattor (d:Nirmal Dey, 1953)
2) Pather Panchali (d: Satyajit Ray, 1955)
3) Aparajito (d: Satyajit Ray, 1956)
4) Saaheb Bibi Golaam (d:Kartik Chatterjee, 1956)
5) Deep Jwele Jai (d: Asit Sen, 1957)
6) Kaabuliwalaah (d: Tapan Sinha, 1957)
7) Ajantrik (d:Ritwik Ghatak, 1958)
8) Jalsaghar (d: Satyajit Ray, 1958)
9) Paras Paathar (d: Satyajit Ray, 1958)
10) Apur Sansar (d: Satyajit Ray, 1959)
11) Baari Theke Paaliye (d: Ritwik Ghatak, 1959)
12) Ganga (d:Rajen Tarafdar, 1959)
13) Meghe Dhaka Tara (d: Ritwik Ghatak, 1960)
14) Baaishey Sraabon (d: Mrinal Sen, 1960)
15) Debi (d: Satyajit Ray,1960)
16) Komal Gandhar (d: Ritwik Ghatak, 1961)
17) Saptapodi (d:Ajay Kar, 1961)
18) Teen Kanya (d: Satyajit Ray, 1961)
19) Kanchenjungha (d: Satyajit Ray, 1962)
20) Mahanagar (d: Satyajit Ray, 1963)
21) Saat Paake Bandha (d: Ajay Kar, 1963)
22) Nirjan Saikate (d: Tapan Sinha, 1963)
23) Kaancher Swarga (d: Jaatrik, 1963)
24) Chhaya Surjya (d:ParthaPratim Chowdhury, 1963)
25) UttarFalguni (d: Asit Sen, 1963)
26) Palatak (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1963)
27) Charulata (d: Satyajit Ray, 1964)
28) Kaapurush-O-Mahapurush (d: Satyajit Ray, 1965)
29) Abhaya-O-Srikanto (d: Haridas Bhattacharya, 1965)
30) Atithi (d: Tapan Sinha, 1965)
31) Kinu Goalar Goli (d: O. C. Ganguly, 1966)
32) Golpo Holeo Sotti (d: Tapan Sinha, 1966)
33) Naayak (d: Satyajit Ray, 1966)
34) Basonto Bilap (d: Dinen Gupta, 1967)
35) Chowringhee (d: Pinaki Mukherjee, 1968)
36) Goopi Gayen Bagha Bayen (d: Satyajit Ray, 1968)
37) Aapanjan (d: Tapan Sinha, 1968)
38) Notun Paata (d: Dinen Gupta, 1969)
39) Nishipadmo (d: Arabinda Mukherjee, 1970)
40) Aranyer DinRatri (d: Satyajit Ray, 1970)
41) Nimantran (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1971)
42) Seemabaddha (d: Satyajit Ray, 1971)
43) Dhonnee Meye (d: Arabinda Mukherjee,1971)
44) Choddobesi (d: Arabinda Mukherjee, 1971)
45) Maalyadaan (d: Ajay Kar, 1971)
46) Kuheli (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1971)
47) Calcutta-71 (d: Mrinal Sen, 1972)
48) Bilet Pherat (d: Chidananda Dasgupta, 1972)
49) BonPalashir Padabali (d: Uttam Kumar, 1973)
50) Ashani Sanket (d: Satyajit Ray,1973)
51) Sreeman Prithviraj (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1973)
52) Sonar Kella (d: Satyajit Ray, 1974)
53) Debi Choudhurani (d: Dinen Gupta, 1974)
54) Raja (d: Tapan Sinha, 1975)
55) Jana Aranya (d: Satyajit Ray, 1975)
56) Agniswar (d: Arabinda Mukherjee, 1975)
57) Datta (d: Ajay Kar, 1976)
58) Harmonium (d: Tapan Sinha, 1976)
59) Joy Baba Felunath (d: Satyajit Ray, 1978)
60) Dooratwa (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1978)
61) Neem Annapurna (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1979)
62) Noukodubi (d: Ajay Kar, 1979)
63) EkDin Pratidin (d: Mrinal Sen, 1979)
64) Baanchharamer Baagan (d: Tapan Sinha,1980)
65) Daadar Kirti (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1980)
66) Hirak Rajar Deshe (d: Satyajit Ray, 1980)
67) Aakaler Sandhane (d: Mrinal Sen, 1980)
68) Kharij (d: Mrinal Sen, 1982)
69) Grihajuddha (d:Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1982)
70) Phatikchaand (d: Sandip Ray,1983)
71) Konee (d: Saroj Dey, 1984)
72) Ghare Baire (d: Satyajit Ray, 1984)
73) Mohonar Dikey (d: Biresh Chatterjee, 1984)
74) Bhalobasha Bhalobasha (d: Tarun Majumdar, 1985)
75) Chopper (d: Nabyendu Chatterjee, 1986)
76) Antarjali Jatra (d: Goutam Ghose, 1987)
77) Phera (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1988)
78) Sati (d: Aparna Sen, 1989)
79) Parashuramer Kuthar (d:Nabyendu Chatterjee,1989)
80) Shakha Proshakha (d: Satyajit Ray,1990)
81) Agantuk (d: Satyajit Ray,1990)
82) Tahader Katha (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1992)
83) Hirer Aangti (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 1992)
84) Charachar (d: Buddhadeb Dasgupta, 1993)
85) Antareen (d: Mrinal Sen, 1993)
86) Shwet Pathorer Thala (d: Prabhat Roy, 1994)
87) Unishe April (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 1994)
88) Yuganta (d: Aparna Sen,1995)
89) Daamu (d: Raja Sen, 1995)
90) Dahan (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 1998)
91) Baariwali (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 1999)
92) Paromitar Ekdin (d: Aparna Sen, 2000)
93) Dekha (d: Goutam Ghose, 2001)
94) Mansur Mianr Ghoda (d: Nabyendu Chatterjee, 2001)
95) Utsab (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 2001)
96) Chokher Baali (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 2004)
97) Antarmahal (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 2005)
98) Dosar (d: Rituparno Ghosh, 2006)
99) Bibar (d: Subrata Sen, 2006)
100) Herbert (d: Suman Mukherjee, 2006)
[The title card of 'Pather Panchali']