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']
22 comments:
Dear readers,
As a Bangali viewer, I have always felt the need to talk at length about quality Bangla films over the years. This very blogpost is just a lay-person's attempt to enlist the Best of Bangla Cinema (only 100 entries have been included alongwith year of release/making)- obviously with a personal bias - and I would like to apologise to all readers who would otherwise be barraging me missives to not having included some and preposterously included some others. This is at best a raw form of the said attempt, please consider it so. I haven't maintained any order or chronology or rating - purists please excuse my having clubbed the mainstream entries with parallel cinema. Most of them are films that I have grown up watching, while others have helped me grow as a viewer. I am too fond of movies. And hence this is my humble tribute to Bangla Cinema and its makers (I plan to include all the makers' names soon).
Wonderful post. It would help to know if the films are all available in sub-titled versions or not. For those who are keen to know about Bengali films yet do not follow the language well, it is mandatory that the films come with sub-titles.
I am completely awestruck by this amazing post of yours. Man, you seem to have seen all the good films in Bangla!!!! From Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Ritwik Ghatak to the comtemporary makers like Rituparno, Goutam Ghose and Aparna Sen, you have covered the whole gamut of celebrated filmmakers and their acclaimed (and even some not so classy) creations.
Way to go, buddy!
I have just updated the write-up with the names of the dirctors included. Thanks for reading, and sharing your views.
Please excuse the lapses that may have remained in spite of my having tried hard to get rid of them.
A fabulous listing.............. really dude, I agree with you - Bangla Cinema and info on it is so hard to find even on the net. I wish there were more affordable, popular and reader-friendly books available on Bangla Cinema, like one has for the Bollywood films and the diverse related aspects thereof!
Lovely post. I am so glad that you have listed so many wonderful films from the past. Maybe you should have included some more films from the golden years of Bangla Cinema, like the ones from the New Theatres stable. But, I understand, there were too many films from the parallel or art cinema movement to be given the much justified consideration for the qualitative experimentation that was ushered by them.
Thanks for updating the post! It is better now!!!!!!:-)
Awesome listing. It would be a great help for all Bengali and non-Bengali viewers of Bangla Cinema, for starting discussion, debate or just swapping list of favorites over the years. Well done!
I would also have liked some Bangla Films from Bangladesh featured in the list though.
hi...........
thanx for updating......
This post is quite an eye-opener. Bangla cinema has been enriched by such great works of the masters, over the years! We should have more celebrated directors in the current times, to make us proud. And the directors of commercial Bangla cinema could also benefit from taking a leaf or two from the earlier makers like Debaki Bose, Sudhir Mukherjee, Pinaki Mukherjee, Ajay Kar, Salil Dutta etc.
It is really a superb post! Such a wide range of films you have listed.... wow!!!
But aren't there some other mentionable directors and their works too? Like Purnendu Pattrea or Anjan Dutt or Utpalendu Chowdhury? But, yes, such a selection can never be exhaustive. I congratulate u for your effort!
It is wonderful to find a listing of so many good Bengali films - I must say that I am much impressed by the efffort that you have put in. Cheerio!!!!!
byapaok to re!!!!!!!!the passion of ur movie lover soul really shows in this post :)keep up the good work.....
Some of the rare entries and pathbreaking films could also have been featured. That would have made the list more interesting. However, u deserve a pat on the back for the effort that u have put in, to compile this fascinating collection of titles.
Notable misses: 'Interview' directed by Mrinal Sen, 'Paalanka' by Rajen Tarafdar, and 'Aaj Kaal Porshur Galpo' by Nabyendu Chatterjee; also, among commercial films, 'Paari', 'Anusandhan', 'Chaarmurti' are mentionables.
Awesome post! Keep up the good work!!!! May Bangla cinema, and in fact all regional films, make a worldwide impact with their originality, content, and audacity. May Hindi films (the Bollywood fare) be not the only identity for Indian cinema worldwide!
A fantastic listing! May there be more updated version of the same in the near future. The Bengali film industry really seems to have been rejuvenated very recently with a spate of interesting offerings, I'm sure many of the recently acclaimed films would find space in the next edition of favorites of yours.
A fantastic job! Keep up the good work. I expect you to refurbish with the more recent releases as well, soon, very soon!
I wish I had seen more of the films, am catching up nonetheless on the recent Bangla flicks.
This is one of the most comprehensive listings that I have come across.
Thanks a ton for the good job, I envy your luck to have seen so many good films, not a mean feat!
Fantabulous....... i.e. fantastically stupendous! Hahahaaaaa
I'm so late to comment.
But, must say that,
Superb hoyechhe!
I haven't seen all the 100 movies, but yeah, I seen 78 among them..
& obviously I didn't know the all makers' name..Thank u so much for updating me!
It seems that, if u write this blog now, then the list becomes more longer..cause, now-a-days a lots of Good Bengali films are making..here, I mentioned Good; coz, according to me, there're only two different kinds of movies. one is Good & another is Bad. I can differentiate movies into neither Mainstream nor Parallel.
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