| Cinema of West Bengal | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| No. ofscreens | 381 screens inWest Bengal andTripura states of India (2023)[1] |
| Main distributors | SVF Eskay Movies Surinder Films Grassroot Entertainment Dev Entertainment Ventures Windows Production Patras Glam Entertainment[2] |
| Produced feature films (2023)[3] | |
| Total | 145 (Theatrical) |
| Gross box office (2024)[4] | |
| Total | ₹108 crore (US$13 million) |
Cinema of West Bengal, also known asTollywood orBengali cinema, is the segment ofIndian cinema, dedicated to the production of motion pictures in theBengali language, widely spoken in the state ofWest Bengal. It is based in theTollygunge region ofKolkata, West Bengal. The origin of the nickname "Tollywood"—aportmanteau of the words Tollygunge andHollywood—dates back to 1932.[5] It was a historically important film industry, at one time the centre of Indian film production.[5] The Bengali film industry is known for producing many ofIndian cinema's most critically acclaimedParallel Cinema andart films, with several of its filmmakers gaining recognition at theIndian National Film Awards and earning international acclaim.
Ever sinceSatyajit Ray'sPather Panchali (1955) was awarded Best Human Document at the1956 Cannes Film Festival, Bengali films frequently appeared in international fora and film festivals for the next several decades.[6] This allowed Bengali filmmakers to reach a global audience. The most influential among them was Satyajit Ray, whose films became successful among European,American and Asian audiences.[7] His work subsequently had a worldwide impact, with filmmakers such asMartin Scorsese,[8]James Ivory,[9]Abbas Kiarostami,Elia Kazan,François Truffaut,[10]Carlos Saura,[11]Isao Takahata,[12]Wes Anderson[13] andDanny Boyle[14] being influenced by his cinematic style, and many others such asAkira Kurosawa praising his work.[15]
The "youthfulcoming-of-agedramas that have flooded art houses since the mid-fifties owe a tremendous debt to theApu trilogy".[16]Kanchenjungha (1962) introduced a narrative structure that resembles laterhyperlink cinema.[17] Ray's 1967 script for a film to be calledThe Alien, which was eventually cancelled, is widely believed to have been the inspiration forSteven Spielberg'sE.T. (1982).[18][19][20]Ira Sachs'Forty Shades of Blue (2005) was a loose remake ofCharulata (1964), and inGregory Nava'sMy Family (1995), the final scene is duplicated from the final scene ofThe World of Apu. Similar references to Ray films are found in recent works such asSacred Evil (2006),[21] theElements trilogy ofDeepa Mehta, and in films ofJean-Luc Godard.[22]
Another prominent Bengali filmmaker isMrinal Sen, whose films have been well known for theirMarxist views. During his career, Mrinal Sen's films have received awards from major film festivals, includingCannes, Berlin,Venice, Moscow,Karlovy Vary,Montreal,Chicago, andCairo. Retrospectives of his films have been shown in major cities of the world.[23] Bengali filmmakerRitwik Ghatak began reaching a global audience long after his death; beginning in the 1990s, a project to restore Ghatak's films was undertaken, and international exhibitions (and subsequent DVD releases) have belatedly generated an increasingly global audience. Some of his films have strong similarities to later famous international films, such asAjantrik (1958) resembled theHerbie films (1967–2005) andBari Theke Paliye (1958) resembledFrançois Truffaut'sThe 400 Blows (1959). Other eminent Bengali filmmakers included the trio ofTapan Sinha,Ajoy Kar andTarun Majumdar, collectively referred as "TAT". Their films have been well known for Best Literature Adaptation and displaying larger than life perspectives.Ajoy Kar directorial numerous films created many new milestones and broke existing box office records in the Golden Era.
The cinematographerSubrata Mitra, who made his debut with Ray'sThe Apu Trilogy, also had an important influence oncinematography across the world. One of his most important techniques wasbounce lighting, to recreate the effect of daylight on sets. He pioneered the technique while filmingAparajito (1956), the second part ofThe Apu Trilogy.[24] Some of the experimental techniques which Satyajit Ray pioneered includephoto-negativeflashbacks andX-raydigressions while filmingPratidwandi (1972).[25]
Following Kerala's Hema committee, similar proposal for setting up a committee in West Bengal's Tollywood has been proposed to the Chief Minister.[26]
Tollywood was the very firstHollywood-inspired name, dating back to a 1932 article in theAmerican Cinematographer by Wilford E. Deming, an American engineer who was involved in the production of the first Indian sound film. He gave the industry the name Tollywood because theTollygunge district in which it was based rhymed with "Hollywood", and because Tollygunge was the centre of thecinema of India as a whole at the time much like Hollywood was in thecinema of the United States.[5]
In that same March 1932 article, Deming was also considering the name "Hollygunge" but decided to go with "Tollywood" as the nickname for the Tollygunge area due to "Tolly being a proper name and Gunge meaning locality" in theBengali language. It was this "chance juxtaposition of two pairs of rhyming syllables," Holly and Tolly, that led to the name "Tollywood" being coined. The name "Tollywood" went on to be used as a nickname for the Bengali film industry by the popularKolkata-basedJunior Statesman youth magazine, establishing a precedent for other film industries to use similar-sounding names.[27] Tollywood later went on to inspire the name "Bollywood" (as theBombay-based industry overtook the one in Tollygunge), which in turn inspired many othersimilar names.[5][27]
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The history of cinema inBengal dates to the 1920s when the first "bioscopes" were shown in theatres inCalcutta. Within a decade,Hiralal Sen, considered a stalwart ofVictorian era cinema[28] set up theRoyal Bioscope Company, producing scenes from the stage productions of a number of popular shows[28] at theStar Theatre,Minerva Theatre,Classic Theatre. Following a long gap after Sen's works,[29]Dhirendra Nath Ganguly (known as D.G.) established theIndo British Film Co, the first Bengali-owned production company, in 1918. However, the first Bengali feature film,Billwamangal, was produced in 1919, under the banner ofMadan Theatre.Bilat Ferat was the IBFC's first production in 1921. TheMadan Theatre production ofJamai Shashthi was the first Bengalitalkie.[30] A long history has been traversed since then, with stalwarts such asSatyajit Ray,Mrinal Sen,Ritwik Ghatak,Tapan Sinha,Ajoy Kar and others earning international acclaim and securing their place in the movie history.[citation needed]
Hiralal Sen, India is credited as one of Bengal's, and India's first directors. These were allsilent films. Hiralal Sen is also credited as one of the pioneers of advertisement films in India. The first Bengali-language movie was the silent featureBillwamangal, produced by the Madan Theatre Company of Calcutta and released on 8 November 1919, only six years after the first full-length Indian feature film,Raja Harish Chandra, was released.[31]
The early beginnings of the "talking film" industry go back to the early 1930s when it came toBritish India, and to Calcutta. The movies were originally made inUrdu orPersian to accommodate a specific elite market. One of the earliest known studios was theEast India Film Company. The first Bengali film to be made as atalkie wasJamai Shashthi, released in 1931. At this time the early heroes of the Bengali film industry likePramathesh Barua andDebaki Bose were at the peak of their popularity. Barua also directed movies, exploring new dimensions in Indian cinema. Debaki Bose directedChandidas in 1932; this film is noted for its breakthrough in recording sound. Sound recordist Mukul Bose found a solution to the problem of spacing out dialogue and frequency modulation.[citation needed]
TheBengali film industry has made significant contributions to thecinema of India. The first Bengalitalkies were the short filmJamai Shashthi released on 11 April 1931 at Crown Cinema Hall in Calcutta, and full-length featureDena Paona released on 30 December 1931 at Chitra Cinema Hall in Calcutta. The industry was based inTollygunge, an area of South Kolkata,West Bengal that is more elite and artistically inclined than the usualmusical cinema fare in India.[citation needed]Kanan Devi was an early female star of Bengali film, alongsideChandrabati Devi,Molina Devi andChhaya Devi. The most popular Bengali male actors wereSisir Bhaduri,Chhabi Biswas,Ahindra Choudhury,Dhiraj Bhattacharya andPahari Sanyal. Popular filmmakers includeDebaki Bose,Nitin Bose,Madhu Bose,Premankur Atorthy andPremendra Mitra.
Bengali cinema enjoyed a large, even disproportionate, representation in Indian cinema during this period. They produced directors likeAjoy Kar,Satyajit Ray,Tapan Sinha,Mrinal Sen,Tarun Majumdar,Premendra Mitra.Satyajit Ray is anAcademy Honorary Award winner and the recipient of India's and France's greatest civilian honours, theBharat Ratna andLegion of Honor respectively, andMrinal Sen is the recipient of the French distinction of Commander of theOrder of Arts and Letters and the RussianOrder of Friendship. The revival in Bengali Mainstream cinema dates from the rise of directors such asTarun Majumdar along withArabinda Mukhopadhyay andShakti Samanta. Other prominent filmmakers in the Bengali film industry at the time includedRitwik Ghatak,Mrinal Sen,Tapan Sinha andAjoy Kar. The Bengali film industry has produced classics such asNagarik (1952),The Apu Trilogy (1955–1959),Kabuliwala (1957),Jalsaghar (1958),Ajantrik (1958),Neel Akasher Neechey (1959),Devi (1960),Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960),Saptapadi (1961),Jhinder Bondi (1961),Saat Pake Bandha (1963),Jatugriha (1964),Atithi (1965),Hatey Bazarey (1967),Malyadan (1971),Nimantran (1971),Shriman Prithviraj (1973),Calcutta trilogies (1971–1976),Mrigayaa (1976),Ganadevata (1978), etc. In particular,Calcutta trilogies,The Apu Trilogy,Shriman Prithviraj,Saptapadi are frequently listed among thegreatest films of all time.[32][33][34][35]
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The most well-knownBengali superstars to date have beenUttam Kumar andSoumitra Chatterjee.Uttam is considered the most popular and Soumitra the finest.Suchitra Sen is regarded as the most beautiful and influential actress of Bengali cinema.Kumar andSen were known as "The Eternal Pair" in the late 1950s. This pair worked in the 1961 epic Romantic dramaSaptapadi (1961 film) byKar besides others. Suchitra Sen got her first International Award forSaat Pake Bandha (1963) byKar. Apart from Sen,Sabitri Chatterjee andSumitra Devi were very popular actresses.
Soumitra Chatterjee considered one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian andWorld Cinema, and the finest actor in the history of Bengali cinema left an indelible mark on every role he played. An artist of unparalleled depth and versatility, he became the quintessential face of Satyajit Ray’s masterpieces and a defining force in Bengali cinema for over six decades.
Beyond cinema, Chatterjee was an influential figure in Bengali theatre, both as an actor and director, and was a prolific poet and writer. His profound impact on the arts was recognized with numerous accolades, including thePadma Bhushan (2004),Dadasaheb Phalke Award (2012) for lifetime achievement in Indian cinema and theLegion of Honour(2018) France’s highest civilian award.While Uttam Kumar and Soumitra Chatterjee were often perceived as rivals in the 1960s Bengali film industry, they actually shared a close, brotherly relationship. Their first meeting occurred at Soumitra's sister's wedding, where Uttam Kumar, a friend of Soumitra's brother-in-law, was present.This personal connection fostered a deep friendship between the two actors, contradicting the popular belief of intense rivalry.Soumitra's best films includeOpur Shongshar (1959),Charulota (1964),Devi (1960),Oronner Din Ratri (1970),Shonar Kella (1974),Obhijan (1962) ,Teen Konna (1961),Kapurush (1965),Joi Baba Felunath (1979),Ghore Baire (1984),Gonoshatru (1990),Oshoni Shonket (1973) ,Shakha Proshakha (1990),Hirok Rajar Deshe (1980),Teen Bhuboner Pare (1969),Shat Pake Badha(1963),Akash Kusum (1965),Bela Seshe (2015) ,Podokkhep (2006).
In 70's,Ranjit Mallick is famous for Youth Characterization ofInterview,Calcutta 71.Rabi Ghosh andAnil Chatterjee is a notable actor for his Versatile Acting which impressed the Audience in short time.
In the 1960s, Bengal saw a host of talented actresses likeAparna Sen,Sharmila Tagore,Madhabi Mukherjee,Sandhya Roy and,Supriya Devi andJayashree Kabir. Aparna Sen was one of the most successful actresses of the Golden Era. She became the leading heroine of the 1970s and since 1981 she has been directing films. One of the most well-known Bengali actresses wasSharmila Tagore, who debuted in Ray'sThe World of Apu, and became a major actress in Bengali cinema as well as Bollywood. Despite Suchitra Sen being the greatest actress, Sharmila was the most commercially successful actress in history with films likeThe World of Apu (1959),Devi (1960),Nayak (1966),Simabaddha (1967), andAranyer Dinratri (1970).[citation needed]
Utpal Dutt is internationally known for his acting in movies and plays, especially Shakespearean plays.Bhanu Bandopadhyay,Rabi Ghosh, andAnup Kumar were best known for their comic timing, and with their versatile acting talent they stunned the audience and critics.[citation needed]
The pioneers in Bengali film music includeRaichand Boral,Pankaj Mullick, andK. C. Dey, all associated withNew Theatres Calcutta. The greatest composers of the golden era includedRobin Chatterjee,Sudhin Dasgupta,Nachiketa Ghosh,Hemant Kumar, etc.Tarun Majumdar is well known for First time educational, cultural, and philosophical cinematic experiences for both a mass audience and a class audience, He abolished the division in taste between mass and class audiences. Majumdar is best known for such Evergreen films asShriman Prithviraj,Ganadevata,Sansar Simante andAlo and Many more.[36]
The revival in Bengali cinema dates from the rise of directors such asAnjan Choudhury,Haranath Chakraborty,Aparna Sen,Anjan Dutt,Goutam Ghosh, along withRituparno Ghosh,Sandip Ray,Prabhat Roy,Sudeshna Roy,Buddhadeb Dasgupta,Anjan Das,Bappaditya Bandopadhyay,Sekhar Das, andSubrata Sen.[37] Rituparno Ghosh made his first film,Hirer Angti, in 1992 and dominated Bengali cinema until his death in 2013, winning numerous national awards for films likeUnishe April,Dahan andUtsab. Aparna Sen made her directorial debut in 1981 with the internationally lauded36 Chowringhee Lane, which looked at the lives of Anglo-Indians living in Calcutta. Her later films have also been celebrated:Paromitar Ek Din,The Japanese Wife,Goynar Baksho.
Buddhadeb Dasgupta is best known for award-winning films likeUttara,Mondo Meyer Upakhyan,Charachar, andJanala.Goutam Ghose is Internationally Acclaimed for Cult Classic films asAntarjali Jatra,Padma Nadir Majhi,Moner Manush and many more.Prabhat Ray is popular for Romantic Family drama forLathi.[38][39] Actresses includingMoon Moon Sen,Konkona Sen Sharma,Laboni Sarkar,Satabdi Roy,Rituparna Sengupta,Chumki Chowdhury,Rachna Banerjee andSrabanti Chatterjee were popular and active in this period. Actors such asProsenjit Chatterjee,Victor Banerjee,Chiranjeet Chakraborty,Ranjit Mallick,Tapas Paul andFerdous Ahmed are considered superstars in this era.[40][41][42][43][44][45]
Many work in the domestic film industry, while others have gone to work in Bollywood.[46] Successful films by directors from this generation includeTekka,Cholai,Asha Jaoar Majhe,Alik SukhJaatishwar,Cockpit,Cinemawala,Aparajito,Bhooter Bhabishyat,Binodiini,Angshumaner Chhobi,Bakita Byaktigato,Pradhan,Baishe Srabon,Fotema, andBoomerang.[47][48]
Detective films and family drama films have been the most popular and successful genre in this era. The success of detective films largely owes to the film adaptation of popularfictional characters likeKakababu,Byomkesh,Kiriti Roy,Mitin Masi,EkenbabuandTenida.[49][50]
Successful Bengali films are getting Hindi remakes in Bollywood, Marathi remakes and Malayalam remakes (Gang of Ghosts,Salt Mango Tree,Welcome Zindagi,Ravanasura,Jalebi,Begum Jaan,Cirkus (film),Meri Awas Suno,Shastry Viruddh Shastry).[46] Also, Bengali films have in the recent times have turned the cinematic spotlight on Kolkata, introducing the city to a wider national and global audience (Kahaani,Piku,Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!). After the digital film era, Bengali directors who have found artistic and commercial success in contemporary Bengali films include:Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury,Aniket Chattopadhyay,Anjan Dutta,Raj Chakraborty,Mainak Bhowmick,Srijit Mukherjee,Nandita Roy andShiboprosad Mukherjee.[51][52]
During this period, actors such asProsenjit Chatterjee,Mithun Chakraborty,Sabyasachi Chakrabarty,Jishu Sengupta,Soham Chakraborty,Parambrata Chatterjee,Anjan Dutt rose to popularity.[53][54][55] Later,Dev,Jeet,Abir Chatterjee,Ankush Hazra,Anirban Bhattacharya,Jeetu Kamal,Riddhi Sen have gained popularity and have been active.[56][57][58][59] Among themProsenjit Chatterjee,Mithun Chakraborty,Tapas Paul,Dev andJeet,Abir Chatterjee andAnkush Hazra have gained immense popularity and are considered as the superstars of 21st Century.[60][61][62] Actresses such asKoel Mallick,Srabanti Chatterjee,Subhashree Ganguly,Mimi Chakraborty,Nusrat Jahan,Payel Sarkar,Rituparna Sengupta,Puja Banerjee,Sayantika Banerjee,Priyanka Sarkar,Sreelekha Mitra,Raima Sen,Konkona Sen Sharma,Ananya Chatterjee,Gargi Roychowdhury,Aparajita Ghosh Das,Rimjhim Mitra and later,Idhika Paul,Ishaa Saha,Subhashree Ganguly,Susmita Chatterjee,Koushani Mukherjee,Mimi Chakraborty,Madhumita Sarcar,Nusrat Jahan,Ritabhari Chakraborty,Rittika Sen,Sohini Sarkar,Jaya Ahsan,Sauraseni Maitra,Angana Roy andTuhina Das have been active.[63][64]
In the recent years, a younger generation of visual directors has come to the scene, likeShiboprosad Mukherjee,Srijit Mukherji,Avijit Sen,Sayantan Ghosal,Kamaleshwar Mukherjee along withKaushik Ganguly,Subhrajit Mitra,Suman Ghosh,Sujit Mondal,Tathagata Mukherjee,Raj Chakraborty, ,Raja Chanda,Birsa Dasgupta,Manasi Sinha,Ranjan Ghosh,Soukarya Ghosal,Mainak Bhaumik,Atiul Islam,Anik Dutta,Anjan Dutt,Atanu Ghosh
Art house filmmakers likeIndrasis Acharya,Aditya Vikram Sengupta,Anindya Chatterjee, andAniruddha Roy Chowdhury .[52][65]
Many of the most critically acclaimed Bengali films werelow-budget films, including Satyajit Ray's famous Calcutta Trilogy (1971-1973), andThe Apu Trilogy (1955–1959). The first film in the trilogy,Pather Panchali (1955), was produced on a shoestring budget[66] of Rs. 150,000 ($32000)[67] using an amateur cast and crew.[68] All his other films that followed also had low budgets, with his most expensive films since the 60's beingSaptapadi byKar,Jhinder Bondi (1961) bySinha,Saat Pake Bandha byKar,The Adventures of Goopy And Bagha (1968) at Rs. 600,000 ($80,000)[69] andShatranj Ke Khilari (1977) at Rs. 6 million ($230,000).[70]
Bombaiyer Bombete, produced byRamoji Films at a cost of Rs 8 million, recovered its costs within three weeks and earned 20 million in all. The movie has brought back the concept of family entertainment with Sandip Ray's gambit of contemporising the plot paying him a rich dividend. Admitting that he did not expect this success, he told Life that he was now lining up another such film for release next year. Earlier, a film by award-winning directorBuddhadeb Dasgupta's Mondo Meyer Upakhyan (The Tale of a Fallen Girl) produced by Arjoe Entertainments netted nearly Rs 7 million through the sale of overseas rights against a cost of Rs 0.6 million.Haranath Chakraborty His filmSathi (Companion) created a record by recouping over five times its production cost, although the filmChokher Bali, with big names likeAishwarya Rai Bachchan, Rituparno Ghosh and Tagore, failed to yield expected results. The movie, billed at Rs 16.5 million (the highest among Bengali films).[71]
Hollywood houses likeColumbia TriStar have made their debut in distributing Bengali movies. According to industry experts, several issues need to be addressed to build on this resurgence and consolidate it. These include inadequate infrastructure, which often compels moviemakers to go outside the State for facilities pushing up costs, poor marketing and distribution, and increasing competition fromBangladeshi films.[72][73]
A number of Satyajit Ray films appeared in theSight & Sound Critics' Poll ofall-time greatest films, includingThe Apu Trilogy (ranked No. 4 in 1992 if votes are combined),[74]The Music Room (ranked No. 27 in 1992),Charulata (ranked No. 41 in 1992)[75] andDays and Nights in the Forest (ranked No. 81 in 1982).[76] The 2002Sight & Sound critics' and directors' poll also included the Ritwik Ghatak filmsMeghe Dhaka Tara (ranked #231) andKomal Gandhar (ranked #346).[77]
In 1998, the critics' poll conducted by theAsian film magazineCinemaya includedThe Apu Trilogy (ranked No. 1 if votes are combined), Ray'sCharulata andThe Music Room (both tied at #11), and Ghatak'sSubarnarekha (also tied at #11).[78] In 1999,The Village Voice top 250 "Best Film of the Century" critics' poll also includedThe Apu Trilogy (ranked No. 5 if votes are combined).[33] In 2005,The Apu Trilogy was also included inTime's All-Time 100 Movies list.[35] In 1992, theSight & Sound Critics' Poll ranked Ray at No. 7 in its list of "Top 10 Directors" of all time,[79][80] andDays and Nights in the Forest (ranked No. 81 in 1982).[81]
The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali is one of theNational Film Awards presented annually by theDirectorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up byMinistry of Information and Broadcasting, India. It is one of several awards presented for feature films and awarded with Rajat Kamal (Silver Lotus).
TheNational Film Awards, established in 1954, are the most prominent film awards in India that merit the best of theIndian cinema. The ceremony also presents awards for films in variousregional languages.
