There is a big name left behind a rich cinematic legacy after Satyajit Ray. Ritwik Ghatka captured the imagination of audiences. Ritwik Ghatak is also one of the famous filmmakers in the industry and is remembered till date because the impactful movies he directed have remained in the hearts of audiences and his fans.
Meghe Dhaka Tara: The movie was based on the famous novel Shaktipada Rajguru, Meghe Dhaka Tara is one of the most celebrated movies of Ritwik Ghatak. Also how can one forget the brilliant acting of Supriya Devi in the movie which was heart touching. The movie is perhaps the most touching portrayal of Hrash’s life in Bengal. Ritwik Ghatak worked as both director and writer in this movie.
Ajantrik: This bengali film is quite regarded as India’s first science fiction and also first commercial film as a director which revolves around a poor taxi driver carriesw a so-called living car. It is one of the earliest Indian films that focused on an inanimate object. Ajantrik received a special entry for the screening at Venice film festival held in 1959.
Komal Gandhar: This film has explored three interconnected themes, Anusua which is the lead character’s dilemma, the tragic fall out after a big partition of India and an infamous divided leadership of IPTA. Unlike other works, this interestingly follows an upbeat mood with a lead pair (Anusua and Vrigu) reunited ultimately. The music directed in the film added a different flavour to this flick.
Subarnarekha: It is one of the last installment of Ghatak’s Partition trilogy that narrates the life story of 3 refugees used to reside in West Bengal, a hindu man and his little sister as well as a low caste boy. The movie was named after the river Subarnarekha, actually produced in 1962 but released in 1965. The movie was also ranked as number 11 in a critic’s poll of All-time Greatest Films conducted by Asian Film Magazine in the year of 1998.
Jukti Takko Aar Gappo: In this film Ritwik Ghatak himself played the role of protagonist that characterizes an intellectual as well as hopeless drunk driven from his home. He also travels across the countryside and meets different characters alongside with their own unique stories. First movie that showed a little glimpse of Naxalite movement just took shape in bengal.
Ritwik Ghatak is one of the most prominent filmmakers of undivided Bengal where he had deep roots that are clearly portrayed in his writings.
