- Mahanagar
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Mahanagar Directed by Satyajit Ray Written by Satyajit Ray, from a story, Abataranika by Narendranath Mitra Starring Anil Chatterjee,
Madhabi Mukherjee,
Jaya Bhaduri,
Vicky Redwood,
Sefalika Devi,
Haren ChatterjeeDistributed by Edward Harrison Release date(s) 1963 Running time 131 minutes Country India Language Bengali/English Mahanagar is a 1963 film directed by Satyajit Ray. It is sometimes released as The Big City in the English-speaking world. Based on a short story, Abataranika written by Narendranath Mitra, it tells the story of a housewife who disconcerts her traditionalist family by getting a job as a salesperson. It marks the first screen appearance of Jaya Bhaduri (now Jaya Bachchan), who would later become one of Bollywood's leading actresses.
Contents
Plot
Mahanagar is set in Calcutta during the 1950s. It explores the evolving independence of a middle-class woman, Arati Mazumdar (Madhabi Mukherjee), as she takes her first job because of increasing financial pressure due to her husband's income not being enough for the family to live on. This decision is purely a financial one and is made in spite of opposition from both families. Arati subsequently grows to delight in her newfound financial and psychological independence.Eventually, her husband loses his job and she becomes the sole breadwinner. Arati grows increasingly independent and befriends an English-speaking, Anglo-Indian colleague (representative of the legacy of the British Raj) Edith (Vicky Redwood), a move which raises suspicion and increases conflict.
Cast
- Anil Chatterjee - Subrata Mazumdar
- Madhabi Mukherjee - Arati Mazumder
- Jaya Bhaduri - Bani
- Haren Chatterjee - Priyogopal (Subrata's father)
- Sefalika Devi - Sarojini (Subrata's Mother)
- Prosenjit Sarkar - Pintu
- Haradhan Bannerjee - Himangshu Mukherjee
- Vicky Redwood - Edith
Awards
Satyajit Ray won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 14th Berlin International Film Festival in 1964.[1] Upon its delayed (1968) release in the United States, it drew praise from Roger Ebert, Pauline Kael and others. The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 36th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[2]
See also
- List of submissions to the 36th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film
- List of Indian submissions for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film
References
- ^ "Berlinale 1964: Prize Winners". berlinale.de. http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1964/03_preistr_ger_1964/03_Preistraeger_1964.html. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
- ^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
External links
Films by Satyajit Ray Director & Writer The Apu TrilogyGoopy & BaghaGoopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969) • Hirak Rajar Deshe (1980)Sonar Kella (1974) • Joi Baba Felunath (1978)Other filmsParash Pathar (1958) • Jalsaghar (1958) • Devi (1960) • Teen Kanya (1961) • Rabindranath Tagore (1961) • Kanchenjungha (1962) • Abhijan (1962) • Mahanagar (1963) • Charulata (1964) • Two (1965) • Kapurush (1965) • Mahapurush (1965) • Nayak (1966) • Chiriyakhana (1967) • Aranyer Din Ratri (1970) • Sikkim (1971) • The Inner Eye (1972) • Ashani Sanket (1973) • Bala (1976) • Shatranj Ke Khilari (1977) • Pikoo (1980) • Sadgati (1981) • Ghare Baire (1984) • Sukumar Ray (1987) • Ganashatru (1989) • Shakha Proshakha (1990) • Agantuk (1991)Writer The Alien (1967) • Bankubabur Bandhu (2006)Baksho Rahashya (1996) • Bombaiyer Bombete (2003) • Kailashey Kelenkari (2007) • Tintorettor Jishu (2008)Other filmsGoopy Bagha Phire Elo (1991) • Target (1995)Cinema of West Bengal Directors · Actors Films
Bengali films A-Z — Films by year: Silent films · 1931 · 1932 · 1933 · 1934 · 1935 · 1936 · 1937 · 1938 · 1939 · 1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944 · 1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949 · 1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011Categories:- Indian films
- 1963 films
- Films directed by Satyajit Ray
- Bengali-language films
- Films set in Kolkata
- Indian art films
- English-language South Asian films
- 1960s drama films
- Black-and-white films
- Films based on short fiction
- Films about women in India
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