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Hi! I'm Bedatri ( @Bedatri) I work in & around the documentary world and moonlight often as a culture journalist. Today I am taking over the MoMI twitter *evil laugh*
As a non-Hindi speaking Indian, I often get sad when South Asian cinema gets reduced to “Bollywood”.
As a non-Hindi speaking Indian, I often get sad when South Asian cinema gets reduced to “Bollywood”.
I am always recommending films to friends or busy planning dream screenings of cinema that is South Asian but not “Bollywood”. Being a Bengali, I obviously love Bengali cinema. Here are a few of my “newer” favorites, from India and Bangladesh.
I said “newer” because the West often sees Bengali cinema limited to giants like Ray, Sen, and Ghatak. Their greatness is beyond doubt but Bengali (and Indian cinema) has so much more to offer, way more than this thread can even begin to capture.
Tapan Sinha is an unsung genius of Indian Parallel Cinema. His “Apanjan” is one of my favorite films. Tragically, “Kalamati”, about childcare in coal mines, made years ahead of its time, is a masterpiece that is now untraceable. His works are begging for restorations!
Aparna Sen’s films radicalized the portrayal of female sexuality. Be it "Parama", "36 Chowringhee Lane" or "Sati", her films negotiate religion, marriage, and family and the gender structures they impose. This couldn't have been easy, back in 1980s Calcutta!
Rituparno Ghosh was a phenomenal filmmaker, whose films explored gender roles and queerness within the family and society. They embodied their art in the form of a very public transformation from a male identity to a gender fluid one. I love their "Dosar" and "Unishe April".
Some other films on my must-watch recommendation list are “Herbert”, “Labour of Love” and “Grihajuddho”. Each of the filmmakers have their distinct styles and very unique filmographies
This was a very basic introduction to my favorite Bengali filmmakers and as much as they’re a great place to start, the list runs very long. Subtitling, distribution & restoration remain eternal hurdles but I am hopeful as some of them are beginning to show up on online platforms
Watch out for Bengali films the next time you’re browsing through a festival catalog and spread the word. Obv there is cinema from other parts of India that I am still exploring and learning about. And I am very excited for viewers to explore Indian cinema beyond Hindi films :)
Are there filmmakers in your region whose work you love and would like everyone else in the world to see? Feel free to reply to this thread. You also know where to find me!
