Mahanagar

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Mahanagar
Directed by Satyajit Ray
Written by Satyajit Ray, from a story by Narendranath Mitra
Starring Anil Chatterjee,
Madhabi Mukherjee,
Jaya Bhaduri,
Vicky Redwood,
Sefalika Devi,
Haren Chatterjee
Distributed by Edward Harrison
Release date(s) 1963
Running time 131 min
Language Bengali
IMDb profile

Mahanagar (The Big City, 1963) is a 1963 film directed by Satyajit Ray. Mahanagar is one of many films from the era (see also the films of Douglas Sirk, Mikio Naruse and Yasujiro Ozu) that explored the status and independence of women in swiftly developing societies, and Ray's detailed exploration of the subject made it one of the standouts of the genre.

A sidelight of the film is that it marks the first screen appearance of Jaya Bhaduri (now Jaya Bachchan), who was later to become one of Bollywood's leading actresses.

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
A screenshot from the film
A screenshot from the film

Based on a short story written by Narendranath Mitra, 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 after her husband, Subrata (Anil Chatterjee), is suddenly laid off. 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.

Mahanagar won the Silver bear at the 1964 Berlin Film Festival. Upon its delayed (1968) release in the United States, it drew praise from Roger Ebert, Pauline Kael and others.


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