Some of the best directors in the Indian film industry, if not the world, have come from the Bengali film industry. However, Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak are not Bengali cinema’s be-all and end-all. Many more brilliant directors who uncover the simple yet meaningful lives of humanity will continue to work in this industry. The industry has found brilliance in simplicity, and if you think a low budget is a barrier to making excellent films, they all prove you incorrect.
It’s lovely to see how intertwined the industry is, where directors help one other out for the sake of the art, and it’s not uncommon to see them become performers in each other’s films. Former actors who worked closely with Ray, Mrinal Sen, and Ghatak continue the legacy of creating everlasting art. With that in mind, here is a list of the best Bengali films released since 2000.
Table Of Content
Abohoman
Abohoman is the narrative of Aniket, one of Bengal’s finest film-makers, as he searches for a muse in his lead actress, rather than his old muse, his wife. As the young girl begins to resemble Deepti more and more, Aniket begins to refer to her as Sreemoti, the name he had given his wife. He is intrigued by Sreemoti, and while relationships are ripped apart and the audience witnesses a tumultuous disclosure, he is mesmerized by her.
Anuranan
Two couples meet in a Sikkim resort, and as the bond between Rahul, Nandita’s husband, and Preeti, Amit’s wife, grows stronger, their loyalties are called into question by their loneliness, and the misunderstanding quickly spreads throughout society, burying the two individuals under a strict stigma and suspicion from their own spouses. With engaging characters that identify with us, the film examines issues of loneliness and bereavement.
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Arekti Premer Golpo
Two couples meet in a resort in Sikkim, and as the bond between Rahul, Nandita’s husband, and Preeti, Amit’s wife, grows stronger, their loyalties are called into question by their loneliness, and the misunderstanding quickly spreads throughout society, burying the two people in a culture of stigma and suspicion from their own spouses. With fascinating characters who identify with ourselves, the film addresses issues of loneliness and bereavement.
Autograph
Srijit Mukherjee’s debut film is a tragic drama about a director, his girlfriend, and a well-known Bengali actor who are all l onely. When Shuvobarata hires renowned actor Arun Chatterjee alongside his fiancée Shrin in his remake of Ray’s classic Nayak, miscommunications, goals, and ego get in the way. The genuine portrayal of relationship alienation is heartbreaking, and Autograph is sure to stick with you for a long time.
Antaheen
Antaheen is a word that signifies “infinite.” It’s a love story characterized by a never-ending wait between two people who have never met in person. Abhik, a dedicated IPS officer who is wary of love, and Brinda, a vivacious journalist, meet anonymously online. It’s impossible to squeeze a love life in with a less-than-ideal initial meeting with the crimes outside dragging the two down with their own obligations. Their hearts ache despite the boundaries, with infinite promises to keep them in a never-ending grip of loneliness and an unending wait. Antaheen will inevitably find its way into your heart, even if you aren’t a romantic at heart.
Baishe Srabon
Chief investigator Abhijit and ex-cop Prabir struggle to track down a serial killer who leaves Bengali poetry lyrics with each death in this compelling psychological thriller. Their relationships with those close to them deteriorate as they become increasingly immersed in the investigation, and Abhijit’s journalist girlfriend becomes involved in the case while investigating. Despite the fact that Baishe Srabon is based on the De Niro and Al Pacino movie Righteous Kill, there are similarities between Baishe Srabon and Fincher’s Se7en. This, however, just adds to the film’s excellence, and I would rank it as one of the most gripping thrillers in recent Bengali cinema.
Bhooter Bhobishyot
When an ad director goes to a mansion to inspect the location for his new ad, he encounters Biplab, who tells him a story about a haunted home where the ghosts band together to frighten away a wealthy who wants to demolish it to make room for a new shopping mall. This comedy about the mansion’s resident ghosts will have you laughing and giggling as you learn about the individual ghosts’ funny personalities and backstories. The comedy has a genuine heart and a compelling plot to back it up. Bhooter Bhobishyot is the film for you if you want true humor with fantastic characters and a few shocks thrown in for good measure.
Bishorjon
Naseer, a Muslim from West Bengal, is found comatose on the edge of the Ichamati river after Durga immersion during the tumultuous relations between the two Bengals following Partition. Padma, a Hindu widow, saves him. While Naseer hides at Padma’s home while his wounds heal, the two develop affections for one another. Despite the societal stigma and difficulties she faces in helping Naseer, Padma finds refuge in the stranger and makes sacrifices that enable her gain a sense of empowerment.
Bela Sheshe
Bela Sheshe is a film about rekindling a love that seemed to have faded away. After fifty years of marriage and four successfully raised children, Biswanath appears to have lost touch with his marriage and seeks a divorce from his wife Aarti. Aarti, the simpleton who is completely loyal to her husband, is left in anguish and pain, but is aided by her children, who band together to help their parents rediscover love and, in turn, rediscover themselves.
Chalo Let’s Go
Four misfits team up to start a travel agency. Ria, a young girl, joins them on their maiden excursion across the picturesque hills of North Bengal with nine other passengers. A light-hearted picture about four friends and their ten passengers is entertaining to see, especially when the characters are well-developed, and Anjan Dutt’s exquisite screenplay includes his own music.
Cinemawala
This one is for cinephiles who yearn for the days when a theater was a place of worship and the people who ran it were artists. Cinemawala is a tale of changing times in which Pranabendu Bose, together with his assistant Hari, tries to maintain his relevance as the proprietor of a cinema hall named Kamalini. His own kid, who holds the art of cinema in high regard, is involved in the unlawful sale of CDs and DVDs. Prababendu is helpless in the face of his own hall’s losses as his son, Prakash, achieves popularity in the community through ways that Prababendu considers blasphemous. This film is another emotional production by Kaushik Ganguly, and it tells the story of the slow, agonizing loss of traditional cinema and the monetization of cinema as a commodity.
Chotushkone
Joyobroto, a dynamic newcomer to the industry, puts together three directors with a tumultuous history to work on a film. Each director contributes a story to the anthology, all of which have the same theme: death. The gloom of the unsettling picture creeps into the tale as their past catches up with them through strained interactions, and horrible revelations are made.
Goynar Baksho
It’s difficult to categorize Goynar Baksho into a single genre: is it a comedy, drama, or horror film? Through a single connection: a jewellery box, the multi-layered period film follows three generations of women through changing eras and shifting social standing. The widowed head of the household of a wealthy family in colonial India possessed the box. She becomes neurotic about the safety of her diamonds after her family relocates to India during the Partition, losing everything of her things except the box, and this paranoia persists even after her death. She stalks the house’s new bride, pleading with her to protect the box and, eventually, her grandniece. The video tells the story of those whose lives were impacted by the Partition, as well as the broader impact of colonization on Indians. Aparna Sen’s masterpiece, this film is a must-see for fans of good Indian cinema.
Moner Manush
Goutam Ghose’s biographical musical follows the life of Lalon Fakir, a folk singer and spiritual leader. Moner Manush is an enthralling journey from start to finish, situated in the heart of traditional colonial India, where Lalon Fakir and his followers broke down societal barriers and rose with the Bengali Renaissance. Getting over rigid orthodoxy’s opposition to spread ideals about love and equality.
Muktodhaara
When the new Inspector General of West Bengal’s penal cells asks former dancer Niharika to assist in the planning of an event for the inmates, Niharika suggests staging Tagore’s Valmiki-Pratibha. Niharika accepts the challenge of softening the hearts of the inmates and assisting them in opening their hearts out through art, including Yusuf Mohammad, a deadly murderer who refuses to cooperate. The journey of shattered men discovering themselves via theatre is a heartwarming experience, especially when Yusuf’s gruff façade crumbles as he gathers courage to play the lead role in the play.
Noukadubi
Noukadubi is a film version of Tagore’s novel of the same name, which tells the narrative of two lovers separated by a tragic boat catastrophe. Their lives drift apart, and as they begin to rediscover love in a new light, a slew of doubts arise, blurring the notion of true love.
Praktan
This film, based on a true story of love lost and growing up, digs into the depths of the pain that couples face when love isn’t enough to cure their problems. It’s a train ride with many individuals that mesh well together and emerge as a more mature version of themselves by the time they get at their destination. Even though the film is primarily about Sudipa, who gains a different perspective on her divorce through her conversations with Malini, a gleeful housewife, and finds the answers she seeks, Praktan will fill you with sorrow, pain, elation, and calm throughout the journey with the stories of all its characters.
Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona
When a successful band of four guys in their 50s travels to North Bengal for a gig, they are intrigued by Ranjana, who is opening for them. Anjan, a member, decides to pave the route for her musical career and invites her to see him in Kolkata. The music film chronicles Anjan and Ranjana’s ever-changing relationship as they try to make Ranjana a famous. Anjan Dutt’s directorial and accompanying music make an enthralling experience that can not be neglected.
Shabdo
Shabdo is a one-of-a-kind film about Tarak, a prominent Bengali cinema foley artist who drowns in his preoccupation with the intricacies of sound. The film is a one-of-a-kind experience in which a psychological condition is treated with extreme sensitivity while remaining severe. Tarak, with the help of his wife, tries to accept his own disease and treatment. The supporting characters are brilliantly crafted, as they are in most Bengali films. The video blurs the lines between reality and dreams, fluidly transitioning into surrealism. The film does not have a background score. It relies only on foleys to convey Tarak’s perplexing mind to the audience.
The Japanese Wife
Snehmoy and his Japanese pen buddy, with whom he has fallen in love, are the subjects of this lovely film. They married over correspondence, having never met before. The power of Snehmoy’s love for Miyage despite his proximity to Sandhya, a young widow, will warm hearts. The audience, on the other hand, is never free of the misery of remoteness and helplessness.
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