To mark the birth centenary of acclaimed filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak, the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) has mounted a special exhibition showcasing the legendary director’s memorabilia at the Nandan Foyer, the festival’s main venue.
The exhibition, titled “Centenary Tribute Ritwik Ghatak: The Subaltern Voice,” was inaugurated on November 7 by veteran actress Madhabi Mukherjee, who played Ghatak’s leading lady in Subarnarekha (1965), along with his son Ritban Ghatak and artist Subhaprasanna Bhattacharya, among others. The exhibition will continue until November 13.
🎬 Honouring a Visionary Filmmaker
Ritwik Ghatak, born on November 4, 1925, and who passed away on February 6, 1976, in Kolkata, remains one of India’s most profound and influential filmmakers. Known for his cinematic masterpieces such as The Cloud-Capped Star (Meghe Dhaka Tara) and A River Called Titas, Ghatak’s works explored themes of partition, identity, and displacement with deep social and political resonance.
📸 Rare Memorabilia and Personal Letters on Display
The exhibition features a treasure trove of collectable photographs, including a rare frame of Ghatak with another cinematic legend, Satyajit Ray. Visitors can also view original hand-written letters, rare books authored by Ghatak, and the original censorship certificate of his cult classic Subarnarekha.
A particularly emotional highlight includes a personal letter Ghatak wrote to his wife during his time at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, where he opens up about his creative struggles and personal pain.
Also displayed are movie booklets summarising his films — a once-popular format during commercial Bengali film releases of that era.
💬 Family and Colleagues Reflect on Ghatak’s Legacy
Speaking at the event, Ghatak’s son Ritban said he was deeply moved by the tribute and noted that his father “is yet to get the recognition he truly deserves globally.” He emphasized the need for greater discussion, research, and scholarly exploration of Ghatak’s life and cinematic philosophy.
Veteran actress Madhabi Mukherjee described Ghatak as “much more than a filmmaker — a thinker who projected the socio-political and cultural changes of his times and foresaw the struggles of generations to come.”
🎞️ Screenings and Discussions at KIFF
To commemorate the centenary, KIFF is also screening Ghatak’s celebrated Partition trilogy — Meghe Dhaka Tara, Komal Gandhar, and Subarnarekha.
As part of the tribute, the festival will host the “Ritwik Ghatak Memorial Conversation” on November 12, featuring legendary filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan, followed by a felicitation ceremony on November 13 honoring actors, students, and technicians who worked with Ghatak.