Ritwik Ghatak was an Indian filmmaker and also a playwright poet and writer of short stories. Ghatak started his creative career as a poet and a fiction writer. Then he began writing for the theater and became involved with Gananatya Sangha and Indian People's Theatre Association. Later he moved to film direction. He also wrote more than 50 essays on film. Satyajit Ray wrote that these essays "cover(ed) every possible aspect of the cinema".
Filmography
Films
Director and scriptwriter
Year | Film | English Title | Actors | Release Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
1958 | Ajantrik | The Unmechanical / The Pathetic Fallacy | Kali Banerjee, Gangapada Basu, Satindra Bhattacharya, Kajal Gupta, Gyanesh Mukherjee Anil Chatterjee, Tulsi Chakrabarti | 23 May 1958 |
1959 | Bari Theke Paliye | The Runaway | Kali Banerjee, Master Parambhattarak Lahiri, Gyanesh Mukherjee, Keshto Mukherjee. Jahor Roy, Satindra Bhattacharya, | 24 July 1959 |
1960 | Meghe Dhaka Tara (Partition Trilogy) | The Cloud-Capped Star | Anil Chatterjee, Supriya Choudhuri, Bijon Bhattacharya, Gita Ghatak, Gyanesh Mukherjee, Dwiju Bhawal, Niranjan Roy, Gita Dey | 14 April 1960 |
1961 | Komal Gandhar (Partition Trilogy) | E-Flat | Supriya Choudhuri, Abanish Banerjee Gita Dey, Anil Chatterjee, Bijon Bhattacharya, Chitra Sen, Mantu Ghosh, Satindra Bhattacharya | 31 March 1961 |
1965 | Subarnarekha (Partition Trilogy) | Golden Line | Abhi Bhattacharya, Madhabi Mukherjee, Bijon Bhattacharya, Jahor Roy, Satindra Bhattacharya, Gita Dey, Ritwik Ghatak | 1 October 1965 |
1973 | Titash Ekti Nadir Naam | A River Called Titash | Rosi Samad, Kobori Sarwar, Rawshan Zamil, Fakirul Hasan Bairagi, Prabir Mitra, Ritwik Ghatak | 27 July 1973 |
1977 | Nagarik | The Citizen | Kali Banerjee, Prabha Devi, Satindra Bhattacharya, Shobha Sen, Gangapada Basu, Anil Chatterjee, Ketaki Dutta, Kesto Mukherjee, Gita Shome | Produced in 1952. Released on 20 September 1977 |
1977 | Jukti Takko Aar Gappo | Reason, Debate and a Story | Ritwik Ghatak, Tripti Mitra, Saoli Mitra, Bijon Bhattacharya, Gnanesh Mukherjee, Sugato Burman, Ananya Ray, Master Ritoban Ghatak, Jahar Roy, Utpal Dutt | 30 September 1977 |
Story & scriptwriter
Year | Film | Director | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
1957 | Musafir | Hrishikesh Mukherjee | Script |
1958 | Madhumati | Bimal Roy | Story & Script |
1960 | Swaralipi | Asit Sen | Script |
1962 | Kumari Mon | Chitrarath | Script |
1963 | Deeper Nam Tiya Rong | Gurudas Bagchi | Script |
1965 | Rajkanya | Sunil Banerjee | Story & Script |
1968 | Heerer Prajapati (Hindi) | Santi P. Choudhury | Script |
Actor
Year | Film | Director |
---|---|---|
1950 | Tathapi | Manoj Bhattacharya |
1951 | Chinnamul | Nimai Ghosh |
1962 | Kumari Mon | Chitrarath |
1962 | Subarnarekha | Ritwik Ghatak |
1973 | Titash Ekti Nadir Naam | Ritwik Ghatak |
1974 | Jukti Takko Aar Gappo | Ritwik Ghatak |
Short films and documentaries
- The Life of the Adivasis (1955)
- Places of Historic Interest in Bihar (1955)
- Oraon (1957)
- Scissors (1962)
- Ustad Alauddin Khan (1963)
- Fear (1965)
- Rendezvous (1965)
- Civil Defence (1965)
- Scientists of Tomorrow (1967)
- Yeh Kyon (Why/The Question) (1970)
- Amar Lenin (My Lenin) (1970)
- Puruliar Chhau (The Chhau Dance of Purulia) (1970)
- Durbar Gati Padma (The Turbulent Padma) (1971)
Incomplete films and documentaries
- Bedeni (1951)
- Kato Ajanare (1959)
- Bagalar Banga Darshan (1964–65)
- Ronger Golam (1968)
- Indira Gandhi (1972)
- Ramkinkar (1975)
Films on Ritwik Ghatak
- Ekti Nadir Naam (The Name of a River) (2002) by Anup Singh.
- Meghe Dhaka Tara (2013) directed by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee.
Screenplays aborted before shooting
- Raja (1956)
- Amritokumbher Sandhane (1957)
- Akal Basonto (1957)
- Arjan Sardar (1958)
- Balidan (1962)
- Aranyak (1963)
- Nakshi Kanthar Math (1963)
- Elephant taming in Gouripur (1963)
- Shyam Se Neha Lagei (1964)
- Janmabhumi (Pandit Mashai) (1965)
- Chaturanga (1966)
- Hirer Prajapati (1966)
- Sansar Simante (1968)
- Echoes from Vietnam in Bengal (1968)
- Kumar Sambhaber Ashtom Swargo (1969)
- Sat Lahari
- Natun Phasal
- Ajay and Gabroo
- Those forgotte ones
- Shei Bishnupriya (1974)
- Mannequin (1974)
- Hath
- Princess Kalaboti
- Buddhu Bhutum (1975)
- Lojja (1975)
Theatre
- Chandragupto (Dwijendralal Ray), actor
- Achalayoton (Tagore) (1943), director and actor
- Kalo Sayor (Ghatak) (1947–48), actor and director
- Kalonko (Bhattacharya) (1951), actor
- Dolil (Ghatak) (1952), actor and director
- Kato Dhane Kato Chaal (Ghatak)(1952)
- Officer (Gogol) (1953), actor,
- Ispaat (Ghatak) (1954–55), un-staged
- Khorir Gondi (Brecht)
- Galileo Chorit (Brecht)
- Jagoran (Atindra Mozumdar), actor
- Jalonto (Ghatak)
- Jwala (Ghatak)
- Dakghar (Tagore)
- Dheu (Biru Mukhopadhay)
- Dhenki Swarge geleo Dhan bhane (Ghatak/Panu Paul)
- Natir Puja (Tagore)
- Nabanna (Bhattacharya)
- Nildarpan (Dinabandhu Mitra), actor
- Nicher Mahal (Gorky), un-staged
- Netajike nie (Ghatak)
- Poritran (Tagore)
- Falguni (Tagore)
- Bidyasagar (Banaphool)
- Bisarjan (Tagore)
- Vangabandor (Panu Paul), actor
- Voter vet (Panu Paul), actor
- Musanfiro ke lie (Gorky), actor
- Macbeth (Shakespeare), actor
- Raja (Tagore)
- Sanko (Ghatak), actor
- Sei Meye (Ghatak), director
- Strir Patro (Tagore)
- Hojoborala (Sukumar Ray)
- Pashanda Pandit
Bibliography
Books
- Ritwik Ghatak stories ISBN 81-87075-55-4
- Galileo Charit (Bengali translation of Brecht's Life of Galileo)
- Chalachitra, Manush Ebong Aro Kichu Dey's publishers ISBN 81-295-0397-2
- Cinema and I, Ritwik Memorial Trust, Kolkata
- On the cultural "Front", Ritwik Memorial Trust
- Rows and Rows of Fences: Ritwik Ghatak on Cinema, Seagull Books Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata ISBN 978-81-7046-178-4
- Ritwik Ghatak Stories, Translated from Bengali by Rani Ray, New Delhi, Shrishti publishers and distributors ISBN 978-81-87075-55-4
Short stories
- Akashgangar srot dhore
- Ezahar
- Shikha
- Ecstasy
- Rupkotha
- Raja
- Parashpathar
- Bhuswarga Achanchal
- Sphotik Patro
- Chokh
- Comrade
- Sarak
- Prem
- Jhankar
- Mar
Articles and essays on film
Article | First published | Year |
---|---|---|
A New Chapter in Acting | Chalachitra, Autumn issue, Page 93–101 | 1950 |
A Draft on Cultural Line | Indian People's Theatre Association | 1 June 1951 |
A Film Festival in Calcutta" Soviet Film Grand Concert: Bicycle Thief | Parichay, March, Year 21, Vol–2, No–3 Page 70–79 | 1952 |
Soviet Film In Bengali | Parichay November, Year 24, No–5, Page 517–526 | 1954 |
About Oraons (Chotonagpur) | Ritwik, October 1977, Page 189–201 | 1954–1955 |
Some Thoughts on Ajantrik | Indian Film Reviews, Page 22–23 | December, 1958 |
One Long Boundary Wall | Chalachitra, Annual number, Page 117–119 | 1959 |
Various Weapon: Editing | Ritwik Page 183–187 | Unknown |
Speech About Cinema; Artists of Bengal | Chitrabikshan Jan–Apr, 1976 | 1958–60 |
A Book review: Theory of Film | Indian Film Culture, Vol–1, No–1, Page 47–50 | April–June, 1962 |
Music in Indian Cinema And The Epic Approach | Artist, January–March, Vol–1, No–1, Page 37–38 | 1963 |
An Interview On Film Script | Chalachitra Autumn issue, Vol III, Page 47–50 | 1963 |
Human Society, Our Tradition, Film Making and my Efforts | Chalachitra Autumn issue | 1963 |
Art and Integrity | Dainik Basumati Autumn issue | 1963 |
Editorial | Artist July–September, Vol–1 No–3 | 1963 |
Nazarin and Louis Buñuel | Chalachitra Winter Page 41–44 | 1963 |
The Film and I | Montage Vol–II No–3 | 1963 |
Nazarin– a review | Kino Vol–I No–1, Page 23–26 | January, 1964 |
Experimental Cinema | Amrita, Autumn issue | 1964 |
The Mother Land and Artist's Duty | Parichay Autumn issue | 1964 |
Assessing a Film | Chalachitra Autumn issue, page 18–20 | 1964 |
Experimental Cinema | Lecture, Film and Training Institute | 16 September 1964 |
On Komal Gandhar | Chitrapat, Vol–I, No–I, Page 23–24 | 1965 |
The Director's Message in Bengali Cinema | Chirakalpa Summer issue, Vol–I, No–I | 1965 |
Understanding Cinema | Angik, Summer issue | 1965 |
A Book review: Theory of Film– An Attitude to Life and an Attitude to Art | 1965 | |
It is not possible to accept what Box Office demands | Statement column, Jugantar | 13 August 1965 |
The Past and Present of Bengali Films, Interview | Chalachitra Page 24–25 | October 1965 |
A Book Review: Theory of Film; Nature of Film | Lecture F.T.I.I of Pune | 30 September 1965 |
Bengali Cinema, Literary Influence | Film Fare | 1965 |
Sound in Film | Parichay, Chatushkala issue, Year 35 | 1965 |
Plays and the Present Age | Jatiya Sahitya Parishad, Page 9–12 | 12 April 1966 |
On Subarna Rekha | Chitrapat Vol–2 No–2, Page 26–27 | August 1966 |
My Film | Film, Autumn issue | 1966 |
Art, Cinema and the Future | Ananda Bazar Patrika | 1966 |
The Third International Film Festival in India | Chitralekha Vol– I, No– 4, Page– 13–16 | Winter 1966 |
Experiment in Cinema and I | Unpublished | Unknown |
The Future of Film | Movie Montage Vol–1 No–1 Page–1 | 1967 |
My Coming into Films | Film Forum Festival, Souvenir, 17–20 July | 1967 |
Sound in Film | Film Forum Festival, Souvenir, 17–20 July | 1967 |
From a Statement | Chitrayan Page–34 (August, 1977) |
1967 |
What is the True Form of Cinema | Lecture | 29 September 1967 |
Experimental Film and I | Chitrabikshan | October, 1967 |
Cinema and the Subjective Factor | Chitrakalpa Vol–2 No–1, Page 5–7 | October, 1967 |
Thinking about Cinema | Movie Montage Special issue, Vol–I, No–2, Page 49–53 | 1967 |
Interview | Movie Montage Vol–I, No–2, Page 54–58 | 1967 |
Documentary Film | Sahitya–Patra Sept–Nov issue, Page 117–121 | 1967 |
The Position of Cinema in the Society | Movie Montage Vol–I, No–3, Page 3–4 | 1967 |
Bengali Society and Bengali Cinema | Madhyanya Oct–Dec issue, Vol–II, No–3, Page 147–150 | 1967 |
Filmic Rhythm and Structure | Chalachitra Sept–Dec issue, Page 9–10 | 1967 |
Prognosis for Today's Cinema | Desh December issue, Vol– 35, No–9, Page 885–886 | 1967 |
The So-called Crisis in Bengali Cinema | Abhinay-Darpan May–June issue, Page 32–34 | 1968 |
Some Stray Thought Some Perceptions | Ritwik October 1977, Page 5–10 | 1968 |
The Film I Want to Make About Vietnam | West Bengal Youth Festival, Commemorative Volume | 1968 |
Dance in Cinema | Nupur Dance Academy, Souvenir | 1968 |
On The People's Theatre Movement | Abhinay Darpan, May–June issue, Page 2, 7–8 | 1969 |
If I Could Make Films Again | Antarjatik Angik | 1969 |
Obscenity and Films | Assam Bani Patrika | 12 December 1969 |
The Present and Future of Indian Film Making | Abhinay March–April issue, Vol–I No–2 & 3, Page 138–148, 201–204 | 1970 |
Interview by Ajay Basu | Abhinay May issue, Vol–I, No–4 | 1970 |
What Ails Indian Film Making | Amrita Bazar Patrika, Sunday issue | 10 May 1970 |
Interview | Chitrabhash | July 1970 |
Our beloved Ganga–da, The Quite Man | Gangapada Basu Commemorative volume, page 44–38 | 3 Jan 1972 |
If There Be Any One Person In India Who Comprehends The Film Medium, Then He is Satyajit Ray | Cine Technique | March, 1972 |
Interview | Chatrapat No–9, Page 37–38 | 1972 |
Thoughts about Ajantrik | Ajantrik Angik Winter–spring issue, Page 55–60 | Unknown |
Interview– Titash and others by Tulu Das | Unknown | 1973 |
Ritwik Ghatak, an interview | Chitrabikshan August–September, 6th year, No 11–12 | 1973 |
Brecht and Ourselves | Natyachinta Volume–2, Page 9 | 1973 |
An Interview by Muhammed Khashru | Dhrupadi Vol–IV, Page 148–169 | 13 May 1974 |
People I Have Seen Both The Bengal | Unknown | September, 1974 |
Dialectics in Films | Amrita | 1974 |
My Views | Amrita | 1974 |
Two Aspects, The Mind, Day Dreams, The Eye, Movement In Film | Chalachitra Autumn issue, Page 14–23 | 1974 |
Face to Face with Ritwik Ghatak | Chitrabikshan | September, 1974 |
Bijon Bhattacharya– Giver of New Life | Natyadarpan Vol–1, No–1, Page 13–15 | May 1975 |
An Interview by Prabir Sen | Jalim Singh's Journal | 1975 |
Recent plays | Moumachi | 1975 |
The Emergency– Ritwik Ghatak's Works at the Censor's Mercy | Chitrabikshan July–Sept, 10th Year, No. 10–12, Page 9–10 | 1975 |
Let There Be Sound | Chitrabikshan Jan–Apr issue, Page 216 | 1976 |
Film Making | Chitrabikshan Jan–Apr issue, Page 225–226 | 1976 |
Symbol | Shabda | Unknown |
On Drama | Agyatabas No–17, Page 49–50 | 1976 |
Cinema, Literature and My Films | Chitrabikshan | November, 1976 |
La Dolce Vita and Felini | Chitrapat, Special issue | 1976 |
On Bergman | Chitrapat, Special issue | 1976 |
My Thoughts on Cinema | F.F.S.I Ritwik Retrospective Souvenir | 1976 |
What It Means To Make Films In India | Unknown | Unknown |
An Interview | by Kalpana Biswas | 1976 |
An Interview | Film Miscellany | 1976 |
An Interview | Swarabarna | 1976 |
Excerpt of an Article | Movie Montage No–18 Page– 57 | November 1976 |
On Memory of Pramathesh Barua | Unknown | Unknown |
References
Sources
- Primary sources
- Ghatak, Ritwik (1987). Cinema and I. Ritwik Memorial Trust. pp. 102–149.
- Ghaṭaka, R̥tvikakumāra (2005). Calaccitra, mānusha ebaṃ āro kichu (1. De'ja saṃskaraṇa. ed.). Kalakātā: De'ja Pābaliśiṃ. pp. 347–368. ISBN 81-295-0397-2.
- Ray, Translated by Rani (2001). Ritwik Ghatak stories. New Delhi: Srishti Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 81-87075-55-4.
Citations
- Ghatak, Ritwik (1987). Cinema and I. Ritwik Memorial Trust. pp. Foreword, 11–12.
- British Film Institute. "The Name of a River | British Film Institute". Bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
Ritwik Ghatak | |
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Written & Directed |
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Short Films and Documentaries |
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Unfinished Films |
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Characters | |
Legacy |
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