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/English
IMDb profile

Mahanagar is a 1963 film directed by Satyajit Ray. It is sometimes released as The Big City in the English-speaking world. Based on a short story written by Narendranath Mitra, it tells the story of a housewife who disconcerts her traditionalist family by getting a job as a salesperson. It marks the first screen appearance of Jaya Bhaduri (now Jaya Bachchan), who would later become one of Bollywood's leading actresses.

[edit] Plot

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 because of increasing financial pressure due to her husband's income not being enough for the family to live on. 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.Eventually, her husband loses his job and she becomes the sole breadwinner. Arati grows increasingly independent and befriends an English-speaking, Anglo-Indian colleague (representative of the legacy of the British Raj) Edith (Vicky Redwood), a move which raises suspicion and increases conflict.

[edit] Awards

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.

[edit] External links

• Mahanagar (SatyajitRay.org)

v • d • e Films directed by Satyajit Ray Pather Panchali (1955) • Aparajito (1957) • Parash Pathar (1958) • Jalsaghar (1958) • The World of Apu (1959) • Devi (1960) • Teen Kanya (1961) • Rabindranath Tagore (1961) • Kanchenjungha (1962) • Abhijan (1962) • Mahanagar (1963) • Charulata (1964) • Two (1965) • Kapurush (1965) • Mahapurush (1966) • Nayak (1966) • Chiriyakhana (1967) • Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969) • Aranyer Din Ratri (1970) • Pratidwandi (1971) • Seemabaddha (1971) • Sikkim (1971) • The Inner Eye (1972) • Distant Thunder (1973) • Sonar Kella (1974) • Jana Aranya (1976) • Bala (1976) • The Chess Players (1977) • Joi Baba Felunath (1978) • Hirak Rajar Deshe (1980) • Pikoor Diary (1981) • Sadgati (1981) • Ghare Baire (1984) • Sukumar Ray (1987) • Ganashatru (1989) • Shakha Proshakha (1990) • The Stranger (1991)