| Mahanagar | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Satyajit Ray |
| Written by | Satyajit Ray, from a story, Abataranika 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 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Bengali/English |
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, Abataranika 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.
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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.
Satyajit Ray won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 14th Berlin International Film Festival in 1964.[1] Upon its delayed (1968) release in the United States, it drew praise from Roger Ebert, Pauline Kael and others. The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 36th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.[2]
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