Pratidwandi

Pratidwandi (The Adversary)
Directed by	Satyajit Ray
Produced by	Priya Films (Nepal Dutta, Asim Dutta)
Written by	Satyajit Ray
Starring	Dhritiman Chatterjee Krishna Bose Indira Devi Kalyan Chowdhury Joysree Roy Debraj Roy Sefali
Release dates	27 October 1970
Running time	110 min.
Language	Bengali

Pratidwandi or Pratidandi (literally Adversary, Opponent or Competitor in Bengali; known internationally as The Adversary) is a 1970 Indian Bengali drama filmdirected by Satyajit Ray based on the novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay. It is the first part of the Calcutta trilogy. Set during the period of the naxalite movement in Bengal, Pratidwandi tells the story of Siddharta, an educated middle-class man caught within the turmoils of social unrest. Corruption and unemployment is rampant, and Siddhartha cannot align himself with either his revolutionary activist brother, or career-oriented sister.

The film is stylistically unusual for Ray, featuring techniques inspired by the French New Wave, such as jump cuts, edgy framing, dream sequences, and sexual metaphors.^{[citation needed] [1]}

Introduction

The historical background of the film is set in the decade of a wide range of political turmoil in India. The huge influx of refugees during the partition of India and loss of economic activity in the hinterland of Kolkata resulted in the stagnation of the economy of Kolkata. The Naxalbari movement under Charu Majumdar saw splitting in the Communist party and an uprise in Naxalite movement inspired by the Maoist doctrine. Kolkata saw the most activities of the Maoist revolutionary group who constantly preached the local students and intellectuals. The main character Siddhartha's brother is one such example.

See also

• Calcutta trilogy
• Bengali cinema
  • Cinema of West Bengal
• Cinema of India
  • Parallel Cinema

References

External links

• satyajitray.org on the film
• UCSC page
• Pratidwandi (The Adversary) at the Internet Movie Database