SouthbankRevolutionary Cinema: The Passion of Ritwik Ghatak
On the centenary of his birth, we celebrate the cinema of Ritwik Kumar Ghatak, a visionary filmmaker and committed chronicler of Partition and uprooted peoples.
‘I would succeed as an artist only if you become aware and get involved in the task of challenging that social obstacle or injustice in the world outside after seeing the film, if I can transmit my protest to you.’
– Ritwik Ghatak
Ghatak was the most original, radical and uncompromising filmmaker to emerge from South Asian cinema after Independence. Coming from Kolkata’s Communist theatre scene, he battled constantly until his untimely death in 1976, completing only eight films. They were barely seen in his lifetime, and have since been difficult to source. This programme includes new restorations of every feature, alongside three unfinished films, two he wrote, one he acted in, and 13 fiction and documentary shorts.
Through dazzling innovations in cinematic storytelling, Ghatak examined the human cost of political betrayal, probing the fractures of family, culture and social justice, always with hope and courage. His work was far ahead of its time and stands today as a thrilling testament to cinema’s emotional, political and moral power.
Sanghita Sen, season curator
In partnership with
On the birth centenary of Ritwik Ghatak, NFDC-NFAI carried out unprecedented digital preservation of his entire filmography including feature length films, numerous shorts, documentaries and unfinished works, all under the National Film Heritage Mission. The eight features have been restored in 4K from various film elements preserved by NFDC-NFAI and West Bengal State Film Archive, with colour grading supervised by renowned Indian cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay.
Event
Ritwik Ghatak Season Introduction: A River Called Ritwik
An introduction to the work of this master Indian filmmaker.
Directed by Ghatak
He completed eight features – only five were released in India before he died.
The Citizen
Ritwik Ghatak’s film explores ideas of lost home and hope in post-Partition Kolkata.
The Citizen + intro by Ashvin Devasundaram, Queen Mary University of London
Ritwik Ghatak’s film explores ideas of lost home and hope in post-Partition Kolkata.
The Pathetic Fallacy
A unique story of companionship between a jalopy and its owner-driver.
The Pathetic Fallacy + intro by season curator Sanghita Sen
A unique story of companionship between a jalopy and its owner-driver.
The Runaway + intro by Agni Lahiri, film protagonist’s son and producer’s grandson
A story of discovery, longing and hardship in an indifferent city.
The Partition Trilogy: The Cloud-Capped Star
A cinematic masterpiece that portrays sacrifice and Partition’s enduring trauma.
The Partition Trilogy: The Cloud-Capped Star + intro by Manishita Dass, author of BFI Film Classic: The Cloud-Capped Star
A cinematic masterpiece that portrays sacrifice and Partition’s enduring trauma.
The Partition Trilogy: E-Flat
A lyrical tale of exile, human connection and collective hope.
The Partition Trilogy: E-Flat + pre-recorded intro by Ritaban Ghatak, Ritwik Ghatak’s son
A lyrical tale of exile, human connection and collective hope.
The Partition Trilogy: Subarnarekha
A Partition epic of separation, fateful encounters and new beginnings.
The Partition Trilogy: Subarnarekha + pre-recorded intro by filmmaker Mani Kaul
A Partition epic of separation, fateful encounters and new beginnings.
A River Called Titas + intro by Tanjil Rashid, New Statesman culture editor
Poetic depiction of memory, loss and a vanishing fishing community.
Shorts and Documentaries
A selection of shorts that were directed and supervised by Ritwik Ghatak.
Incomplete Works
Three incomplete films and a short documentary directed by Ritwik Ghatak.
Incomplete Works + intro by season curator Sanghita Sen
Three incomplete films and a short documentary directed by Ritwik Ghatak.
Reason, Debate and a Story
Autobiographical last film – and a critically intricate commentary on contemporary Bengal.
Reason, Debate and a Story + intro by season curator Sanghita Sen
Autobiographical last film – and a critically intricate commentary on contemporary Bengal.
Scripted by Ghatak
Ghatak moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1955 to work as a scriptwriter at Filmistan Studio. He wrote the scripts of Madhumati and The Traveller during this period. He continued to write scripts for other directors after moving back to Kolkata. The Diamond Butterfly was one of these. Madhumati was not included in the programme as the restoration is still in progress and won’t be ready for the retrospective.
Ghatak as Actor
Ghatak was already an award-winning stage director, playwright and actor when he appeared in The Uprooted, also assisting with the script and direction.
Want more?
See the (work in progress) documentary Ghatak Was Here.
BFI Southbank will be closed Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 June due to a private event. There is currently no step-free access to the Mezzanine or Blue Room. We are working to resolve this as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
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