Top 3 Bengali Classic Movies Way Ahead of Their Time

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I have discussed many old Bengali classic movies on this blog, which have dealt with offbeat topics. These films delve into ordinary people's lives and tell their extraordinary stories through their everyday struggles and successes, or failures in overcoming them.

1. Uttar Phalguni: Suchitra Sen was the most sought-after and respected actress of Bengali films, and one of the rare few who could even say no to Satyajit Ray's movie offer, just because the role did not align with her choice.

Uttar Phalguni is one of her best performances, that of an ill-fated woman who is sold by her husband to a life as a courtesan, yet keeps her daughter away from her dingy, dirty world to make her grow up to be an accomplished woman. Suchita Sen played both the mother and the daughter. Her range of acting can be easily distinguished by the portrayal of the double role with very different characteristics- one of a tormented courtesan, accused of killing her abusive husband, and another that of an accomplished lawyer who defends her mother in court. Directed by Asit Sen, this film is way ahead of its time.

2. Indrani:  Suchitra Sen had always played characters that were strong and powerful. In this film, she plays the titular role of Indrani, a Brahmin woman who leaves her village home for Calcutta to pursue higher studies. She befriends a man from a modest background but with extraordinary academics and decides to marry him. Her father, a staunch Brahmin, opposes this union, but Indrani, a rebel in nature, marries the man of her choice. Amid many differences in their marriage and a long period of separation, they unite at last.

The film stands out for Indrani's strong character: her ability to stand up for herself in any circumstance and win the situation with grace and courage is worth appreciating. The film was directed by Niren Lahiri and had some beautiful songs composed by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay.

3. Benarasi: A man who works in the railways is forcefully taken to a brothel, where he falls in love with an inmate. After much struggle, they both elope and marry. The girl, Benarasi, transforms into a dedicated homemaker, and the man is transferred to a remote village as a station master. But fate had other plans, where suddenly somebody recognises Benarasi as a former brothel worker. Society gets after the couple, and they are forced to leave the village for an unknown destination. 

Directed by Arup Guhathakurata, the film stars Ruma Guhathakurata in the titular role and Soumitra Chatterji as her husband. This was a film that dared to tell a story of a woman trying to build a life for herself after being rescued from the hellish atmosphere of a brothel. It also points to the hypocritical society that shames the same woman whom they had once corrupted. It is a very heart-touching story with some great performances by the actors.





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