Ritwik Ghatak was an Indian filmmaker and also a playwright, poet, and writer of short stories. Ghatak started his creative career as a poet and a fiction writer, and then began writing for the theater and became involved with Gananatya Sangha and the Indian People's Theatre Association. Later he moved to film direction. He also wrote more than 50 essays on film. Satyajit Ray wrote that these essays "cover(ed) every possible aspect of the cinema".
Filmography
Films
Director and scriptwriter No Year Film English title Actors Release date1 1958 Ajantrik The Unmechanical / The Pathetic Fallacy Kali Banerjee, Gangapada Basu, Satindra Bhattacharya, Kajal Gupta, Gyanesh Mukherjee Anil Chatterjee, Tulsi Chakrabarti 23 May 19582 1959 Bari Theke Paliye The Runaway Kali Banerjee, Master Parambhattarak Lahiri, Gyanesh Mukherjee, Keshto Mukherjee. Jahor Roy, Satindra Bhattacharya, 24 July 19593 1960 Meghe Dhaka Tara (Partition Trilogy) The Cloud-Capped Star Anil Chatterjee, Supriya Choudhuri, Bijon Bhattacharya, Gita Ghatak, Gyanesh Mukherjee, Dwiju Bhawal, Niranjan Roy, Gita Dey 14 April 19604 1961 Komal Gandhar (Partition Trilogy) E-Flat Supriya Choudhuri, Abanish Banerjee Gita Dey, Anil Chatterjee, Bijon Bhattacharya, Chitra Sen, Mantu Ghosh, Satindra Bhattacharya 31 March 19615 1965 Subarnarekha (Partition Trilogy) Golden Line Abhi Bhattacharya, Madhabi Mukherjee, Bijon Bhattacharya, Jahor Roy, Satindra Bhattacharya, Gita Dey, Ritwik Ghatak 1 October 19656 1973 Titash Ekti Nadir Naam A River Called Titash Rosi Samad, Kobori Sarwar, Rawshan Zamil, Fakirul Hasan Bairagi, Prabir Mitra, Ritwik Ghatak 27 July 19737 1977 Nagarik The Citizen Kali Banerjee, Prabha Devi, Satindra Bhattacharya, Shobha Sen, Gangapada Basu, Anil Chatterjee, Ketaki Dutta, Kesto Mukherjee, Gita Shome Produced in 1952. Released on 20 September 1977 8 1977 Jukti Takko Aar Gappo Reason, Debate and a Story Ritwik Ghatak, Tripti Mitra, Saoli Mitra, Bijon Bhattacharya, Gnanesh Mukherjee, Sugato Burman, Ananya Ray, Master Ritoban Ghatak, Jahar Roy, Utpal Dutt 30 September 1977
Story & scriptwriter Year Film Director Remarks 1957 Musafir Hrishikesh Mukherjee Script 1958 Madhumati Bimal Roy Story & Script 1960 Swaralipi Asit Sen Script 1962 Kumari Mon Chitrarath Script 1963 Deeper Nam Tiya Rong Gurudas Bagchi Script 1965 Rajkanya Sunil Banerjee Story & Script 1968 Heerer Prajapati (Hindi) Santi P. Choudhury Script
Actor
Year Film Director 1950 Tathapi Manoj Bhattacharya 1951 Chinnamul Nimai Ghosh 1962 Kumari Mon Chitrarath 1962 Subarnarekha Ritwik Ghatak 1973 Titash Ekti Nadir Naam Ritwik Ghatak 1974 Jukti Takko Aar Gappo Ritwik Ghatak
Short films and documentaries
The Life of the Adivasis (1955) Places of Historic Interest in Bihar (1955) Oraon (1957) Scissors (1962) Ustad Alauddin Khan (1963) Fear (1965) Rendezvous (1965) - FTII student film directed by RN Shukla under the supervision of Ritwik Ghatak Civil Defence (1965) Scientists of Tomorrow (1967) Yeh Kyon (Why/The Question) (1970) Amar Lenin (My Lenin) (1970) Puruliar Chhau (The Chhau Dance of Purulia) (1970) Durbar Gati Padma (The Turbulent Padma) (1971)
Incomplete films and documentaries
Bedeni (1951) Kato Ajanare (1959) Bagalar Banga Darshan (1964–65) Ronger Golam (1968) Indira Gandhi (1972) Ramkinkar (1975)
Films on Ritwik Ghatak Ekti Nadir Naam (The Name of a River) (2002) by Anup Singh. Meghe Dhaka Tara (2013) directed by Kamaleshwar Mukherjee.
Screenplays aborted before shooting Raja (1956) Amritokumbher Sandhane (1957) Akal Basonto (1957) Arjan Sardar (1958) Balidan (1962) Aranyak (1963) Nakshi Kanthar Math (1963) Elephant taming in Gouripur (1963) Shyam Se Neha Lagei (1964) Janmabhumi (Pandit Mashai) (1965) Chaturanga (1966) Hirer Prajapati (1966) Sansar Simante (1968) Echoes from Vietnam in Bengal (1968) Kumar Sambhaber Ashtom Swargo (1969) Sat Lahari Natun Phasal Ajay and Gabroo Those forgotte ones Shei Bishnupriya (1974) Mannequin (1974) Hath Princess Kalaboti Buddhu Bhutum (1975) Lojja (1975)
Theatre Chandragupto (Dwijendralal Ray), actor Achalayoton (Tagore) (1943), director and actor Kalo Sayor (Ghatak) (1947–48), actor and director Kalonko (Bhattacharya) (1951), actor Dolil (Ghatak) (1952), actor and director Kato Dhane Kato Chaal (Ghatak)(1952) Officer (Gogol) (1953), actor, Ispaat (Ghatak) (1954–55), un-staged Khorir Gondi (Brecht) Galileo Chorit (Brecht) Jagoran (Atindra Mozumdar), actor Jalonto (Ghatak) Jwala (Ghatak) Dakghar (Tagore) Dheu (Biru Mukhopadhay) Dhenki Swarge geleo Dhan bhane (Ghatak/Panu Paul) Natir Puja (Tagore) Nabanna (Bhattacharya) Nildarpan (Dinabandhu Mitra), actor Nicher Mahal (Gorky), un-staged Netajike nie (Ghatak) Poritran (Tagore) Falguni (Tagore) Bidyasagar (Banaphool) Bisarjan (Tagore) Vangabandor (Panu Paul), actor Voter vet (Panu Paul), actor Musanfiro ke lie (Gorky), actor Macbeth (Shakespeare), actor Raja (Tagore) Sanko (Ghatak), actor Sei Meye (Ghatak), director Strir Patro (Tagore) Hojoborala (Sukumar Ray) Pashanda Pandit
Bibliography
Books
Ritwik Ghatak stories Galileo Charit (Bengali translation of Brecht's Life of Galileo) Chalachitra, Manush Ebong Aro Kichu Dey's publishers Cinema and I, Ritwik Memorial Trust, Kolkata On the cultural "Front", Ritwik Memorial Trust Rows and Rows of Fences: Ritwik Ghatak on Cinema, Seagull Books Pvt. Ltd, Kolkata Ritwik Ghatak Stories, Translated from Bengali by Rani Ray, New Delhi, Shrishti publishers and distributors
Short stories Akashgangar srot dhore Ezahar Shikha Ecstasy Rupkotha Raja Parashpathar Bhuswarga Achanchal Sphotik Patro Chokh Comrade Sarak Prem Jhankar Mar
Articles and essays on film Article First published Year A New Chapter in Acting Chalachitra, Autumn issue, Page 93–101 1950 A Draft on Cultural Line Indian People's Theatre Association 1 June 1951 A Film Festival in Calcutta" Soviet Film Grand Concert: Bicycle Thief Parichay, March, Year 21, Vol–2, No–3 Page 70–79 1952 Soviet Film In Bengali Parichay November, Year 24, No–5, Page 517–526 1954 About Oraons (Chotonagpur) Ritwik, October 1977, Page 189–201 1954–1955 Some Thoughts on Ajantrik Indian Film Reviews, Page 22–23 December, 1958 One Long Boundary Wall Chalachitra, Annual number, Page 117–119 1959 Various Weapon: Editing Ritwik Page 183–187 Unknown Speech About Cinema; Artists of Bengal Chitrabikshan Jan–Apr, 1976 1958–60 A Book review: Theory of Film Indian Film Culture, Vol–1, No–1, Page 47–50 April–June, 1962 Music in Indian Cinema And The Epic Approach Artist, January–March, Vol–1, No–1, Page 37–38 1963 An Interview On Film Script Chalachitra Autumn issue, Vol III, Page 47–50 1963 Human Society, Our Tradition, Film Making and my Efforts Chalachitra Autumn issue 1963 Art and Integrity Dainik Basumati Autumn issue 1963 Editorial Artist July–September, Vol–1 No–3 1963 Nazarin and Louis Buñuel Chalachitra Winter Page 41–44 1963 The Film and I Montage Vol–II No–3 1963 Nazarin– a review Kino Vol–I No–1, Page 23–26 January, 1964 Experimental Cinema Amrita, Autumn issue 1964 The Mother Land and Artist's Duty Parichay Autumn issue 1964 Assessing a Film Chalachitra Autumn issue, page 18–20 1964 Experimental Cinema Lecture, Film and Training Institute 16 September 1964 On Komal Gandhar Chitrapat, Vol–I, No–I, Page 23–24 1965 The Director's Message in Bengali Cinema Chirakalpa Summer issue, Vol–I, No–I 1965 Understanding Cinema Angik, Summer issue 1965 A Book review: Theory of Film– An Attitude to Life and an Attitude to Art 1965 It is not possible to accept what Box Office demands Statement column, Jugantar 13 August 1965 The Past and Present of Bengali Films, Interview Chalachitra Page 24–25 October 1965 A Book Review: Theory of Film; Nature of Film Lecture F.T.I.I of Pune 30 September 1965 Bengali Cinema, Literary Influence Film Fare 1965 Sound in Film Parichay, Chatushkala issue, Year 35 1965 Plays and the Present Age Jatiya Sahitya Parishad, Page 9–12 12 April 1966 On Subarna Rekha Chitrapat Vol–2 No–2, Page 26–27 August 1966 My Film Film, Autumn issue 1966 Art, Cinema and the Future Ananda Bazar Patrika 1966 The Third International Film Festival in India Chitralekha Vol– I, No– 4, Page– 13–16 Winter 1966 Experiment in Cinema and I Unpublished Unknown The Future of Film Movie Montage Vol–1 No–1 Page–1 1967 My Coming into Films Film Forum Festival, Souvenir, 17–20 July 1967 Sound in Film Film Forum Festival, Souvenir, 17–20 July 1967 From a Statement Chitrayan Page–34(August, 1977) 1967 What is the True Form of Cinema Lecture 29 September 1967 Experimental Film and I Chitrabikshan October, 1967 Cinema and the Subjective Factor Chitrakalpa Vol–2 No–1, Page 5–7 October, 1967 Thinking about Cinema Movie Montage Special issue, Vol–I, No–2, Page 49–53 1967 Interview Movie Montage Vol–I, No–2, Page 54–58 1967 Documentary Film Sahitya–Patra Sept–Nov issue, Page 117–121 1967 The Position of Cinema in the Society Movie Montage Vol–I, No–3, Page 3–4 1967 Bengali Society and Bengali Cinema Madhyanya Oct–Dec issue, Vol–II, No–3, Page 147–150 1967 Filmic Rhythm and Structure Chalachitra Sept–Dec issue, Page 9–10 1967 Prognosis for Today's Cinema Desh December issue, Vol– 35, No–9, Page 885–886 1967 The So-called Crisis in Bengali Cinema Abhinay-Darpan May–June issue, Page 32–34 1968 Some Stray Thought Some Perceptions Ritwik October 1977, Page 5–10 1968 The Film I Want to Make About Vietnam West Bengal Youth Festival, Commemorative Volume 1968 Dance in Cinema Nupur Dance Academy, Souvenir 1968 On The People's Theatre Movement Abhinay Darpan, May–June issue, Page 2, 7–8 1969 If I Could Make Films Again Antarjatik Angik 1969 Obscenity and Films Assam Bani Patrika 12 December 1969 The Present and Future of Indian Film Making Abhinay March–April issue, Vol–I No–2 & 3, Page 138–148, 201–204 1970 Interview by Ajay Basu Abhinay May issue, Vol–I, No–4 1970 What Ails Indian Film Making Amrita Bazar Patrika, Sunday issue 10 May 1970 Interview Chitrabhash July 1970 Our beloved Ganga–da, The Quite Man Gangapada Basu Commemorative volume, page 44–38 3 Jan 1972 If There Be Any One Person In India Who Comprehends The Film Medium, Then He is Satyajit Ray Cine Technique March, 1972 Interview Chatrapat No–9, Page 37–38 1972 Thoughts about Ajantrik Ajantrik Angik Winter–spring issue, Page 55–60 Unknown Interview– Titash and others by Tulu Das Unknown 1973 Ritwik Ghatak, an interview Chitrabikshan August–September, 6th year, No 11–12 1973 Brecht and Ourselves Natyachinta Volume–2, Page 9 1973 An Interview by Muhammed Khashru Dhrupadi Vol–IV, Page 148–169 13 May 1974 People I Have Seen Both The Bengal Unknown September, 1974 Dialectics in Films Amrita 1974 My Views Amrita 1974 Two Aspects, The Mind, Day Dreams, The Eye, Movement In Film Chalachitra Autumn issue, Page 14–23 1974 Face to Face with Ritwik Ghatak Chitrabikshan September, 1974 Bijon Bhattacharya– Giver of New Life Natyadarpan Vol–1, No–1, Page 13–15 May 1975 An Interview by Prabir Sen Jalim Singh's Journal 1975 Recent plays Moumachi 1975 The Emergency– Ritwik Ghatak's Works at the Censor's Mercy Chitrabikshan July–Sept, 10th Year, No. 10–12, Page 9–10 1975 Let There Be Sound Chitrabikshan Jan–Apr issue, Page 216 1976 Film Making Chitrabikshan Jan–Apr issue, Page 225–226 1976 Symbol Shabda Unknown On Drama Agyatabas No–17, Page 49–50 1976 Cinema, Literature and My Films Chitrabikshan November, 1976 La Dolce Vita and Felini Chitrapat, Special issue 1976 On Bergman Chitrapat, Special issue 1976 My Thoughts on Cinema F.F.S.I Ritwik Retrospective Souvenir 1976 What It Means To Make Films In India Unknown Unknown An Interview by Kalpana Biswas 1976 An Interview Film Miscellany 1976 An Interview Swarabarna 1976 Excerpt of an Article Movie Montage No–18 Page– 57 November 1976 On Memory of Pramathesh Barua Unknown Unknown
References
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