Jalsaghar

The Music Room

by Satyajit Ray

India - 1958

Friday, June 7th • 6PM
At Chaktomuk

Feature Film – 100mn

B&W

Bengali with English subtitles

Screenplay Satyajit Ray

Cinematography Subrata Mitra

Music Vilayat Khan

Cast Chhabi Biswas, Padma Devi, Pinaki Sen Gupta, Gangapada Bose, Tulsi Lahari

Format 35mm – Mono

Genre Drama

First ralease 10 October 1958 (India), April 1962 (UK), 15 October 1963 (US)

Restored version 2011

Awards 1959 - All India Certificate of Merit for the Second Best Feature Film and National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film in Bengali

Production Satyajit Ray

Synopsis Biswambhar Roy is a zamindar (landlord) and the last of his kind. With the title, he has none of the perquisites, inheriting diminishing lands that are being eroded by the neighbouring river. But he must maintain the lifestyle of his heritage. This ostentation is most apparent in the grandest room of his mansion, the music room.

About Jalsaghar was based on a popular short story written by Bengali writer Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay. After the box office failure of Aparajito, Ray desperately needed a hit film and decided to make a film based on both a popular piece of literature and a film that would incorporate popular Indian music. It was the first film to extensively incorporate classical Indian music and dancing. Ray began shooting in May 1957.

Selected filmography of Satyajit Ray
(1921 – 1992)

1960 – Devi (The Goddess)

1962 – Mahanagar (The Big City)

1964 – Charulata (The Lonely Wife)

1970 – Pratidwandi (The Adversary)

1974 – Sonar Kella (The Fortress)

1981 – Sadgati (The Deliverance)

With the courtesy ofAurora Films