Mahanagar

The independence of a middle class woman in Calcutta who gets a job as a saleswoman is explored in this film., The second film in the season celebrating the work of director Satyajit Ray., Subrata (Anil Chatterjee) is a bank clerk who is barely making ends meet as he supports his parents, wife and child. His wife, Arati (Madhabi Mukerjee), soon secures a position selling knitting machines to wealthy housewives. As she becomes successful, Subrata grows uncomfortable with the arrangement. With prompting from his father, Subrata is about to have Arati quit her new career. Just before she sends in her letter of resignation, however, Subrata’s bank fails and he loses his job. Though Arati is satisfied with her work, her employer unfairly fires her Anglo-Indian friend and Arati considers handing in her resignation once more as an act of solidarity. World-reknown director Satyajit Ray) took a slight detour from his typical film subjects and focused more on contemporary social issues in a light manner. In spite of this difference, Ray’s brilliant filmmaking held true, earning him yet more acclaim. Mahanagar/The Big City was awarded numerous awards in India and Ray received the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin Film Festival in 1964. Ray is also responsible for the score.