Ritwik Ghatak the legend filmmaker

The genius filmmaker, script writer Ritwik Ghatak was born on November 4, 1925.

Bengal has produced many world class filmmakers. Ritwik Ghatak is one of them. The man with extra ordinary talent died on February 6, 1976, still his films his films are in demand.

Ritwik Ghatak was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His family settled in Kolkata before the partition of Bengal. Till the last day of his life, the partition of Bengal was not accepted by Ritwik. The refugees from Bangladesh, thir sufferings were portrayed in his several films.

Brief profile of Ritwik Ghatak

Father: Suresh Chandra Ghatak was a district magistrate, poet.
Mother: Indubala Devi.
Ritwik Ghatak was the youngest child of 11 children of their parents. His elder brother Manish Ghatak was a professor of English, social activist and writer. Writer and activist Mahasweta Devi is the daughter of Manish Ghatak.
Spouse: Surama Ghatak
Son: Ritaban Ghatak

Ritwik Ghatak and IPTA

Ritwik Ghatak joined the Indian People's Theatre Association – IPTA in 1951 where he wrote, directed and acted in number of plays. His last work with IPTA was the play 'Jwala'.

Ritwik Ghatak and Indian Cinema

His first assignment with the film industry was as an actor. In 1950, he acted in 'Chinnamul' - based on Bangladesh refugees. He was also assistant director of the movie.

'Ajantrik' was Ritwik Ghatak's first own directed film. This film was released on 1958.

As a script writer Ritwik's first success was 'Madhumati' in 1958 which was directed in Hindi by Bimal Roy.

His own directed films like 'Meghe Dhaka.Tara' – 1960, 'Komal Gandhar' – 1961, 'Subarnarekha' – 1961, all were based on refugees from Bangladesh after the independence. Rabindra Sangeet was utilized in his films very successfully.
In 1966, he took a break from making full length films and went to Pune and joined as a teacher in Film and Television Institute of India.

In 1970, the genius again came back to Kolkata and started film making. 'Titas Ekti Nadir Naam' was released on 1973. Ritwik's health detoriated due to heavy consumption of alcohol. His last film was 'Jukti Takko Aar Gapoo' in 1974. This movie was based on the naxal movement. Ritwik himself acted in this film.
The talent of Ritwik Ghatak was not recognized during his life time. His films were for the masses. Only a part of the society used to watch his films and that too in India. Ritwik Ghatak worked on his own trend, never tried to make commercial film. His film 'Nagarik' was most probably the first Indian art film. He directed this film in 1952 but it was released after his death. Luck factor was never with Ritwik Ghatak.