Saturday, October 15, 2022, 4:00 pm
Welcome Address
Saturday, October 15, 2022, 4:15 pm
Charulata (The Lonely Wife) – Feature Film
Direction, Scenario, Music: Satyajit Ray
Duration: 117 minutes
Language: Bengali (English subtitles)
Actors: Soumitra Chatterjee, Madhavi Mukherjee
Synopsis:
Bhupati, a wealthy man with a bent towards journalism in 19th century India, neglects Charulata, his wife to pursue politics. Amal, his brother, comes for a visit and after a while, Bhupati coaxes him to “bring out” her artistic leaning. Amal does, but through their subtle interplay Charulata comes to feel deeply for Amal. At one point Amal admits to Charulata that a “woman’s mind can only be understood by men”, but when she ironically publishes a short story on her own and without his knowledge. Amal finally realizes that Charulata is in love with him. So as not to injure his brother, Amal leaves unexpectedly, Bhupati, however, catches Charulata crying over Amal and is shocked and sorrowful.
Saturday, October 15, 2022, 6.30 pm
Reception and Entertainment
Saturday, October 15, 2022, 7.30 pm
Shatranj Ke Khilari (The Chess Players) – Feature Film
Direction and Music: Satyajit Ray
Duration: 113 minutes
Language: Urdu, Hindi and English (English subtitles)
Actors: Sanjeev Kumar, Saeed Jaffrey, Shabana Azmi, Amjad Khan, Sir Richard Attenborough, Tom Alter
Narration: Amitabh Bachchan
Synopsis:
Based on a short story by Munshi Premchand, the film shows in parallel the historical drama of the Indian princely state of Awadh (whose capital is Lucknow) and it’s Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah, who is overthrown by the British, alongside the story of two noblemen who are obsessed with the game of shatranj (chess). Amjad Khan plays the ruling Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. He is a languid artist and poet, no longer in command of events and unable to effectively oppose the British demand for his throne. Parallel to this wider drama is the personal tale of two rich, indolent noblemen of this kingdom, Mirza Sajjad Ali and Mir Roshan Ali. Inseparable friends, the two nobles are passionately obsessed with the game of shatranj (chess). Both effectively neglect their wives and fail to fight the takeover of their kingdom by the East India Company. Instead, they escape their wives and responsibilities, fleeing from Lucknow to play chess in a tiny village untouched by greater events. Satyajit Ray’s basic theme in the film is the message that the self-centeredness, detachment and cowardice of India’s ruling classes catalysed the annexation of Awadh by a handful of British officials.