Ritwik Kumar Ghatak stands among the most original, radical, and uncompromising filmmakers to emerge from South Asia after Independence, yet his work has long remained inaccessible to audiences. Through recurring motifs such as the Great Mother, rivers, and the struggles of the dispossessed, Ghatak explores themes of human connection, social justice, marginalisation, and ecological crisis. His films endure as deeply moving, politically charged, and stylistically bold works that affirm cinema’s profound emotional and moral force. 

In this two-day retrospective curated by film scholar and documentarian Sanghita Sen, we present a selection of Ghatak's films showcasing his innovative storytelling and dedication to using cinema as a tool for political change.   

This ticket will provide admission to both films on Sunday (The Turbulent Padma and A River Called Titas).

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5:30 PM: The Turbulent Padma / Durbar Gati Padma (Dir: Ritwik Ghatak, 1971, 21 min, No Certificate; English dubbed soundtrack [no captions])

In this powerful short documentary, Ghatak pays tribute to the courage and resilience of ordinary freedom fighters engaged in a profoundly unequal battle during the Bangladesh Liberation War. A poignant testament to the immense human cost of war and forced displacement.

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6:30 PM: A River Called Titas: A Tale of Climate Refugees / Titas Ekti Nadir Naam (Dir: Ritwik Ghatak, 1973, 158 min, PG; English subtitles) 

Adapted from a novel of the same name by Dalit writer-journalist Advaita Mallabarman, A River Called Titas traces the gradual disappearance of a fishing community whose lives and livelihoods are bound to the fading river Titas. Anticipating concerns now associated with the Anthropocene, it portrays environmental transformation and the deep interdependence between people and the ecosystems that sustain them. Ghatak intertwines personal tragedy with ecological precarity, crafting a haunting vision of human endurance in the face of environmental crisis. 

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We are grateful to the Ritwik Memorial Trust and Ritaban Ghatak for granting us permission for these screenings.

50% of box office proceeds will be donated to Medical Aid Palestine.