Apr. 17, 1964|India|117 Min.|Not Rated
Genre: Bangla;Drama;Romance
Description: “Charulata,” a 1964 film, is based on Rabindranath Tagore’s story *Nastanirh (The Broken Nest)* and is set in late 19th-century Calcutta during the Bengali Renaissance under British rule. The story centers on Charulata (Charu), portrayed by Madhabi Mukherjee, an intelligent and artistic woman married to Bhupati (Sailen Mukherjee), a political newspaper editor and freedom movement enthusiast. Despite Bhupati’s love for his wife, his busy schedule leaves Charu feeling neglected and bored in their affluent household run by servants.
To alleviate her loneliness, Bhupati invites Charu’s brother Umapada and his wife Manda to live with them. While Umapada assists with the magazine, Manda’s simplistic nature fails to provide meaningful companionship for the cultured Charulata. When Bhupati’s younger cousin Amal (Soumitra Chatterjee) visits, Bhupati encourages him to engage Charu’s literary interests. Amal, a young and ambitious writer, forms a close bond with Charu, sharing her passion for poetry. Their relationship evolves into a playful yet intimate friendship, though tensions arise when Charu secretly publishes a story without his approval.
Amal soon realizes Charu’s feelings for him but grapples with guilt over their connection. Meanwhile, Umapada and Manda betray Bhupati by stealing his money, leading to the collapse of his newspaper and press. Devastated, Bhupati confides in Amal, who is overwhelmed by his own guilt and Charu’s intellectual superiority. Unable to face the situation, Amal departs unexpectedly, leaving a letter for Charu as he sets off to England for further studies. The film explores themes of love, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships within a changing society.
Cast director: Satyajit Ray
Cast actor: Soumitra Chatterjee, Madhabi Mukherjee, Shailen Mukherjee, Shyamal Ghoshal, Gitali Roy, Bholanath Koyal, Suku Mukherjee, Dilip Bose, Subrata Sensharma, Nilotpal Dey
Original name: চারুলতা