Jalsaghar (1958)

Director:

Satyajit Ray

Writers:

Tarashankar Banerjee (novel)
Satyajit Ray (writer)

Release Date:

18 February 1981 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Biswambhar Roy is a zamindar (landlord) and the last of his kind. With the title, he has none of the perquisites...

Plot Keywords:

Landlord | Dancing | Stubbornness | Storm | Generator

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Chhabi Biswas	...	Huzur Biswambhar Roy
Padmadevi	...	Mahamaya, Roy's wife (as Padma Devi)
Pinaki Sengupta	...	Khoka, Roy's Son
Gangapada Basu	...	Mahim Ganguly
Tulsi Chakraborty	...	Manager of Roy's Estate
Kali Sarkar	...	Roy's Servant
Waheed Khan	...	Ustad Ujir Khan
Roshan Kumari	...	Krishna Bai, dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sardar Akhtar	...	Singer (as Begum Akhtar)
Bismillah Khan	...	Musician
Salamat Ali Khan	...	Khyal singer
Pratap Mukhopdhya	...	(uncredited)
Tarapada Nandy	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Satyajit Ray

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tarashankar Banerjee		novel
Satyajit Ray		writer

Produced by
Satyajit Ray	....	producer

Original Music by
Ustad Vilayat Khan
Asis Kumar
Robin Majumder
Dakhin Mohan Takhur

Cinematography by
Subrata Mitra

Film Editing by
Dulal Dutta

Production Design by
Bansi Chandragupta

Sound Department
Durgadas Mitra	....	sound

Production Companies

• Aurora

Distributors

• Merchant Ivory Productions (1995) (USA) (theatrical) (restored version)
• NEF Diffusion (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (1995) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Edward Harrison (1963) (USA) (subtitled)

Also Known As:

The Music Room

Runtime:

100 min | USA:95 min

Country:

India

Language:

Bengali

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S

Company:

Aurora

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Jalsaghar Review

In the fourth feature film directed by Satyajit Ray, Jalsaghar, we are treated to a magnificent spectacle of musical performances, Hindu dance, and a powerful film thrown some place in the mix. Jalsaghar tells the gloomy tale of a landlord living in Bengal whom has just lost his wife and beloved son in a horrid boating accident. The landlord, Roy (Chhabi Biswas), takes to a basic role of silence and mourning by spending his days sitting aside his hookah to pass the time. Biswas is exceptional in his performance of Roy by revealing a side to the character of near-perfect emptiness in a human being; he shows us what the empty body of a man can become.

The film is a decorative wonder to watch and hear to any degree. A graceful and vivid use of cinematography brings out the rich and sweeping palace in which Roy spends his time. Various close-ups of chandeliers and jewelry create a montage of empty wealth. Later on in the film when we are introduced to the many performances which will be carried out in the landlord's music room, the film comes full circle as an audio delight as well. Beautiful Hindu compositions are performed in full length throughout sweeping-music video like coverage scanning the pitch-perfect vocalists on to the unique Indian instruments tooting away. As the music grows to inspire Roy to overcome his grief, we grow along with Roy and feel the inspiration of the songs as well.

Despite its depressing subject matter, Jalsaghar is a great delight throughout its in entire runtime. Sympathizing with the victimized Roy as well as his loyal and motivational subjects, you will really overcome an exquisite experience as the characters try to pick Roy's spirits up through words, song, and dance. Overall this is a must-see film for anyone with a passion for film, music, or both although it is recommended you enter in good spirt.