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Jio Studios and Svf Entertainment take immense pride in presenting the first look of Bengali film “Kabuliwala,” a cinematic marvel from the depths of history penned by the legendary Rabindranath Tagore.

Mithun Chakraborty will helm the role of Rahmat in Tagore’s masterpiece, a character that deeply connects with audiences of all ages. This production, helmed by Svf Entertainment and produced by the visionaries Jyoti Deshpande, Shrikant Mohta, and Mahendra Soni, promises to rekindle the warmth and emotions that touched hearts years ago.

‘Kabuliwala’- the timeless tale of Rahmat is a story of a middle-aged Afghan man, whose heart overflows with fatherly love for a little girl-Mini, in the bustling city of Kolkata set in the year of 1965.The film captures the period that encapsulates the essence of heartwarming connections and the deep significance of love that knows no boundaries, transcending both borders and cultures.

In the year 1957, the trailblazing director,...

New Delhi, Aug 1 (Ians) Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty will helm the role of ‘Rahmat’ in ‘Kabuliwala’, a cinematic marvel from the depths of history, penned by the legendary Rabindranath Tagore.

The first look shows Mithun as an Afghan man, wearing a grey pathani suit, with a matching headgear. He is holding a blue coloured jhola bag on his one shoulder. The look is completed with a thin layer of Kajal, beard and a moustache.

Mithun’s character Rahmat from Tagore’s masterpiece, deeply connects with audiences of all ages.

Talking about his role, Mithun said: “Regarding my portrayal of Rahmat in ‘Kabuliwala,’ I anticipate a deeply emotional journey. The character’s unwavering affection and strong bond with Mini evoke profound nostalgia and resonate with audiences universally.”

‘Kabuliwala’ is the timeless tale of Rahmat, a story of a middle-aged Afghan man, whose heart overflows with fatherly love for a little girl-Mini,...

Stars: Chhabi Biswas, Gangapada Bose, Kali Sarkar, Padma Devi | Written and Directed by Satyajit Ray

After the commercial failure of the second part of his Apu Trilogy, Bengali auteur Satyajit Ray opted for more commercially viable material for his next project. He turned to writer Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay, and a short story about a landlord clinging to his last motes of power as his empire crumbles around him. The result was 1958’s Jalsaghar, released internationally as The Music Room.

The landlord (or zamindar) in question is Lord Roy, played by Chhabi Biswas with a gravitas that matches his contemporary, Laurence Olivier. The film opens halfway through the narrative, with Roy as a bent old man, and the last of his servants, Ananta (Kali Sarkar), still at his side. We jump back four years to show what brought Roy to near-ruin, before the second half of the movie shows us how he...

Soumitra Chatterjee

Soumitra Chatterjee has been my way of life. He is, for many Bengalis even if he passed our stage of life three decades ago. This is one classic test that he endured like his mentor Satyajit Ray. But even apart from the towering shadow of Ray, Soumitra carved out an image for himself which he fostered over a period of time, so much so that even younger generations can’t but try to emulate him.

Be it the dreamer in Apu (Apur Sansar) or Amal (Charulata), the charismatic sleuth in Feluda (Sonar Kella), the casual romantic in Teen Bhuvaner Paare (twisting his way to impress Tanuja) and Basanta Bilap or the fairy-tale villain Mayur Bahan in Jhinder Bandi, Soumitra has played it all. He had been a successful hero, second only to Uttam Kumar in popularity perhaps but never shied away from doing character roles even then. How...

Satyajit Ray is best known for his Apu Trilogy of films, despite the fact these films are so hard to find. Netflix doesn't carry them. I have never seen them, though I am currently considering purchasing a South Korean import on ebay to up my film intellect, but I don't want to buy a shoddy release especially since Criterion's release of The Music Room marks the first Satyajit Ray title added to the collection, leading me to believe the likelihood of Criterion issuing the Apu Trilogy fully restored, and on Blu-ray, has increased greatly.

However, we're here to discuss The Music Room, but the fact this was my first time seeing one of Ray's films is something I believe to be as important as my thoughts on the film itself. As with so many foreign films, this is not just another story, but another glimpse into a culture unlike my own.

Chicago – In between the second and third installments of his infamous “Apu Trilogy,” Bengali master of cinema Satyajit Ray made two films that were striking departures from his signature portrait of poverty-stricken youth. The first was 1958’s failed comedy “The Philosopher’s Stone” (sorry, Potterheads, no relation) and the second was 1959’s masterpiece, “The Music Room.”

This landmark classic is brought to electrifying life by Criterion’s magnificent digital restoration. The renewed picture quality allows Ray’s elegant visual poetry to be savored like never before. Without changing locations or resorting to heavy-handed symbolism, Ray is able to explore the decline of feudalism by depicting the life of a once-wealthy aristocrat whose bloodline is literally washed away by the ever-encroaching waters of the Ganges.

Blu-Ray Rating: 5.0/5.0

Unlike Indian filmmakers of the day, Ray sought to integrate action and music into his narrative rather than feature them as separate entities.

Hitting movie theaters this weekend:

Captain America: The First Avenger - Chris Evans, Hugo Weaving, Tommy Lee Jones

Friends with Benefits - Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson

Movie of the Week

Friends with Benefits

The Stars: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson

The Plot: A guy (Timberlake) and girl (Kunis) try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it’s not long before they learn that they want something more.

The Buzz: Hmm, this premise is strangely familiar, and comes with an even more docile cast than No Strings Attached. I still have some faith in the film itself though, as director Will Gluck’s previous entry was the excellent Easy A. Still, Gluck didn’t write Easy A, and that’s what was great about that film, the writing. Two new relatively untested writers penned Friends with Benefits – yeah, I’m right back to doubting this film. But...

Rank the week of July 19th’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Limitless

(DVD & Blu-ray | PG13 | 201)

Flickchart Ranking: #1890

Times Ranked: 3217

Win Percentage: 51%

Top-20 Rankings: 12

Directed By: Neil Burger

Starring: Bradley Cooper • Robert De Niro • Abbie Cornish • Anna Friel • Andrew Howard

Genres: Psychological Sci-Fi • Psychological Thriller • Science Fiction • Thriller

Rank This Movie

Take Me Home Tonight

(DVD & Blu-ray | R | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #5722

Times Ranked: 1234

Win Percentage: 49%

Top-20 Rankings: 2

Directed By: Michael Dowse

Starring: Topher Grace • Anna Faris • Dan Fogler • Teresa Palmer • Chris Pratt

Genres: Comedy • Comedy Drama • Coming-of-Age • Drama • Period Film • Romance • Romantic Comedy • Romantic Drama

Rank This Movie

The Reef

(DVD & Blu-ray | Nr | 2010)

Flickchart Ranking: #10667

Times Ranked: 152

Win Percentage: 47%

Top-20 Rankings: 2

Directed By: Andrew Traucki

Starring: Adrienne Pickering • Gyton Grantley • Zoe Naylor • Damian Walshe-Howling • Kieran Darcy-Smith

Genres: Horror • Natural Horror • Thriller

Rank This Movie

Tekken

(DVD & Blu-ray | Nr | 2010)

Flickchart Ranking: #9314

Times Ranked: 332

Win...

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Beauty and the Beast (Criterion Collection) I stayed up late so I could watch this before posting today's column. I'd seen this film only once before, as part of my Janus collection, but that release contains none of the special features available on the full Criterion disc, such as two commentaries, Phillip Glass' opera based on Cocteau's film, interviews, featurettes and a restoration trailer. All of which I didn't have a chance to explore yet, but will shortly and will tell you all about them in a review that is already half-written after watching the film this late evening.

So, in short, yes, for the film alone this is worth the purchase. This is a wonderful and fantastical telling of the story that most only know nowadays through Disney's animated version. However, if you ask me, Disney's version pales in comparison.

Your Weekly Source for the Newest Releases to Blu-Ray Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Amelie (2001)

Synopsis: Bursting with imagination and having seen her share of tragedy and fantasy, Amélie is not like the other girls. When she grows up she becomes a waitress in a Montmartre bar run by a former dancer. Amelie enjoys simple pleasures until she discovers that her goal in life is to help others. To that end, she invents all sorts of tricks that allow her to intervene incognito into other people’s lives, including an imbibing concierge and her hypochondriac neighbor. But Amélie’s most difficult case turns out to be Nino Quicampoix, a lonely sex shop employee who collects photos abandoned at coin-operated photobooths. (blu-ray.com)

Special Features: The Look of Amelie featurette; Fantasies of Audrey Tatou; Q&A with the director and cast; Auditions; Storyboard to screen comparisons; An Intimate Chat With Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet...

The Criterion Collection will release the legendary Bengali director Satyajit Ray’s 1958 film The Music Room (Jalsaghar) on Blu-ray and DVD on July 19, marking the movie’s first-ever release digital release.

Chhabi Biswas catches his reflection in The Music Room.

The Music Room turns on the fallen aristocrat Huzur Biswambhar Roy (Chhabi Biswas) who desperately tries to cling to his way of life as his opulent world begins to crumble. His greatest joy is the music room in which he has hosted lavish concerts over the years—now a shadow of its former vivid self.

Considered to be a defining work for Ray, The Music Room offers an insightful depiction of the clash between tradition and modernity, while showcasing for some of India’s most popular musicians of the day, The Music Room

Presented in Bengali with English subtitles, the Blu-ray and DVD each contain the following features:

• New digital restoration,...

Note: I’ll be updating this page as Criterion makes the release dates and final art available. – Ryan 4/15/2011

Well here we are, another mid-month Criterion new release announcement. This time last year, we were treated to the incredible one-two punch announcement of Black Narcissus and the Red Shoes as upgraded DVD/Blu-ray editions. This time around we have even more to be excited about.

First up, a couple of films that we’ve actually already covered on the podcast will finally be getting Blu-ray upgrades. One of our very first episodes was on Mike Leigh’s Naked (a film that I wasn’t too hot on, but I loved Leigh’s Topsy Turvy). Now you’ll finally be able to see this incredibly daring and raw look at England in the early 90s, with David Thewlis as the immortal Johnny. I found the dialogue to be a little too rapid and not very naturalistic,...

Kolkata, Sep 2 – Veteran stage and screen actor-director Dilip Roy died of cancer in a private hospital here Thursday, family sources said. Roy, 79, left behind his wife and three sons.

Beginning his acting career with the Bengali film ‘Sati Behula’ in 1954, Roy came up with commendable performances in a great variety of roles during his over half a century of association with celluloid.

He was equally at ease portraying the hero or the villain, and also sparkled in a wide range of character roles alongside actors like Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chatterjee, Suchitra Sen, Anil Chatterjee and Chhabi Biswas.

Some.

Jalsaghar (The Music Room) (1958) directed, written and produced by Satyajit Ray will be presented by The Film Foundation and American Express as part of "20 Years/20 Films" at the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival. Now in its 16th year, the festival will take place from June 17-27, 2010 in downtown Los Angeles.

Starring Chhabi Biswas, Padmadevi, Pinaki Sengupta, the festival website describes the film as - “A turn of the century Indian aristocrat's wealth is dwindling, yet he continues to spend his fortune on lavish music concerts in his decaying mansion in Satyajit Ray's elegiac 1958 classic.”

Supriyo Sen’s acclaimed short film Wagah will be screened in the section for Short films at the festival.

The Kids Are All Right directed by Lisa Cholodenko will open the festival while Despicable Me by Chris Renaud will be the closing film of the festival. Film Independent's Los Angeles Film Festival will present more than 200 features,...