Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960)

Film: Meghe Dhaka Tara

Director: Ritwik Ghatak

Country: Bangladesh / India

Released: April 1960

Runtime: 120 minutes

Genre: Drama

Studio: Chitrakalpa

Influenced: Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Aparna Sen, Rituparno Ghosh, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Mira Nair

Meghe Dhaka Tara (also known in English as The Cloud-Capped Star) by Bengali director Ritwik Ghatak is similar to other Indian films covered so far, in that it portrays the tension between the modern world and the old, starting right away in the film's opening shot showing a man meditating while a train rushes by behind him. Also the film has a strong social conscience, depicting scenes of people concerned about getting evicted, and is another Indian film that focuses on an artist, dreamer type – Shankar (played by Anil Chatterjee) – who is scraping a living by borrowing money from others who work. 

But in other ways, Ghatak's film is uniquely his own, not least in its powerful portrayal of the pain and trauma that people went through during the partition of Bengal in 1947. It tells the story of a young woman named Neeta (played by Supriya Choudhury), who lives with her family in East Bengal and is the sole breadwinner. The film is a poignant exploration of the struggle and hardships faced by the refugees who were forced to flee their homes and start a new life in a new land. Neeta's father is a teacher who has been forced to retire due to illness, and as a result she is the only one left earning a living for the family, working as a seamstress in a factory.

As tensions between Hindus and Muslims escalate, violence erupts and the family is forced to flee their home. They leave everything behind and make the treacherous journey to West Bengal, where they hope to start a new life. The film depicts the harsh realities of refugee life, where the family struggles to find a roof over their heads and make a living in a new and unfamiliar place. One of the most interesting elements of the film is the way it portrays the trauma and psychological impact of the partition on the characters. Neeta is the one who bears the brunt of the family's struggles and sacrifices, and her pain and anguish are palpable. 

Another notable element of the film is its use of music and song, with Jyotirindra Moitra's score so evocative and perfectly pitched. The film features several beautiful songs that are an integral part of the narrative and serve to heighten the emotional impact of the story. The songs are used to convey the characters' innermost thoughts and feelings, and to provide a sense of hope and comfort in the midst of their struggles. What's most memorable about the film is the way it explores the impact of partition on the relationships between people, particularly the way in which it creates divisions and fractures within families and communities, but Ghatak's film also focuses on the resilience of the human spirit.