Influence of Bengali culture on Hindi movies

We have noticed that during the last decade, there has been an unmistakable influence of Bengali culture on Hindi movies and even TV serials, thanks to big names like Sarat Chandra Chattopadhaya, Rabindra Nath Tagore and Satyajit Ray – they had very strong power of writing and when their novels came on the silver screen the products took the world by storm. Of course, some part of the credit should go to the producers and directors who saw tremendous potential in the story and were adept at translating the thoughts into visuals that kept the audience spellbound.
Take the novel Devdas – it was penned by Sarat Chandra Chattopadhaya in 1917 and its first movie version was released in 1955 – it was directed by Bimal Roy. Subsequently, in 2002, it got a fresh of life with the direction of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and the cast of Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Maduri Dixit. Yes, the storyline was modified to accommodate the 21st century mindset and the result was a boost to Bengali culture.
Another similar movie is Parineeta – another story of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhaya. Originally written in 1914, it captured the imagination of the audience when it was made in Hindi in 2005 with Vidya Balan, Saif Ali Khan and Sabyasachi Chakravorty. The period costumes, the Bengali settings helped to make popular the Bengali culture.
It needs to be mentioned that Vidya Balan has contributed a lot to popularize Bengali culture through her memorable performance in the 2012 movie Kahani – it gave the viewers a ringside view of the famous Durga Puja festival in Kolkata.

Bollywood usually portrayed Bengalis as Keshto Mukherjee, a drunkard or Asit Sen, the potbellied character who could fit into the role of a policeman with ease. To the common man outside Bengal, the people of Bengal were shown to be fond of fish and rosogolla. But, gradually, perceptions have changed – thanks to movie producers and directors who have had the courage to break out of tradition.
The result is for all to see – Bengali dress styles, Bengali food, Bengali culture and even characters who mouth Bengali words have increased in not only the Bollywood movies but can be seen in TV aerials as well.(to be continued …)
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

Some more interesting 'must reads'-

CBSE to check cheating in AIPMT exams – examinees can wear only T-shirt and jeans

Mamata’s TMC received hate mail before her tour of UK to woo investors

Vallauris beach closed to tourists because Saudi King Salman will holiday there in private

Good news keep pouring in – major uranium reserve found in Srisailam

Uttar Pradesh repents and repeals ban on screening of films in luxury buses


Britain’s MI6 joins Turkey to fight ISIS

Gang of 80 suspected Boko Haram men attack village in Cameroon and kill 23

Father of two, living in Liverpool, tries to buy deadly ricin powder – then, a pet to test it on


Some live years after retirement, others do not

No escape from the jaws of death