On many an afternoon when Bengal’s very own storm, the Kalbaishakhi strikes, one might feel like singing that famous Salil Chowdhury number, Pagol Hawa. Lyrics of this song can even soften the harshest of tempers. But hardly any of us knows, how a talented singer was almost
Bagbazar in North Kolkata was once home to at least a dozen Bonedi Bari, or palatial mansions, belonging to the aristocratic families of Bengal. However, today, many of these historic houses stand neglected, their grandeur faded, and their existence threatened by legal disputes among family members. One
The Bengal Store help to showcase this tradition to the world
Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen that was brought to screen and made into a magnum opus that has literally influenced generations, was originally taken from Satyajit Ray’s grandfather Upendra Kishore Roychowdhury’s book. Upendrakishore’s family used to live in Myemensingha in erstwhile Bangladesh. He was brought up
Representative image (Naskari Durga Pujo) Almost every Bonedi Durga Puja in Bengal has unique stories about how it started in the first place. Hereby GB brings to you the 480-year-old Naskari Durga Puja, an unusual tantric Durga puja held on the Bangladesh border. It is said Ma Durga appeared in
Dadar Kirti (1980) Cast: Anup Kumar, Tapas Paul, Mahua Roychoudhury, Sandhya Roy, Debashree Roy, Ayan Banerjee, Kali Banerjee, Ruma Guhathakurta Director: Tarun Majumdar Most dedicated readers are extremely wary when it comes to cinematic adaptations of the written word. With reason. Many beloved works of literature have been
Had Uttam Kumar not turned him down, Satyajit Ray would probably have made ‘Ghare Baire’ in 1956, the script for which he had written in the 1940s, based on Rabindranath Tagore’s novel. By the time Ray eventually got around to it in 1984, having quite possibly created a world
The corridors of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) have always echoed with stories—some whispered between classes, some scribbled on crumpled pages, and some that finally made their way to the big screen. This year, a few of those stories are breaking free, traveling far beyond campus
WRadhaballabhi, also known as Beshtonika in Sanskrit, is an ancient vegetarian savoury dish that is also a favourite snacking item of Bengalis. Radhaballabhis are soft, deep fried flatbread or luchis (pooris made with all-purpose flour or maida) stuffed with a spicy lentil filling. Radhaballabhi is essentially
"I t was 1955–56. My childhood days. Girls would play hopscotch on the rooftop, and a few of us boys played ‘cops and robbers’ (Chor-Police). That game had a strange kind of thrill. Gunfire was raging across the world and we used to chant a rhyme—“Saregamapadhani