Top 30 Bengali (Indian) Film Directors

Satyajit Ray was born in Calcutta on May 2, 1921. His father, Late Sukumar Ray was an eminent poet and writer in the history of Bengali literature. In 1940, after receiving his degree in science and economics from Calcutta University, he attended Tagore's Viswa-Bharati University. His first movie Pather Panchali (1955) won several International Awards and set Ray as a world-class director. He died on April twenty-third, 1992.

Ritwik Ghatak was born on 4 November 1925 in Dacca, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Dhaka, Bangladesh]. He was a director and writer, known for Reason, Debate and a Story (1974), Musafir (1957) and The Cloud-Capped Star (1960). He was married to Surama Ghatak. He died on 6 February 1976 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.

Sen is one of his nation's most politically active filmakers. After having studied physics at university in Calcutta, Sen worked as a freelance journalist, a salesman of patent medicines and a sound technician in a film studio. In the mid-1940s he joined the Indian People's Theatre Association and at that time began to read about and study film. The association had links to the Communist Party of India and this heralded the beginning of Sen's involvement with Marxist politics. In 1956 Sen made his debut with Raat Bhore (1956), the first of his 30 (as of 2002) films. Although his first film was openly political, he achieved national status as the director of a comedy, Bhuvan Shome (1969). Influenced by Italian neorealism and the work of fellow countryman Satyajit Ray, Sen used location shooting and non-professional casts in his early films. By the 1970s he was making wider use of symbolism and allegory. Although he remains politically committed, Sen feels that the "difference between party Marxists and a private Marxist like me is that others think they pocketed truth, whereas I am always in search of truth... " Sen's films have won numerous international awards. The Case Is Closed (1982), a scathing look at the hypocritical reaction of a bourgeois Calcutta family to the death of a servant boy, took home the Jury Prize from the 1983 Cannes Film Festival.

Buddhadev Dasgupta was born on 11 February 1944 in Anara, India. He was a director and writer, known for Uttara (2000), Dooratwa (1979) and Charachar (1994). He died on 10 June 2021 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Rituparno Ghosh is a Bengali film director. He has won 12 National Film Awards in India and several awards at international film festivals abroad. He began directing in advertising. In 1992, he made a low-key film debut with a children's feature titled Hirer Angti (The Diamond Ring). His second movie Unishe April (19 April), won the 1995 National Film Award Since then, Ghosh has directed Dahan, Utsab, Chokher Bali, Asukh, Bariwali, Antarmahal and Raincoat (in Hindi). He won the National Award for best direction for his bengali film "Abohoman" starring Jishu Sengupta, Ananya Chatterjee, Dipankar Dey and Mamata Shankar in India in 2010.

Goutam Ghose was born on 24 July 1950 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is a director and writer, known for Paar (1984), Moner Manush (2010) and Abar Aranye (2003).

Aparna Sen is a renowned name in Bengali as well as Indian cinema. She has excelled both as an actor in film and theatre and as a director of parallel cinema.

Aparna was born in 1945 in Kolkata. Her father is film critic and film maker Late Chidananda Das Gupta. She studied at Modern High School and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Presidency College, Kolkata. Her first film appearance happened in Satyajit Ray's Three Daughters (1961) when she was sixteen. Since then, Aparna has acted in many films in lead roles.

In 1981, Aparna made her debut as a film director with 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981) which won national and international awards. Since then, Aparna has directed series of films on a wide variety of subjects. Most of her films have been well acclaimed nationally and internationally. Aparna moved to Mumbai and continues to make films in Hindi and English.

Aparna acted in little theatre groups and commercial theatres for a period of time. She was also editor of a popular Bengali magazine (Sananda) for long time.

Born in 1924. Science graduate from University of Calcutta. Sinha began his film career as a sound engineer in Calcutta's New Theatre in 1946. Four years later, he received an invitation to the London film festival and the opportunity of working at Pinewood Studios. He was in the UK for two years. On returning to India, he turned his attentions to film directing. Tapan Sinha was influenced by American and British film making. Tagore was a great source of inspiration to him. He made three films on Tagore's stories: Kabuliwala, Hungry Stones (Khudito Pashan), Atithi.

Tapan Sinha's first film Ankush was based on Narayan Gangopadhyay's story 'sainik'. In 1957, his film 'Kabuliwala' was shown in Berlin Film festival. He has won National award many times. His films were shown in different film festivals all over the world. He was married to actress Arundhuti who passed away in 1990. Sinha lives in Calcutta.

Barin Saha is known for Tero Nadir Parey (1969).

Nabyendu Chatterjee was born in 1937. Nabyendu is a director and writer, known for Shilpi (1994), Adwitiya (1968) and Chithi (1973).

Kamaleswar Mukherjee is known for Mountain of the Moon (2013), Cloud Capped Star (2013) and Anusandhan (2021).

Kaushik Ganguly was born on 4 August 1968 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is an actor and writer, known for The Elder Son (2019), The Eunuch and the Flute Player (2017) and Cinemawala (2016). He is married to Churni Ganguly. They have one child.

Utpalendu Chakrabarty was born in 1948 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. Utpalendu was a director and writer, known for Chokh (1983), Post Mortem (1980) and Chandaneer (1989). Utpalendu was married to Satarupa Sanyal and Indrani Chakraborty. Utpalendu died on 20 August 2024 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Qaushiq Mukherjee was born in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. He is known for Gandu (2010), Garbage (2018) and Land of Cards (2012).

Suman Mukhopadhyay has directed eight full-length feature films: Putulnacher Itikatha aka The Puppet's Tale (2024), Nazarband aka Captive (2020), Asamapta aka Incomplete (2017), Shesher Kobita aka The Last Poem (2014), Kangal Malsat aka War Cry of the Beggars (2013), Mahanagar@Kolkata (2009), Chaturanga aka Four Chapters (2008) and Herbert (2005) which won the National Award for Best Regional Indian Film, Indian National Awards. He has participated in many national and international film festivals. His latest film Nazarband is in the official selection of the Busan International Film Festival 2020. He was conferred with MPA/APSA Script Development Award in 2017.

Ajoy Kar was born on 27 March 1914 in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Saptapadi (1961), Harano Sur (1957) and Jighansa (1951). He died on 25 January 1985 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.

Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury is an Indian film director. He is the director and producer of multiple Bengali and Hindi films. He directed the highly successful Hindi movie Pink (2016 film) which received accolades from film critics and movie lovers alike. He received National Awards for both Pink (2016 film) and Anuranan. He received a National Film Award in the Best Film category for his 2008 movie Antaheen. He also made a cameo appearance in the 2015 Hindi film Piku. Winner of multiple awards, he has made movies on important societal themes, enthralling fans and encouraging them to think about issues.

Atanu Ghosh is known for Robibaar (2019), Binisutoy: Without Strings (2020) and Mayurakshi (2017).

Winner of 2 national awards and multiple international awards, Anjan Das started his film career in the mid 70's with two documentaries named 'The art of Anant Malakar' and 'Tripura'. His first feature was 'Sainik' meaning Soldier. The film was shown in various International Film festivals including Berlin in 1976. Other notable ones were Mannheim, Tehran, Cracow, Mongolia, Yugoslavia and it was invited to San Remo Film Competition in Italy.

Thereafter several documentaries followed, notable among them are those on Indian Oil Corp., Hindustan Lever, ONGC, Bengal Emta Coal Mines, Industrial Development Corp. of Orissa Ltd., Andrew Yule etc.

In 2001, he made the feature film 'Saanjhbatir Rupkathara' (Strokes and Silhouettes), which was picked up by Columbia Tristar for distribution. It was based on Joy Goswami's novel. The film was showcased at several international film festivals including Montreal World film festival, London, Rome, Rotterdam, Edmonton, Madrid, Singapore etc. The film was chosen as one of the 7 best films of that year at London Film Festival. The film was a commercial success as well as all the critics' darling, receiving rave reviews all over the world.

Then came the feature film 'Iti Srikanta' (Yours truly, Srikanta), which was based on Saratchandra Chattopadhyay's novel 'Srikanta'. It won A National Award for Best Audiography in 2004 and at 2004 Anandalok Awards, Anjan Das took home the Best Director Award. It was the debut film of Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan. It was shown in the Indian Panorama of International Festival Of India 2004 and was showcased at various international film fests such as Rotterdam, Edinburgh, Brisbane, Singapore,etc.

In 2006, he made the critically acclaimed 'Faltu' (The Saga of Ranirghat) which did the usual round of festivals and also got A National Award for The Best Feature Film On Family Welfare at National Film Awards 2007. It was based on Syed Mustafa Siraj's novel 'Ranirghater Brittanto'.

In 2007, he made 'Jara Brishtitey Bhijechilo' (Drenched in the ...rains) which fetched him The Special Director's Award at Almaty Film Festival,Kazakhstan and 2 awards from Madrid, Spain - Best Actress and Jury Special Award for The Director. It was also showcased under Indian Panorama at International Film Festival of India 2007.

Incidentally, he has won 11 Bengal Film Journalist's Association awards (BFJA Awards) for the above-mentioned films.

In 2008, he made a documentary on the great rebel poet, Kazi Nazrul Islam, produced by the Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India and was inaugurated by the External Affairs minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee at The Habitat centre in New Delhi. Thereafter, he also made a few documentaries produced by PSBT and Films Division which include 'Maa durga' (On Goddess Durga) and 'Flow & Ebb' (On boatmen of Bengal)

His feature film 'Swarger Nichey Manush' (People under Heaven) starring Rituparna Sengupta was showcased at various film festivals but is still awaiting commercial release.

Incidentally, all the above films were shown in the OSIAN'S CINEFAN Festival, perhaps the largest showcase of films in India.

His very popular film 'Achin Pakhi' (A Love Story) had its International Premiere at Cairo International film Festival 2010 and also at Indian Panorama of International Film Festival of India 2010.

His next film 'Banshiwala'(The Flautist), based on Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay's novel of the same name, was highly acclaimed by the critics and won 2 international awards - Golden Kahuna Award at Honolulu Film Awards 2011 and Bronze Palm Award at Mexico International Film Festival 2011. It was also showcased at New Jersey International Film Festival.

His next 'Bedeni' (The Snake-Charmer's Wife) was based on Tarashankar Bandopadhyay's novel and starred Rituparna Sengupta in a challenging role for which she earned widespread acclaim.

His last film 'Ajana Batas' (The Mystic Wind) starring Paoli Dam and based on Joy Goswami's novel, had its World Premiere at International Film Festival of India 2013 (Indian Panorama). It also won him the Bronze Palm Award at Mexico International Film Festival 2014. It has been officially selected at Indian International Film Festival of Queensland 2014 and Belize International Film Festival 2014. The film has already garnered critical acclaim and is now awaiting its commercial release.

Anjan Das' trademark was that all his films were based on literature. 3 of his films are based on eminent poet Joy Goswami's novels. All his films are tagged as lyrical and poetic.

Sandip Ray was born on 8 September 1953 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is a director and writer, known for Nishijapon (2005), Goopy Bagha Phire Elo (1991) and Professor Shanku O El Dorado (2019). He is married to Lalita Ray. They have one child.

Tarun Majumdar was born on 8 January 1931 in Bogra, Bengal Presidency, British India [now in Bogura, Bangladesh]. He was a director and writer, known for Kancher Swarga (1962), Nimantran (1971) and Ganadevata (1979). He was married to Sandhya Roy. He died on 4 July 2022 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Anjan Dutt was born on 19 January 1953 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is an actor and director, known for Chaalchitra Ekhon (2024), Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbona (2011) and Byomkesh Phire Elo (2014).

Srijit Mukherji was born on 23 September 1977 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is a director and writer, known for Vinci Da (2019), Ek Je Chhilo Raja (2018) and Chotushkone (2014). He has been married to Rafiath Rashid Mithila since 6 December 2019.

Bappaditya Bandopadhyay was born on 28 August 1970 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He was a director and writer, known for Barbed Wired (2005), Houseful (2009) and Silpantar (2003). He died on 7 November 2015 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

Subhadra Chowdhury is known for Clerk (2010), Prohor (2002) and Pariah Dog (2019).