Ray is one of my all-time favorite directors, and this is one of his best. MAHANAGAR is instantly notable for the beautiful cinematography and for remarkable performances from all - from start to finish the film has a flowing, hypnotic gracefulness which compliments the story of a woman overcoming her (and her family's) apprehensions as she takes a job out of financial necessity, only to discover her independence and emerge with a newfound sense of confidence. While perhaps intended as an examination of the changing role of women (at least middle class women) in Indian society after independence, it's observations also have a global resonance - Ray's talent for highlighting specific pieces of Indian culture and society and using them to make great human insights that anyone would get is at it's peak here, and this film prefigures a number of other, similarly themed films to emerge globally through the 60s.
I'm biased towards Ray, but this is a flawless film, very highly recommended.
I'm biased towards Ray, but this is a flawless film, very highly recommended.