Rituparno Ghosh ─ Cinema, Gender and Art

An iconic filmmaker and inheritor of the legendary Satyajit Ray’s legacy, Rituparno Ghosh was one of the finest auteurs to emerge out of contemporary Bengal. His films, though rooted firmly in middle-class values, desires and aspirations, are highly critical of hetero-patriarchal power structures. From the very outset, Ghosh displayed a strong feminist sensibility which later evolved into radical queer politics.

This volume analyses his films, his craft, his stardom and his contribution to sexual identity politics. In this first scholarly study undertaken on Rituparno Ghosh, the essays discuss the cultural import of his work within the dynamics of a rapidly evolving film industry in Bengal and more largely the cinematic landscape of India. The anthology also contains a conversation section (interviews with the filmmaker and with industry cast and crew) drawing a critical and personal portrait of this remarkable filmmaker.

Sangeeta Datta is an independent writer, filmmaker and cultural commentator based in London.

Kaustav Bakshi is Assistant Professor, Department of English, Sanskrit College, University of Calcutta, India.

Rohit K. Dasgupta is Lecturer, Winchester School of Art, University of Southampton, UK.