Cinephiles in Pune will have a rare opportunity to watch excerpts from some of legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak's unfinished and unreleased works during a four-day retrospective that began today (22 October).
The programme features excerpts from Ronger Golam, Baglaar Banga Darshan, Kato Ajanare (1959) and Ghatak's unfinished biographical film on renowned sculptor Ramkinkar Baij, all of which hold significant archival value.
The festival will screen available excerpts restored and digitised in 2K and 4K resolution under India's National Film Heritage Mission (NFHM), offering audiences a rare glimpse of cinematic material that does not survive as complete films.
Film preservation extends beyond completed works, as unfinished and lesser-known material can offer deeper insight into a filmmaker's creative journey.
The Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting launched NFHM to preserve the country's audiovisual heritage.
The restoration team used original film material preserved for decades by the National Film Development Corporation of India-National Film Archive of India (NFDC-NFAI), alongside valuable material from the West Bengal State Film Archives.
The team carried out the restoration in 4K resolution.
National Film Award-winning cinematographer Avik Mukhopadhyay supervised the colour grading to maintain visual authenticity and fidelity to Ghatak's original cinematic vision.
The festival will also screen Ghatak's completed feature films restored in 4K, rare 35mm prints, documentaries and educational short films.
The retrospective will open with Chhinnamul (1950), directed by Nemai Ghosh and starring Ritwik Ghatak.
The film depicts the displacement of rural communities following Partition and offers a glimpse into Ghatak's early cinematic career.
The completed feature films in the programme include Nagarik (1952), Ajantrik (1958), Bari Theke Paliye (1959), Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960), Komal Gandhar (1961), Subarnarekha (1962), Titaash Ekti Nadir Naam (1973) and Jukti Takko Aar Gappo (1974).
The programme will also feature Musafir (1957), directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee, for which Ghatak contributed to the screenplay.
Another Hindi film in the lineup is Madhumati (1958), directed by Bimal Roy, with Ghatak contributing to its story and screenplay. These films highlight the range of his creative work and his wider contributions to Indian cinema.
The retrospective will also feature documentaries and short films, including Sightseeing Places of Bihar (1955), Fear (1965), Rendezvous (1965), Civil Defence (1965), Scientists of Tomorrow (1967), My Lenin (1970), Purulia Chhau (1970), Life of the Tribals, Yeh Kyun (1970) and Durbar Gati Padma (1971).
These works offer insight into Ghatak's interests beyond feature filmmaking, covering documentary storytelling, cultural traditions, public life and artistic expression.