Ten Underrated Bengali Films That Are Totally Worth Your Time

Underrated Bengali films can fill up endless lists. But for the convenience of the cine buffs, we have compiled a list of ten underrated Bengali films that needs to be watched as soon as possible.

Regional cinema in India has grown tremendously, especially after the pandemic. During consecutive lockdowns, people who had the privilege of staying back at home were suddenly introduced to an online platform full of films from different regions of India. One of these regions is Bengali films.

It is beautiful to look at the dichotomy that exists in the Bengali film industry. It is not like the industry does not have macho, mass-popular dramas, but it also has lists of critically acclaimed film that gives a new perspective to an individual. They have been known for directing and producing some of the progressive cinema of their time, regardless of the genre that they came from.

Suggested Reading: From Parineeta To Piku, Five Must Watch Hindi Films On Female Bengali Protagonists

Underrated Bengali Films: A List Of 10 Films

Kedara 

This film was directed by Indradip Dasgupta and is a eulogy tribute to a dying art. The lead character of the film is a ventriloquist. He is a feeble man who lives in the ancestral home and is alone without any kin. Through his life, the film shows desires and choices. The cast includes Kaushik Ganguly as Narasingha, Rudranil Ghosh as Keshto, Joydeep Kundu, Moushumi Sanyal Dasgupta and Indranil Roy, amongst others. It won the 66th National Film Awards under the Special Jury Award in 2018.

Urojahaj: The Flight 

The film was released in 2019 and is directed by Buddhadev Dasgupta. It is about a car mechanic in a village and his discovery of a wrecked World War 2 Japanese warplane in a forest, which is infested by ghosts. This inspires him to dream about flying one someday. The protagonist starts repairing the plane with the hope to fly it once. But the plot twists and just after he starts inquiring about an engine, the police deem him as a national threat. The cast includes Chandan Roy Sanyal, Parno Mitra and Amy Ghosh, amongst others.

Ahaa Re 

This 2019 release is directed by Ranjan Ghosh. The plot of the film revolves around a rich Muslim chef from Bangladesh and a middle-class woman from India. They are brought together by their love for food. The cast includes Amrita Chattopadhyay, Arifin Shuvoo, Rituparna Sengupta and Alamgir, amongst others. It can be viewed online on ZEE5.

Sweater 

Directed by Shiladitya Moulik, the film that was released in 2019 is about a woman named Tuku, who takes the task of knitting sweaters in order to please her mother-in-law but during the process, she meets Shyamo at her relative's place, and he helps her transform herself for better. The cast includes Ishaa Saha, Anuradha Mukherjee, June Malia, Saurav Das and Sreelekha Mitra, amongst others. It can be watched online on Disney+ Hotstar.

Asha Jaoar Majhe 

Directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta, the film's literal English translation is Labour of Love. It is about a married couple and the 2014-film brings focuses on the lives of ordinary hardworking people of Kolkata. At the 62nd National Film Award, it won the Indira Gandhi Award for the Best Debut Film of a Director. It also won the best audiography. The main cast of the film included Basabdatta Chatterjee, Ritwick Chakraborty and Jonaki Bhattacharya, amongst others.

Asamapta 

It's a 2016 film about a man named Indrajit, who is unhappy with his life and has decided to head to the mountains and live there with his friend Moloy and his wife. There he also meets his former partner and soon things a turn. The film's title means unfinished in English. It is directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay and stars Swastika Mukherjee, Paoli Dam, Ritwick Chakraborty and Bratya Basu, amongst others.

Jonaki 

The 2018 film is directed by Aditya Vikram Sengupta. It is about an elderly woman, who is on her deathbed and is frantically searching for memories of the times of love. The Psychological drama film is produced by Samir Sarkar. Jonaki means firefly in the English language. The cast for the film includes Ratnabali Bhattacharjee, Sumanto Chattopadhyay, Jim Sarbh and Lolita Chatterjee, amongst others. It can be viewed on Netflix.

Subho Mahurat 

Directed by Rituparno Ghosh, the film is adapted from the Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side. It is about the murder of an ageing actor Kakoli, just after the first shot of the film. The film is produced by the deceased woman's husband. It revolves around a journalist named Mallika, who helped by her aunt is trying to pursue the case and unmask the killer. The cast includes Nandita Das, Sharmila Tagor, Rakhee Gulzar and Kalyani Mandal, amongst others.

Phoring 

It is a story about a teacher helping a young boy face the realities of life but just when he starts learning his lessons, the teacher disappears. The film is partially about his journey to look for her. It can be watched on Amazon Prime. It is directed by Indranil Roychowdhury and the cast includes Sohini Sarkar, Akash Adhikary, Sourav Basak and Ritwick Chakraborty, amongst others. The film had released in 2013.

Chotoder Chobi 

Directed by Kaushik Ganguly, the film was produced under the SVF banner. It is a story about Khoka, who fights for his friend Shibu a trapeze artist who is not provided with enough compensation after he meets with an accident. Though the story gets complicated as Khoka falls in love with Shibu's daugher. The cast includes Dulal Sarkar, Deblina Roy and Arun Guha Thakurata, amongst others.