Cinema of West Bengal, popularly known as Tollywood, is the filmmaking industry based in Kolkata, West Bengal. The films are made primarily in Bengali language.
The following is a list of highest-grossing Bengali (Indian) films based on gross. There is no official tracking of sales and online sources publishing data are frequently unreliable.
The Indian Bengali film industry is centered in the Tollygunge neighborhood of the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, and has been known by the nickname Tollywood, a portmanteau of the words Tollygunge and Hollywood, since 1932. [1] West Bengal was the center of Indian cinema in the 1930s, [1] with Bengali cinema accounting for a quarter of India's film output in the 1950s. [2] A 2014 industry report stated that while there were about 100 films created in Bengali every year, no more than ten percent were breaking even financially. [3] The Bengali film industry which valued around 120-150 crores in terms of revenue in 2014, has diminished over the years to 66 crores in 2023. [4] [5]
Rank | Film | Year | Worldwide gross | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amazon Obhijaan | 2017 | ₹48.63 crore (US$7.47 million) | [6] [7] [8] |
2 | Chander Pahar | 2013 | ₹20 crore (US$3.41 million) | [9] [10] |
3 | Projapoti | 2022 | ₹14 crore (US$1.7 million) | [11] |
4 | Boss 2: Back to Rule | 2017 | ₹10.50 crore (US$1.61 million) | [12] |
5 | Shedin Dekha Hoyechilo | 2010 | ₹12 crore ($ 2.1 million) | [13] |
6 | Paglu | 2011 | ₹9.95 crore (US$2.13 million) | [14] |
7 | Sathi | 2002 | ₹9.80 crore (US$2.02 million) | [15] |
8 | Poran Jai Joliya Re | 2009 | ₹9.50 crore (US$1.96 million) | [16] |
9 | Karnasubarner Guptodhon | 2022 | ₹9.25 crore (US$1.2 million) | [17] |
10 | Nabab | 2017 | ₹9.15 crore (US$1.56 million) | [18] [19] |
11 | Rangbaaz | 2013 | ₹9 crore (US$1.54 million) | [20] |
12 | Game: He Plays to Win | 2014 | ₹8.95 crore (US$1.47 million) | [21] |
13 | Chaamp | 2017 | ₹8.90 crore (US$1.37 million) | [22] |
14 | Awara | 2012 | ₹8.50 crore (US$1.59 million) | [23] |
Praktan | 2016 | ₹8.50 crore (US$1.26 million) | [24] | |
15 | Khoka 420 | 2013 | ₹8.20 crore (US$1.4 million) | [25] |
16 | Posto | 2017 | ₹8 crore (US$1.23 million) | [26] |
17 | Mishawr Rawhoshyo | 2013 | ₹7 crore (US$1.19 million) | [27] |
Rank | Film | Year | Director | Studio(s) | Worldwide gross | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amazon Obhijaan | 2017 | Kamaleswar Mukherjee | Shree Venkatesh Films | ₹8.8 crore (US$1.35 million) | [7] |
2 | Karnasubarner Guptodhon | 2022 | Dhrubo Banerjee | ₹5.0 crore (US$630,000) | [28] | |
3 | Chander Pahar | 2012 | Kamaleswar Mukherjee | ₹4.83 crore (US$824,263.03) | [29] | |
4 | Rangbaaz | 2013 | Raja Chanda | Surinder Films | ₹4.5 crore (equivalent to ₹4.8 croreorUS$600,000 in 2023) | [ citation needed ] |
5 | Dawshom Awbotaar | 2023 | Srijit Mukherji | SVF Jio Studios | ₹4.15 crore (US$520,000) | [30] |
6 | Chengiz | 2023 | Rajesh Ganguly | Grassroot Entertainment Jeetz Filmworks | ₹3.5 crore (US$440,000) | [31] |
7 | Bagha Jatin | 2023 | Arun Roy | Dev Entertainment Ventures | ₹3.4 crore (US$430,000) | [32] |
8 | Raktabeej | 2023 | Shiboprosad Mukherjee & Nandita Roy | Windows Production | ₹2.5 crore (US$310,000) | [33] |
9 | Projapoti | 2022 | Avijit Sen | Bengal Talkies Dev Entertainment Ventures | ₹2.17 crore (US$270,000) | [34] [35] |
10 | Awara | 2012 | Ravi Kinagi | Jeetz Filmworks | ₹1.95 crore (US$240,000) | [ citation needed ] |
11 | Aparajito | 2022 | Anik Dutta | Friends Communication | ₹1.86 crore (US$230,000) | [36] |
12 | Pradhan | 2023 | Avijit Sen | Bengal Talkies Dev Entertainment Ventures | ₹1.7 crore (US$210,000) | [37] |
13 | Bela Shuru | 2022 | Nandita Roy Shiboprosad Mukherjee | Windows Production | ₹1.5 crore (US$190,000) | [36] |
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Year | Films | Box office(Domestic Net Collection) | Director | Note | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1950 | Vidyasagar | ₹50 lakh (equivalent to ₹55 croreorUS$6.9 million in 2023) | Kali Prasad Ghosh | ||
1951 | Jighansa | ₹60 lakh (equivalent to ₹63 croreorUS$7.9 million in 2023) | Ajoy Kar | ||
1952 | Basu Poribar | ₹50 lakh (equivalent to ₹54 croreorUS$6.8 million in 2023) | Nirmal Dey | ||
1953 | Sharey Chuattor | ₹65 lakh (equivalent to ₹69 croreorUS$8.6 million in 2023) | Nirmal Dey | ||
1954 | Agni Pariksha | ₹72 lakh (equivalent to ₹73 croreorUS$9.1 million in 2023) | Agradoot | ||
1955 | Sabar Uparey | ₹75 lakh (equivalent to ₹81 croreorUS$10 million in 2023) | Agradoot | ||
1956 | Shyamali | ₹68 lakh (equivalent to ₹78 croreorUS$9.7 million in 2023) | Ajoy Kar | ||
1957 | Harano Sur | ₹77 lakh (equivalent to ₹77 croreorUS$9.7 million in 2023) | Ajoy Kar | ||
1958 | Indrani (film) | ₹70 lakh (equivalent to ₹67 croreorUS$8.4 million in 2023) | Niren Lahiri | ||
1959 | Deep Jwele Jaai | ₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹92 croreorUS$11 million in 2023) | Asit Sen (director) | ||
1960 | Meghe Dhaka Tara | ₹70 lakh (equivalent to ₹63 croreorUS$7.9 million in 2023) | Ritwik Ghatak | ||
1961 | Saptapadi | ₹80 lakh (equivalent to ₹71 croreorUS$8.9 million in 2023) | Ajoy Kar | ||
1962 | Bipasha | ₹75 lakh (equivalent to ₹64 croreorUS$8.0 million in 2023) | Agradoot | ||
1963 | Deya Neya | ₹78 lakh (equivalent to ₹65 croreorUS$8.1 million in 2023) | Sunil Banerjee | ||
1964 | Lal Pathore | ₹75 lakh (equivalent to ₹55 croreorUS$6.9 million in 2023) | Sushil Mazumder | ||
1965 | Thana Theke Aschi | ₹70 lakh (equivalent to ₹47 croreorUS$5.9 million in 2023) | Hiren Nag | ||
1966 | Nayak | ₹80 lakh (equivalent to ₹48 croreorUS$6.0 million in 2023) | Satyajit Ray | ||
1967 | Antony Firingee | ₹87 lakh (equivalent to ₹46 croreorUS$5.8 million in 2023) | Sunil Bannerjee | ||
1968 | Chowringhee (film) | ₹80 lakh (equivalent to ₹41 croreorUS$5.2 million in 2023) | Pinaki Bhushan Mukherjee | ||
1969 | Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne | ₹88 lakh (equivalent to ₹46 croreorUS$5.7 million in 2023) | Satyajit Ray | ||
1970 | Nishi Padma | ₹85 lakh (equivalent to ₹42 croreorUS$5.2 million in 2023) | Arabinda Mukhopadhyay | ||
1971 | Dhanni Meye | ₹85 lakh (equivalent to ₹41 croreorUS$5.1 million in 2023) | Arabinda Mukherjee | ||
1972 | Mem Saheb | ₹82 lakh (equivalent to ₹37 croreorUS$4.6 million in 2023) | Pinaki Mukherjee | ||
1973 | Shriman Prithviraj | ₹80 lakh (equivalent to ₹31 croreorUS$3.9 million in 2023) | Tarun Majumder | ||
1974 | Amanush | ₹1.8 crore (equivalent to ₹54 croreorUS$6.8 million in 2023) | Shakti Samanta | ||
1975 | Sanyasi Raja | ₹85 lakh (equivalent to ₹24 croreorUS$3.0 million in 2023) | Pijush Bose | ||
1976 | Datta (film) | ₹75 lakh (equivalent to ₹23 croreorUS$2.9 million in 2023) | Ajoy Kar | ||
1977 | Anand Ashram | ₹95 lakh (equivalent to ₹27 croreorUS$3.3 million in 2023) | Shakti Samanta | ||
1978 | Dui Purush | ₹70 lakh (equivalent to ₹19 croreorUS$2.4 million in 2023) | Sushil Mukherjee | ||
1979 | Joi Baba Felunath | ₹70 lakh (equivalent to ₹18 croreorUS$2.3 million in 2023) | Satyajit Ray | ||
1980 | Hirak Rajar Deshe | ₹80 lakh (equivalent to ₹19 croreorUS$2.3 million in 2023) | Satyajit Ray | ||
1981 | Ogo Bodhu Shundori | ₹92 lakh (equivalent to ₹19 croreorUS$2.4 million in 2023) | Salil Dutta | ||
1982 | Troyee | ₹29 lakh (equivalent to ₹5.5 croreorUS$690,000 in 2023) | Gautam Mukherjee | ||
1983 | Protidan | ₹70 lakh (equivalent to ₹12 croreorUS$1.5 million in 2023) | Prabhat Roy | ||
1984 | Shatru | ₹70 lakh (equivalent to ₹11 croreorUS$1.4 million in 2023) | Anjan Choudhury | ||
1985 | Bhalobasa Bhalobasa | ₹78 lakh (equivalent to ₹12 croreorUS$1.4 million in 2023) | Tarun Majumder | ||
1986 | Pathbhola | ₹21 lakh (equivalent to ₹2.9 croreorUS$360,000 in 2023) | Tarun Majumdar | ||
1987 | Amar Sangi | ₹86 lakh (equivalent to ₹11 croreorUS$1.3 million in 2023) | Anjan Choudhury | ||
1988 | Choto Bou | ₹85 lakh (equivalent to ₹9.7 croreorUS$1.2 million in 2023) | Anjan Choudhury | ||
1989 | Asha O Bhalobasha | ₹88 lakh (equivalent to ₹9.4 croreorUS$1.2 million in 2023) | Sujit Guha | ||
1990 | Apan Amar Apan | ₹88 lakh (equivalent to ₹8.6 croreorUS$1.1 million in 2023) | Tarun Majumdar | ||
1991 | Beder Meye Josna | ₹0.9 crore (equivalent to ₹7.8 croreorUS$970,000 in 2023) | Tojammel Haque Bokul | ||
1992 | Goopy Bagha Phire Elo | ₹98.57 lakh (equivalent to ₹7.6 croreorUS$950,000 in 2023) | Sandip Ray | ||
1993 | Shraddhanjali | ₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹7.2 croreorUS$910,000 in 2023) | Srikant Guha Thakurata | ||
1994 | Rakta Nadir Dhara | ₹88 lakh (equivalent to ₹5.8 croreorUS$720,000 in 2023) | Ram Mukherjee | ||
1995 | Sangharsha | ₹95 lakh (equivalent to ₹5.7 croreorUS$710,000 in 2023) | Haranath Chakraborty | ||
1996 | Bhai Amar Bhai | ₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹5.5 croreorUS$680,000 in 2023) | Swapan Saha | ||
1997 | Bakul Priya | ₹1.8 crore (equivalent to ₹9.2 croreorUS$1.1 million in 2023) | Swapan Saha | ||
1998 | Ranokhetro | ₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹4.5 croreorUS$560,000 in 2023) | Haranath Chakraborty | ||
1999 | Jibon Niye Khela | ₹1 crore (equivalent to ₹4.3 croreorUS$540,000 in 2023) | Anjan Choudhury | ||
2000 | Sasurbari Zindabad | ₹2.5 crore (equivalent to ₹10 croreorUS$1.3 million in 2023) | Haranath Chakraborty | ||
2001 | Pratibad | ₹2 crore (equivalent to ₹8.0 croreorUS$1.0 million in 2023) | Haranath Chakraborty | ||
2002 | Sathi | ₹9.80 crore (equivalent to ₹37 croreorUS$4.7 million in 2023) | Haranath Chakraborty | [17] | |
2003 | Sangee | ₹2.5 crore (equivalent to ₹9.2 croreorUS$1.2 million in 2023) | Haranath Chakraborty | ||
2004 | Bandhan | ₹2 crore (equivalent to ₹7.1 croreorUS$890,000 in 2023) | Ravi Kinagi | ||
2005 | Yuddho | ₹3 crore (equivalent to ₹10 croreorUS$1.3 million in 2023) | Ravi Kinagi | ||
2006 | MLA Fatakeshto | ₹4 crore (equivalent to ₹13 croreorUS$1.6 million in 2023) | Swapan Saha | ||
2007 | I Love You | ₹7.5 crore (equivalent to ₹23 croreorUS$2.8 million in 2023) | Ravi Kinnagi | ||
2008 | Mon Mane Na | ₹6.5 crore (equivalent to ₹18 croreorUS$2.3 million in 2023) | Sujit Guha | ||
2009 | Poran Jai Joliya Re | ₹9.50 crore (equivalent to ₹24 croreorUS$3.0 million in 2023) | Ravi Kinagi | ||
2010 | Shedin Dekha Hoyechilo | ₹12 crore (equivalent to ₹27 croreorUS$3.4 million in 2023) | Sujit Mondal | [40] | |
2011 | Paglu | ₹10 crore (equivalent to ₹21 croreorUS$2.6 million in 2023) | Rajiv Kumar Biswas | ||
2012 | Awara | ₹8.5 crore (equivalent to ₹16 croreorUS$2.0 million in 2023) | Ravi Kinagi | ||
2013 | Chander Pahar | ₹21 crore (equivalent to ₹36 croreorUS$4.5 million in 2023) | Kamaleshwar Mukherjee | [17] | |
2014 | Game : He Plays To Win | ₹8.95 crore (equivalent to ₹14 croreorUS$1.8 million in 2023) | Ashok Pati | [41] | |
2015 | Shudhu Tomari Jonno | ₹7.50 crore (equivalent to ₹11 croreorUS$1.4 million in 2023) | Birsa Dasgupta | ||
2016 | Praktan | ₹8.5 crore (equivalent to ₹12 croreorUS$1.5 million in 2023) | Nandita Roy, Shiboprosad Mukherjee | ||
2017 | Amazon Obhijaan | ₹50 crore (equivalent to ₹70 croreorUS$8.8 million in 2023) | Kamaleshwar Mukherjee | [6] | |
2018 | Haami | ₹6 crore (equivalent to ₹8.0 croreorUS$1.0 million in 2023) | Nandita Roy, Shiboprosad Mukherjee | [42] | |
2019 | Durgeshgorer Guptodhon | ₹6 crore (equivalent to ₹7.5 croreorUS$930,000 in 2023) | Dhrubo Banerjee | ||
2020 | Dwitiyo Purush | ₹4 crore (equivalent to ₹4.7 croreorUS$590,000 in 2023) | Srijit Mukherjee | ||
2021 | Tonic | ₹6 crore (equivalent to ₹6.7 croreorUS$840,000 in 2023) | Avijit Sen | ||
2022 | Projapoti | ₹14 crore (equivalent to ₹15 croreorUS$1.9 million in 2023) | Avijit Sen | [11] | |
2023 | Chengiz | ₹6.75 crore (US$850,000) | Rajesh Ganguly | [43] | |
2024 | Pariah | ₹1 crore (US$130,000) | Tathagata Mukherjee | [11] |
Jeetendra Madnani, mononymously known as Jeet, is an Indian actor, film producer, singer, entrepreneur and television presenter known for his work in Bengali cinema. He owns the production houses "Grassroot Entertainment" and "Jeetz Filmworks". He is the Executive Secretary of "West Bengal Motion Picture Artists' Forum" and is one of the few actors known for doing commercial action films in Tollywood.
Deepak Adhikari, known by his stage name Dev, is an Indian actor, producer, singer and screenwriter, known for his works in Bengali cinema and more recently, a politician. He owns the production house Dev Entertainment Ventures.
Aashirvad Cinemas is an Indian film production company based in Kochi, Kerala. It was established in 2000 by Antony Perumbavoor, since then, it has produced over 30 Malayalam films, starring Mohanlal. Since 2009, the company co-operates with the distribution company Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments co-founded by Mohanlal and Antony Perumbavoor for distributing films. It is one among the most active and leading production houses in the Malayalam film industry.
Game is a 2014 Indian Bengali-language action thriller film directed by Baba Yadav and produced and distributed by Reliance Entertainment and Grassroot Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. The film features actors Jeet, Subhashree Ganguly and Saurav Chakraborty in the lead roles. Music of the film has been composed by Jeet Gannguli. The film is a remake of the 2012 Tamil film Thuppakki. The film did a very good collection in worldwide.
Sarileru Neekevvaru is a 2020 Indian Telugu-language action comedy film written and directed by Anil Ravipudi. It is produced by Sri Venkateswara Creations, G. Mahesh Babu Entertainment and AK Entertainments. The film stars Mahesh Babu, Rashmika Mandanna and Vijayashanti while Prakash Raj and Rajendra Prasad play supporting roles. Devi Sri Prasad composed the music while R. Rathnavelu handled the cinematography.
Aparajito, also known as Aparajito – The Undefeated, is a 2022 Indian Bengali-language biographical film directed and co-written by Anik Dutta. It was produced by Firdausul Hasan and Probal Halder under the banner of Friends Communication, and is based on the making of the film Pather Panchali by Satyajit Ray. The film, being shot in black and white, stars Jeetu Kamal in the title role of Aparajito Ray.
Karnasubarner Guptodhon is an Indian Bengali adventure thriller film directed by Dhrubo Banerjee and produced by Shrikant Mohta and Mahendra Soni. It is a sequel to Durgeshgorer Guptodhon and the third film in Sona Da franchise. The film released on 30 September 2022, coinciding with Durga Puja, under the banner of SVF Entertainment. The film was a blockbuster at the box office and one of the highest-grossing Bengali films of all time.
Chengiz is an 2023 Indian Bengali-language period action crime thriller film co-written and directed by Rajesh Ganguly from a story written by Neeraj Pandey. It is produced by Jeet, Gopal Madnani and Amit Jumrani. It stars Jeet, Susmita Chatterjee, Rohit Roy and Shataf Figar. The music was composed by Kaushik Guddu and Aneek Dhar, with the action sequences by Stunt Silva.
Bagha Jatin is a 2023 Indian Bengali language biographical period action drama film written and directed by Arun Roy. The film is produced by Dev and Gurupada Adhikari under Dev Entertainment Ventures. The film stars Dev as the title character with Sreeja Dutta, Sudipta Chakraborty, Shoaib Kabeer, Rohaan Bhattacharjee, Carl A. Harte and Alexandra Taylor in pivotal roles. The film is based on the life of Bagha Jatin, a freedom fighter who fought for Indian independence along with fellow members of the Jugantar. The film features a total of 92 freedom fighters.
Dawshom Awbotaar...For God's Sake is an Indian Bengali-language neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by Srijit Mukherji and produced by Shree Venkatesh Films and Jio Studios. The film stars Jisshu Sengupta in the titular role and Prosenjit Chatterjee, Anirban Bhattacharya, and Jaya Ahsan in lead roles. The film went on floors on 21 July 2023.
Friends Communication is an Indian movie production and distribution company based in Kolkata.
Madhava Prasad traces the origin of the term to a 1932 article in the American Cinematographer by Wilford E. Deming, an American engineer who apparently helped produce the first Indian sound picture. At this point, the Calcutta suburb of Tollygunje was the main center of film production in India. Deming refers to the area as Tollywood, since it already boasted two studios with 'several more projected' (Prasad, 2003) 'Tolly', rhyming with 'Holly', got hinged to 'wood' in the Anglophone Indian imagination, and came to denote the Calcutta studios and, by extension, the local film industry. Prasad surmises: 'Once Tollywood was made possible by the fortuitous availability of a half-rhyme, it was easy to clone new Hollywood babies by simply replacing the first letter' (Prasad, 2003).
In 30 years, Apur Sansar and Teen Kanya have earned Rs 75 to 80 lakh for their Indian distributors.