Cinema of West Bengal, also known as Tollywood or Bengali cinema, is the segment of Indian cinema, dedicated to the production of motion pictures in the Bengali language widely spoken in the state of West Bengal. It is based in the Tollygunge region of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The origins of the nickname Tollywood, a portmanteau of the words Tollygunge and Hollywood, dates back to 1932. It was a historically important film industry, at one time the centre of Indian film production. The Bengali film industry is known for producing many of Indian cinema's most critically acclaimed global Parallel Cinema and art films, with several of its filmmakers gaining prominence at the Indian National Film Awards as well as international acclaim.
Srijit Mukherji is an Indian film director and screenwriter who predominantly works in Bengali cinema. His regular collaboration with veteran actor Prosenjit Chatterjee brought him into the limelight. His first feature film Autograph (2010), was a critical and commercial success, where he had written the script with Chatterjee in mind. His fifth film, Jaatishwar, won four national awards at India's 61st National Film Awards (2014). He won the National Film Award for Best Direction and Best Original Screenplay for his sixth film, Chotushkone, at India's 62nd National Film Awards. His eighth film, Rajkahini had been remade into a Hindi film titled, Begum Jaan, starring Vidya Balan in 2017. His 2018 release Ek Je Chhilo Raja won the 'Best Bengali Film' Award at India's 66th National Film Awards. His 2019 film Gumnaami won him the Best Bengali Film and Best Adapted Screenplay Awards at the 67th National Film Awards.
Abir Chatterjee is an Indian actor who mainly works in Bengali cinema. He is the son of theatre personalities Phalguni Chatterjee and Rumki Chatterjee. He started his career with Bengali television and made his debut in Bengali cinema in 2009 as a lead with Cross Connection. He is well known for appearing as famous Detective Byomkesh Bakshi in a separate movie series.He is one of the highest-paid actors in Indian Bengali cinema.
Baishey Srabon is a 2011 Indian Bengali neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Srijit Mukherji. It is the first installment of the Srijit Mukherji Cop Universe. It was his second film. The cast consists of Prosenjit Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee, Raima Sen, Abir Chatterjee and director Gautam Ghose, making a comeback after a 29-year absence.
Anindya Bose is a Bengali singer composer lyricist. He is one of the popular Bengali singer based out of Kolkata. He is also famous as a music composer and a scriptwriter of Bengali films. Anindya Bose is also an activist who took part in different social activity. He was one of the major face of #hokkolorob.
Proloy is a 2013 Indian Bengali language socio-political action-crime thriller film co-written and directed by Raj Chakraborty, produced by Shree Venkatesh Films, starring Parambrata Chatterjee, Paran Bandopadhyay, Saswata Chatterjee, Rudranil Ghosh, Supriyo Dutta and Mimi Chakraborty in lead roles. This movie is inspired on the life of Barun Biswas, a social activist and teacher. The film's music is by Indraadip Dasgupta in his second collaboration with Banerjee, with 2 additional tracks by Nilesh Dasgupta. The film was critically and commercially well received and the performances along with the direction was praised. Due to multiple creative differences, this was Sonali Banerjee's last film with Shree Venkatesh Films. Sonali Banerjee named the film Roshni after her sister who was raped and killed and said that the movie was a tribute to her. Throughout the years, the film has gained a cult status and is often regarded as Raj Chakraborty's best film.
Madhumita Sarcar is an Indian actress known for playing the lead roles of Pakhi Ghosh Dostidaar Singha Roy in Bojhena Se Bojhena and Dr. Imon Mukherjee in Kusum Dola.
Goyenda Ginni was an Indian Bengali crime drama anthology television series that premiered on 7 September 2015 to 25 December 2016 and aired on Zee Bangla. It was produced by Shree Venkatesh Films, it starred Indrani Haldar, Saheb Chatterjee, Aditi Chatterjee and Indrajeet Bose. It marks the comeback of Haldar into Bengali television. It replaced the show Raage Anuraage. It got back in March 2020 due to COVID-19 situation. This Show is 4th time repeat telecast on Zee Bangla on 13 May 2024 ; It fetched a highest trp of 8.0.
Shah Jahan Regency is an Indian Bengali drama film directed by Srijit Mukherji, under the banner of SVF Entertainment Pvt Ltd, starring Abir Chatterjee, Parambrata Chatterjee, Anjan Dutt, Mamata Shankar, Anirban Bhattacharya, Swastika Mukherjee, Rudranil Ghosh and Rittika Sen while Rituparna Sengupta and Babul Supriyo appear in Guest appearances. The movie, based on the popular novel Chowringhee by Mani Shankar Mukherjee, was released on 18 January 2019.
Adventures Of Jojo is a Bengali children action adventure film co-written and directed by Raj Chakraborty, based on Tongling, a novel written by Leela Majumdar. It is inspired by the film "An Elephant's Journey" directed by Richard Boddington. The film was released on 21 December 2018 under the banner of Shree Venkatesh Films.
Borunbabur Bondhu is a 2019 Bengali-language Indian drama film directed by Anik Dutta for Surinder Films. The film is based on a Bengali story Chhad written by Ramapada Chowdhury. It is the story of an old man, whose life faces an upheaval after people come to know that a VVIP who was once his friend, is coming for a visit. The film stars Soumitra Chatterjee in the role of an elderly man with supporting cast of Madhabi Mukhopadhyay, Paran Bandopadhyay, Ritwick Chakraborty, Arpita Chatterjee, Sreelekha Mitra, Kaushik Sen and Bidipta Chakraborty.
Dracula Sir is a 2020 Indian Bengali language, neo noir psychological thriller, non-linear structured film directed by Debaloy Bhattacharya and produced by Shrikant Mohata and Mahendra Soni under the banner of SVF. The film starring Anirban Bhattacharya, Mimi Chakraborty, Bidipta Chakraborty, Rudranil Ghosh, Samiul Alam, Kanchan Mullick, Supriyo Dutta follows the story of a school teacher with a protruding pair of canine teeth, called "Dracula Sir". The film was based on a school teacher who was a Naxalite in his past life.
Ek Akasher Niche is a Family drama Bengali television serial, which aired on Alpha Bangla. It was produced under the banner of Ravi Ojha Productions. The story is about a middle-class family that deals with various challenges and complications on a daily basis and fights all odds to stay united. With over a thousand episodes that aired in early 2000s the serial was a mega-blockbuster hit in Bengal and other Bengali language dominant parts of the world.
The 4th Filmfare Awards Bangla ceremony, presented by The Times Group, honoured the best Bengali language Indian films of 2019. The ceremony was held on 31 March 2021 in Kolkata.
Pandab Goenda is an Indian Bengali-language television detective series that premiered on 7 September 2020, and aired on Zee Bangla. The show based on the story of Pandab Goenda, starred Rob Dey, Rishav Chakraborty, Mayukh Chatterjee, Anumita Dutta and Shritama Mitra.
The 5th Filmfare Awards Bangla ceremony, presented by The Times Group, honor the best Bengali language Indian films of 2020–2021. The nominations were announced on 14 March 2022. The ceremony was held on 17 March 2022 in Kolkata. Borunbabur Bondhu and Tonic shared the award for Best Film. The Award Show was aired on 24 and 30 April 2022 on Zee Bangla and Zee Bangla Cinema respectively. The show was hosted by Abir Chatterjee, Sohini Sarkar and Anirban Bhattacharya.
Abhijaan is a 2022 Indian Bengali-language biographical film directed by Parambrata Chatterjee. The film is based on the life and works of legendary actor and Bengali icon Soumitra Chatterjee. The central character of Soumitra Chatterjee is played by Jisshu Sengupta along with a supporting cast of Prosenjit Chatterjee, Basabdatta Chatterjee, Q, Paoli Dam, Debshankar Haldar, Sohini Sengupta, Rudranil Ghosh, Tridha Choudhury and Parambrata Chatterjee.
Jagaddhatri is an Indian Bengali language Romantic Thriller Drama television series that premiered from 29 August 2022 on Zee Bangla. The show is produced by Snehasish Chakraborty of Blues Productions and stars Ankita Mallick and Soumyadeep Mukherjee in lead roles.This is also being broadcast in Zee Sarthak as "Jagruti" by dubbing into Odia. Currently,it is one of the most successful show of Bengali Television.
