Legendary Filmmakers Reflect on Ritwik Ghatak's Cinematic Legacy

On November 15, 2025, the Kolkata International Film Festival hosted a special session honoring the legacy of Ritwik Ghatak, the renowned Indian filmmaker who left an indelible mark on the industry. The session, part of the festival's new annual Ritwik Ghatak Memorial Lecture series, featured a conversation between legendary director Adoor Gopalakrishnan and moderator Anup Singh.

Gopalakrishnan, who first met Ghatak in 1963 as a student at the Film Institute in Pune, shared captivating anecdotes about the fiery filmmaker. He recalled how Ghatak's unorthodox teaching methods, which focused on analyzing his own films rather than theory, left a lasting impression on the young students. "He was making them see the world differently," Anup Singh noted, describing Ghatak's exercises that encouraged students to observe the changing light and shadows.

The discussion also delved into Ghatak's pioneering approach to sound and editing, which Gopalakrishnan described as "ahead of his time." The abrupt cuts and innovative sound design in films like "Meghe Dhaka Tara" and "Subarnarekha" were not mistakes, but deliberate choices that created a sense of shock, immediacy, and emotional depth. Gopalakrishnan acknowledged that these lessons shaped his own understanding of cinema.

As the session unfolded, it became clear that Ghatak's legacy extended far beyond his filmmaking prowess. His "argumentative spirit," as Anup Singh put it, was a reflection of the broader Indian cultural tradition. Gopalakrishnan agreed, noting that Ghatak "didn't want you to watch his films; he wanted you to argue with them."