The Music Room - Jalsaghar

by Satyajit Ray, India, 1958
Picture of

The Music Room shows the end times of a decadent landlord in Bengal and his efforts to maintain his family's reputation even in economically difficult times. The landlord, Biswambhar Roy (Chhabi Biswas), is a just but unworldly man who likes to spend time listening to music and setting up spectacles instead of managing his lands devastated by floods and the Indian government's abolition of the Zamindari system. He is challenged by a simple man who has gained wealth through business, spectacle and musical festivals.

Festivals & awards

Moscow International Film Festival 1959: Best Music

artwork

Credits

Original Title
The Music Room - Jalsaghar
Title
The Music Room - Jalsaghar
Directed by
Satyajit Ray
Country
India
Year
1958
Screenplay
Tarashankar Banerjee, Satyajit Ray, Santi P. Choudhury
Film Editing
Dulal Dutta
Soundtrack
Ustad Vilayat Khan, Robin Majumdar
Cinematography
Subrata Mitra
Sound
Durgadas Mitra
Production Design
Bansi Chandragupta , Bansi Chandragupta
Production
Satyajit Ray
Formats
Blu-ray, DCP
Runtime
100 min.
Language
Bengali, Englisch/d + f + i
Cast
Chhabi Biswas (Huzur Biswambhar Roy), Sardar Akhtar (Begum Akhtar), Gangapada Basu (Mahim Ganguli), Kalil Sarkar (Ananta), Padma Devi (Mahamaya, Roys Frau/femme de Roy), Pinaki Sengupta (Khoka, Sohn/fils), Roshan Kumari (Krishnabai)

Pro Material

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Press voices

«Ferne Blitze über der Schwemmebene des Padma-Ganges. Wetterleuchten in der Nacht. Musik als Opium des Untergangs, als letztes, berauscht zuckendes Eintauchen in eine schwindende Welt. (...) Selbsttötung mit Musik, ein bengalischer ‹danse macabre›, begleitet vom verzückten Schmerz der Sitar (...) vor einer Zuhörerschaft auf Polstern lagernder, ‹Sherbet› schlürfender, ‹Hookah› schmauchender Gäste. The Music Room, indisches Gegenstück zu Viscontis Il gattopardo. Porträt einer Person und einer Epoche. Realismus auf der Probe zum Extrem: die Schwertklinge zum Äussersten gebogen.» Harry Tomicek, Österreichisches Filmmuseum