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 TitleThe Music Room - Jalsaghar
TitleThe Music Room - Jalsaghar
Directed bySatyajit Ray
CountryIndia
Year1958
ScreenplayTarashankar Banerjee, Satyajit Ray, Santi P. Choudhury
Film EditingDulal Dutta
SoundtrackUstad Vilayat Khan, Robin Majumdar
CinematographySubrata Mitra
SoundDurgadas Mitra
Costumes
Production DesignBansi Chandragupta , Bansi Chandragupta
ProductionSatyajit Ray
FormatsBlu-ray, DCP
Runtime100 min.
LanguageBengali, Englisch/d + f + i
CastChhabi Biswas, Sardar Akhtar, Gangapada Basu, Kalil Sarkar, Padma Devi, Pinaki Sengupta, Roshan Kumari

Credits

Original TitleThe Music Room - Jalsaghar
TitleThe Music Room - Jalsaghar
Directed bySatyajit Ray
CountryIndia
Year1958
ScreenplayTarashankar Banerjee, Satyajit Ray, Santi P. Choudhury
Film EditingDulal Dutta
SoundtrackUstad Vilayat Khan, Robin Majumdar
CinematographySubrata Mitra
SoundDurgadas Mitra
Costumes
Production DesignBansi Chandragupta , Bansi Chandragupta
ProductionSatyajit Ray
FormatsBlu-ray, DCP
Runtime100 min.
LanguageBengali, Englisch/d + f + i
CastChhabi Biswas, Sardar Akhtar, Gangapada Basu, Kalil Sarkar, Padma Devi, Pinaki Sengupta, Roshan Kumari

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