5 gems of Indian cinema that were way ahead of their time

Cinema has the power to influence people, in good ways or bad. Films have the power to change perspectives, generating debates, and creating a buzz. There are a hand full of films that have dared to jump the safe space and addressed topics that are taboo in society. They spoke about things people only whisper about. We have picked five such films that were way ahead of their time. Read on...

Films on communal harmony that restored our faith in secular India

This Bengali classic is one of the masterpieces of Satyajit Ray, to whom the history of Indian cinema owes so many things. Based on another popular Tagore novel, ‘Nastanirh’, it beautifully churns out the plight of a neglected young housewife Charu. It’s a story justifying the morbid housewife’s inexpressible relationship with a young intellectual man who interestingly matches her interest in writing, while her husband remains indifferent.

With a unique cinematography, this film saw Ritwik Ghatak himself playing the protagonist – an intellectual and hopeless drunk driven from his home. He travels across the countryside and meets many characters with their own unique stories. It was also one of the first movies to show the glimpse of Naxalite movement just taking shape in Bengal.

Based on the novel by Shaktipada Rajguru, 'Meghe Dhaka Tara' is touted to be Ritwik Ghatak’s most celebrated movie. How can we forget the brilliant acting of Supriya Devi in this cult classic? ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ is perhaps the most touching portrayal of harsh life in Bengal following the dreaded partition. Ghatak worked as both the writer and director in this film. While ‘Meghe Dhaka Tara’ is often regarded as bleak and angry, you would find a Sitar playing in the background throughout the film. It tries to somehow soothe the viewers’ fraying nerves. It’s only one of the many extreme contradictions which Ghatak constantly puts forth in a precise and deliberate attempt.

This award-winning film by Gautam Ghose witnessed the impeccable performance by Roopa Ganguly as Kopila. It was an Indo-Bangladesh joint venture inspired by a novel of the same name by Manik Bandopadhyay. The film revolves around protagonist Hossain, a Bengali Muslim who dreams of establishing a little Utopia on an island in the Padma delta and doesn't care whether the people living there are Hindus or Muslims.

One of Aparna Sen's unique qualities is that she highlights the rhythms of her characters’ life so well that you can't imagine them doing anything else to get into the narrative. 'The Japanese Wife' has a bit of an improbable plot, based on a novel of the same name, which sees a Bengali schoolteacher Snehamoy (Rahul Bose) falling in long-distance love with his Japanese pen pal Miyage and it eventually turns into an enchanting romance in director Aparna Sen's skillful hands. Raima Sen as the young widow who arrives to stay in Snehamoy's house with her son, and whose occasional proximity to Snehamoy contrasts with the far-away-ness of Miyage, is effectively understated and the actress does well to portray such a challenging character.