What's New? Madhabi Mukhopadhyay's 'Petty politics ruined Kanan-di's dream' in the Longform Article segment!
ABOUT US
What's remembered, lives. What's archived, stays. Despite all our interest in nostalgia and passion for movies, too little has been done to document the history of Bengal's cinema from the previous century. The pandemic came as a wake-up call for us. As a passionate group of film enthusiasts, we decided to create a digital platform that inspires artists and audiences alike. That's how Bengal Film Archive (BFA) was conceived as a bilingual e-archive. At this one-stop digital cine-cyclopedia, we have not just tried to archive facts, trivia, features, interviews and biographical sketches but also included interactive online games regarding old and contemporary Bengali cinema
OUR YouTube SPECIALs
SOUND OF MUSIC

Since the advent of the talkie era, playback has played a big role in Bengali cinema. From Kanan Devi’s Ami banaphool go to Arati Mukhopadhyay’s Ami Miss Calutta  our films have a song for every emotion. In this segment, BFA tunes in to the music composers, singers and lyricists who made all that happen. The bonus is a chance to listen to the BFA-curated list of hits across seven decades!

Longform Articles
In an age of minuscule attention span, what is the advantage of sharing long-form articles? Those playing the devils' advocate might call it suicidal. We, at BFA, are ready to gamble and celebrate the art of fine writing. We want to share in-depth analytical pieces on cinema, engaging memoirs that offer genuine value for time and interviews that make for immersive reading experiences. All our articles are available in both English and Bengali. Additionally, none of them are behind a paywall. So, take your time to read, know about our panel of authors and revisit the pieces without having to worry about your wallet.
FEATURED ARTICLE

'Baby Shikha, Shikha Rani and Chhoto Suchitra meant
Boro Pishi to us'

Having caught film director  Agradoot Bibhuti Laha’s attention after hearing her recite a poem, six-year-old Shikha Rani Bag was cast in 1949’s Sankalpa. It started her 14-year and around 40 films career as the leading child artist of Bengali cinema, picking up Jawaharhal Nehru’s nod too along the way. Shikha Rani breathed her last in May this year, leaving behind a legacy from the golden age of Bengali cinema, an over 50-year-old classical dance school and scores of students determined to carry her flame. Here is a tribute by journalist and writer Shamik Bag who shares intimate stories about the life and works of his aunt

OUR FILMS
This archive is essentially a celebration of cinema from Bengal through words and still images. Yet, no celebration of cinema is complete without a tribute from moving images. In this section, BFA presents short films about unsung foot soldiers, forgotten studios and ageing single screens that have silently contributed to make cinema larger-than-life. For us, their unheard stories deserve to be in the limelight as much as those of the icons who have created magic in front of the lens.
BFA Originals
Lost?

The iconic Paradise Cinema has been a cherished part of Kolkata's cine history. Nirmal De’s Sare Chuattor marked its first Bengali screening in 1953, amidst a legacy primarily dedicated to Hindi films. From the triple-layered curtains covering its single screen to the chilled air from the running ACs wafting through its doors during intervals, each detail of Paradise’s majestic allure is still ingrained in the fond memories of its patrons. One such patron is Junaid Ahmed. BFA joins this Dharmatala resident as he recollects his days of being a witness to paradise on earth in this Bijoy Chowdhury film

House of Memories

Almost anyone with a wee bit of interest in cinema from Bengal can lead to Satyajit Ray's rented house on Bishop Lefroy Road. But how many know where Ajoy Kar, Asit Sen, Arundhati Devi or Ritwik Ghatak lived? Or for that matter, Prithviraj Kapoor or KL Saigal during their Kolkata years? In case you are among those who walk past iconic addresses without a clue about their famous residents, this section is a must-watch for you. We have painstakingly tried to locate residential addresses of icons from the early days of their career and time-travelled to 2022 to see how the houses are maintained now.