Directed by: Satyajit Ray
With The Music Room (Jalsaghar), Satyajit Ray brilliantly evokes the crumbling opulence of a fallen aristocrat (played by the great Chhabi Biswas) desperately clinging to a fading way of life. His greatest joy is his music room, where he has hosted lavish classical concerts over the years—now a shadow of its former glory.
A powerful portrait of the clash between tradition and modernity, and a showcase for some of India’s most celebrated musicians of the era, The Music Room stands as a defining work in Ray’s career and one of the key masterpieces of Bengali cinema.
| Feature | Description |
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New Digital Restoration |
New digital restoration of The Music Room, presented with an uncompressed monaural soundtrack. |
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Satyajit Ray (1984) Documentary |
Satyajit Ray, a 1984 feature documentary by Shyam Benegal chronicling Ray’s career, with interviews, family photographs, and extensive clips from his films. |
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Interview with Mira Nair |
New interview with filmmaker Mira Nair discussing Ray’s influence and the significance of The Music Room. |
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Interview with Andrew Robinson |
New interview with Ray biographer Andrew Robinson on the making of The Music Room and its cultural importance. |
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French Roundtable Excerpt (1981) |
Excerpt from a 1981 French roundtable discussion featuring Satyajit Ray, film critic Michel Ciment, and filmmaker Claude Sautet. |
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New English Subtitle Translation |
New and improved English subtitle translation for this edition of the film. |
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Booklet |
Booklet featuring an essay by critic Philip Kemp, a 1963 essay by Satyajit Ray, and a 1986 interview with the director about the film’s music. |