Veteran filmmaker Jabbar Patel has set the record straight on one of Indian cinema's most debated relationships, revealing that legendary directors Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends. This revelation comes as the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) prepares to celebrate Ghatak's birth centenary alongside other icons.
Debunking the Myth of Rivalry
Speaking about the festival, Patel, the Director of PIFF, clarified the dynamic between the two cinematic giants. "Ghatak was a very different filmmaker from Ray. But, the two were not rivals. Manik da (Ray) and Ghatak were very good friends," he stated. Patel shared a significant anecdote highlighting Ray's respect for Ghatak, noting that it was Ray who recommended Ghatak to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for a teaching role at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
Ghatak served as the Vice-Principal of FTII in the 1960s, where he founded a influential new school of cinema. His pedagogical impact was profound, inspiring a generation of filmmakers including Kumar Shahani and Mani Kaul. "Different filmmakers came in, and a different pathway started right here in Pune," Patel remarked, underscoring the city's role in this cinematic evolution.
PIFF 2025: A Grand Showcase of Cinema
The 2025 edition of PIFF, organized by the Pune Film Foundation in collaboration with the Maharashtra Government's Department of Cultural Affairs and Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, is a major cinematic event. The festival will run from January 15 to January 22 with a sanctioned state government budget of Rs 4 crore.
The lineup is extensive, featuring nearly 140 films across various sections like world cinema, Marathi competitive films, and global cinema. A highlight is the world competition section, which received over 900 submissions from 103 countries. An international jury will award the best film with the 'Maharashtra Government Sant Tukaram Best International Film Award,' carrying a prize money of Rs 10 lakh.
The festival will open with Paolo Sorrentino's Italian film La Grazia and close with Jim Jarmusch's Father Mother Sister Brother, a co-production from Ireland and France.
Celebrating Iconic Legacies
PIFF's tribute to Ritwik Ghatak will include screenings of his famous works and discussions on his contributions. Patel shared a fascinating lesser-known story: Ghatak once took a story concept to filmmaker Bimal Roy, suggesting he make it. Roy did, and the result was the classic Madhumati, a pioneering reincarnation love story and one of the era's greatest films.
The festival will also mark the 125th birth anniversary of V. Shantaram, another filmmaker with deep Pune roots. His acclaimed 1957 film Do Aankhen Barah Haath, which won the Silver Bear at Berlin, was partly shot in the city. Patel highlighted Shantaram's early work at Prabhat Studio, including the milestone social drama Duniya Na Mane (released as Kunku in Marathi) and Padosi, a film on Hindu-Muslim friendship.
By spotlighting these interconnected histories and friendships, PIFF 2025 aims to offer audiences not just films, but a deeper understanding of the collaborative spirit that has shaped Indian cinema.
