Tapan Sinha to be honoured at India’s international film festival

The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) will honour legendary filmmaker Tapan Sinha, celebrating his extraordinary legacy in cinema.

For decades, Sinha’s name has been overshadowed by the more celebrated giants of Indian cinema like Satyajit Ray and Mrinal Sen. Yet, his films — rich in social insight and emotional depth — remain some of the most poignant and thought-provoking works in the history of Indian cinema.

At the next week’s IFFI, Sinha will finally step into the spotlight, as the festival pays tribute to the filmmaker whose masterful storytelling continues to captivate audiences worldwide.

The I&B Ministry announced on Saturday that Sinha, whose films have profoundly shaped the landscape of Indian filmmaking, will be honoured at the prestigious festival in Goa.

The IFFI, which opens on November 20 and runs until November 28, will offer a much-anticipated tribute to Sinha, renowned for his nuanced exploration of human emotions and social issues.

This retrospective of his work will bring to the forefront a cinematic legacy that has often been underappreciated in mainstream film history. As part of the tribute, the classic Harmonium — a poignant and intricately crafted narrative about familial bonds and societal pressures — will be screened, inviting audiences to rediscover the brilliance of Sinha’s storytelling.

Harmonium (1976), a film that remains one of Sinha’s most cherished works, is described by the government in a statement as an opportunity to “revisit his intricate storytelling”.

Sinha’s career spanned several decades and genres — from family dramas to socially charged narratives and children’s fantasies. His 1957 film Kabuliwala, based on Rabindranath Tagore’s short story, remains an iconic work, earning him the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and a Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.

The film’s ability to tug at the heartstrings while exploring themes of love and separation continues to resonate with audiences worldwide. His other notable works include ‘Louha-Kapat’ (1958), ‘Apanjan’ (1968) and ‘Sagina Mahato’ (1970), which further cemented his reputation as a master storyteller.

In addition to his work in cinema, Sinha ventured into television, with the series ‘Aadmi Aur Aurat’ (1984), featuring Amol Palekar, which explored the complex dynamics of gender and society. His films, which transcended language and regional barriers, were made in Bengali, Hindi and Oriya, underscoring his versatility as a filmmaker who could communicate universal human experiences across diverse cultural contexts.

A prominent figure in the parallel cinema movement, Sinha’s films were characterised by their intimate portrayals of social and political issues, often challenging conventional norms.

His work stood in stark contrast to the formulaic nature of mainstream Bollywood films, with a focus on realism, humanism and social justice. In recognition of his significant contribution to Indian cinema, Sinha was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1992 and later, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest cinematic honour in India, in 2006.

Harmonium to be screened

As part of the tribute, his classic Harmonium — a poignant and intricately crafted narrative about familial bonds and societal pressures — will be screened at the festival.