Mahanagar

Mahanagar Bengali , Mahnagar English The Big City is a 1963 Bengali drama film directed by Satyajit Ray and starring Madhabi Mukherjee in the leading role of Arati. Based on a short story, Abataranika by Narendranath Mitra, it narrates the story of a housewife who disconcerts her traditionalist family by getting a job as a saleswoman. It marks the first screen appearance of Jaya Bhaduri now Jaya Bachchan, who later went on to become one of Bollywoods leading actresses.

Set in Calcutta during the 1950s Mahanagar explores the evolving independence of middleclass women of the city. Arati Madhabi Mukherjee, a home maker, takes up a job as a doortodoor saleswoman to meet the increasing financial pressure on her very orthodox and conservative family. Despite familial adversity and societal obstacles the initially hesitant and nervous Arati soon begins to prosper in her field and gradually starts to enjoy her newfound financial and psychological independence. Her initially supportive husband, Subrata Anil Chatterjee, starts to feel insecure decides to ask Arati to quit after tentatively securing another parttime job. Before Arati can quit, Subrata loses his job in the bank he was working for as it is shut down. Subrata has no choice but to let her continue to work. Arati now becomes the sole breadwinner of the family and also befriends an Englishspeaking, AngloIndian representative of the legacy of the British Raj colleague Edith Vicky Redwood, a move which raises suspicion and increases conflict within her family. Slowly Arati begins to shine in her job and earn the trust of her manager, who promises her to greater heights if she continues to work with similar efficiency. Subrata meanwhile now sits all day at home and drowns himself in suspicion, insecurity and ego. Subrata finally decides to meet Himangshu Haradhan Bannerjee, Aratis boss, to ease some of his suspicions. When he meets him he finds that Himangshu is an affable and friendly person, and eases up to him. They discuss about the unemployment of Subrata and Himangshu promises to find him a job somewhere. Meanwhile Edith comes back after a long sickness to the office but Himangshu doesnt believe she was actually sick, and fires her quoting reasons pertaining to Ediths frivolous lifestyle. She is hurt and cries in the washroom, which is seen by Arati. A once timid person, Arati lets go of her inhibitions and decides to fight this injustice. She confronts Himangshu impulsively,

Source: Wikipedia