[S1E1] Bananas
What's New? Discover a rare gem! Our 3-part interview series with Kalyan Chatterjee from the Bengal Film Archive is now live on YouTube
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
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!

This series, created by Russell T. Davies, is a companion to Cucumber and focuses on standalone stories within Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community.

The episode explores the friction between younger and older generations of gay men, particularly through Dean's interactions with Henry Best . Critics praised it for its authentic portrayal of the "cringing protest" youth feel toward parental acceptance and its "love letter" feel to Manchester.

Ash Lynx, a 17-year-old gang leader, is given a mysterious vial and the words "Banana Fish" by a dying man. These were the same words spoken by his brother, a veteran who went into a vegetative state after a mysterious shooting incident. Ash crosses paths with Eiji Okumura, a Japanese photographer's assistant, just as a gang war breaks out.

There are several shows with episodes titled or series simply named "Banana" . Based on popular series, here are the write-ups for the most likely matches: 1. Banana (2015 Anthology Series) – S1E1: " Dean "

A gritty, modern adaptation of the classic manga set in New York City.

The premiere is noted for its high-density plot and "hectic" pacing as it establishes a complex conspiracy involving the mafia, military, and a dangerous drug. It has been described as a "pulpy crime drama" with strong psychological and homoerotic undertones. 3. Pretty Hard Cases (2021 Series) – S1E1: " Bananas " 'Banana' Episode 1 review - CultBox

The premiere centers on 19-year-old Dean (Fisayo Akinade), who appears to lead a charmed life of casual hookups and independence. However, he is secretly struggling to pay rent to a "gangster" landlord. He attempts to navigate his awkward adulthood while hiding family secrets.

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
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.