Posted on 18 August 2026:
A Memorable Evening of Art, Dance and Tribute to Satyajit Ray at ICCR Kolkata
Kolkata pays homage to Bengal’s cinematic genius through portraiture, dance and music at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium, ICCR, Kolkata.
Under the joint aegis of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Zonal Office (East), Kolkata, and Chhandey Chhandey Halisahar, the city came together to honour a name that needs no introduction in the world of cinema and culture — Satyajit Ray, filmmaker, storyteller and Bengal’s enduring pride, on the evening of 17th August 2026.
A Portrait That Spoke Louder Than Words
At the heart of the evening stood a moment of quiet grandeur — the formal presentation of a striking portrait of Satyajit Ray, brought to life on canvas by the accomplished artist Shri Soumendra Nath Dutta. Gifted to ICCR Kolkata, the portrait was more than a work of art; it was a gesture of reverence, capturing in brushstrokes the depth, intellect and quiet magnetism that defined Ray both as a filmmaker and as a human being. As the canvas was unveiled, it seemed to hold within it decades of cinematic brilliance — a fitting tribute to a man who saw the world, and taught the world to see, through the lens of extraordinary humanity.
When Dance Became a Language of Cinema
If the portrait honoured Ray’s visual legacy, it was dance that gave voice to his cinematic soul. Chhandey Chhandey Halisahar presented an evocative dance production woven around songs from some of Ray’s most cherished films — a performance that transformed familiar melodies into movement, and nostalgia into art.
The concept, choreography and direction, envisioned with remarkable sensitivity by the celebrated dancer and choreographer Smt. Sumita Bhattacharjee, allowed the audience to relive Ray’s cinematic universe not through the screen, but through the grace and rhythm of live performance.
Where Painting and Dance Meet
What made the evening particularly distinctive was the creative kinship it revealed between two art forms rarely presented in tandem — painting and dance.
Shri Soumendra Nath Dutta, who serves as President of Chhandey Chhandey Halisahar, and Smt. Sumita Bhattacharjee, its Director, shared an artistic partnership that has, over the years, given rise to numerous initiatives blending painting, dance, theatre and other expressions of culture. Their shared vision was palpable throughout the evening, in the seamless dialogue between colour on canvas and movement on stage.
A Gathering of Distinguished Minds
The occasion drew a gracious assembly of eminent personalities from the world of art and culture, whose presence lent the evening added weight and warmth.
Among those present were Padmashri Uday Deshpande, the celebrated icon of Indian Mallakhamb; noted music director Shri Kalyan Sen Barat; respected dance scholar Dr. Mahua Mukherjee; journalist Shri Shibashis Bandyopadhyay; acclaimed dancer and director Shri Kohinoor Sen Barat; actor and director Shri Anindyo Sorkar; along with Smt. Tanuka Chatterjee and Shri Palash Banerjee. Their attendance and blessings brought a sense of shared celebration to an evening already rich in artistic significance.
No cultural evening of such warmth is complete without acknowledging those who quietly make it possible. Chhandey Chhandey Halisahar offered profound gratitude—honoring Shri Anshuman Paul (Programme Officer, ICCR), Shri Sudarshan Chakravorty, eminent dance director and Shri Achint Ganguli, whose steadfast support and cherished presence illuminated its artistic journey with enduring grace.
An Evening Woven in Art, Memory and Meaning
By the time the final notes faded and the last movement of dance came to rest, the evening had become something larger than a single tribute. It has become a confluence of art, dance, music, culture and visual expression, all bound together by a shared reverence for Satyajit Ray —visionary author, polymath and cultural beacon—crafted thirty‑six films that reshaped cinema’s language. His debut Pather Panchali (1955) won eleven international awards, inaugurating a luminous journey crowned by The Apu Trilogy, The Music Room, Charulata, and the whimsical Goopy–Bagha tales. Beyond cinema, Ray’s pen conjured timeless stories for young readers, his artistry spanning illustration, calligraphy and composition. Recipient of thirty‑seven National Film Awards, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Golden Lion, Golden Bear, two Silver Bears and the Honorary Academy Award (Oscar), he remains the only Indian to claim two of the Big Three festival top prizes.
His legacy celebrates not only cinematic brilliance but the eternal power of art to unite vision, tradition, and humanity in one radiant continuum.
For everyone present at the Satyajit Ray Auditorium that evening, it was more than an event — it was a memory quietly etched, one that will continue to resonate long after the applause has faded.
Chhandey Chhandey Halisahar
Chhandey Chhandey Halisahar is a well-known cultural organisation and dance institute based in Halisahar, West Bengal. Established primarily as a Bharatanatyam institution, it has been devoted to the practice and promotion of dance for the past 27 years.
For more than 15 years, the institution has also created and presented dance-dramas and theatrical dance productions, extending its artistic journey well beyond West Bengal to prestigious platforms across India and around the world.
Images: Sumita Bhattacharjee
