The Bengali Night
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Nicolas Klotz (director) |
| Headquarters | Calcutta , India |
| Products | Film adaptation of Bengal Nights novel |
The Bengali Night () is a 1988 semi-autobiographical motion picture adapted from Mircea Eliade's 1933 Romanian novel, Bengal Nights. Directed by Nicolas Klotz, the film features performances by Hugh Grant, Soumitra Chatterjee, Supriya Pathak, and Shabana Azmi.
Plot summary
Set in 1930s Calcutta, the story follows Allan (Hugh Grant), an engineer who resides with his employer Narendra Sen (Soumitra Chatterjee) and his family, which includes Narendra’s wife Indira (Shabana Azmi) and their daughter Gayatri (Supriya Pathak). A romantic relationship develops between Allan and Gayatri, culminating in a tragic outcome.
Cast
- John Hurt as Lucien Metz
- Hugh Grant portraying Allan
- Soumitra Chatterjee as Narendra Sen
- Shabana Azmi in the role of Indira
- Supriya Pathak as Gayatri
Production history
This film was created roughly ten years after Maitreyi Devi, whose life inspired the character of Gayatri, released her Bengali-language account titled Na Hanyate. Devi had obtained a commitment from Eliade that his version would not be published in English during her lifetime. The shooting took place in Calcutta between 1987 and 1988, provoking legal disputes initiated by Devi who accused the film of offending Hindu beliefs and containing pornographic material. It was shown once at an Indian film festival in 1989 where it received mixed reactions and did not have a theatrical release in the United States.
Devi voiced her dissatisfaction with the film’s marketing, which portrayed her as the protagonist, violating Eliade’s original pledge. It remains uncertain whether Eliade’s widow approved the adaptation in accordance with her late husband's intentions or based on her own judgment.
Principal photography occurred at the Zamindar Mansion known as "Gaine Bari" located in Dhanyakuria village, supplemented by scenes filmed at Indrapuri Studios in Kolkata.