Interview (1971)^[1] was a Bengali film directed by noted Indian art film director Mrinal Sen. A path-breaking film in terms of narrative innovation and cinematic technique, it was a commercial and critical success. It also happened to be the debut film of Ranjit Mallick. Although it was a film on the colonial hangover, it touched upon diverse issues like anti-establishment, middle class cowardice, and unemployment.

This film is considered to be the first film of Mrinal Sen's Calcutta trilogy, the others being Calcutta 71, and Padatik.

Plot

Ranjit Mallick is a smart personable young man. A friend of the family, who works in a foreign firm, has assured him of a lucrative job in his firm. All Ranjit has to do is come to an interview, dressed in a western style suit.

It seems a simple enough task, but fate intervenes. A strike by a labour union means that he cannot get his suit back from the laundry. His father's old suit won't fit him. He borrows a suit, but loses it in a fracas in a bus. Ultimately he has to go to the interview dressed in the traditional Bengali dhoti and kurta.

Cast

• Ranjit Mallick as Ranjit
• Karuna Banerjee as Ranjit's Mother
• Shekhar Chatterjee as Shekhar Uncle, a family friend
• Bulbul Mukherjee as Ranjit's girlfriend
• Mamata as Ranjit's elder sister

References

External links

• Interview at IMDb
• On the Mrinal Sen website
• Review at Upperstall