Experience Satyajit Ray’s seminal work, The Big City, presented in this Criterion Collection Blu-ray release. This film is Ray’s first profound exploration of contemporary life in his native Kolkata, focusing on the personal journey of Arati (Madhabi Mukherjee) as she navigates societal expectations after deciding to seek employment to support her family, despite her husband's initial reservations. Ray masterfully crafts a powerful human drama, rich with sensitivity to the details of everyday working-class existence, serving as both a hopeful morality tale and a significant commentary on the evolving identity of the modern Indian woman.

Key Features & Special Edition Content

• Restored 2K digital film transfer with uncompressed monaural soundtrack.
• Includes an interview with actor Madhabi Mukherjee.
• Features “Satyajit Ray and the Modern Woman,” an interview with Ray scholar Suranjan Ganguly.
• Contains the documentary short Satyajit Ray (1974) by B. D. Garga.
• Includes Ray’s short feature, The Coward (Kapurush, 1965), which also addresses modern female identity and stars Madhabi Mukherjee and Soumitra Chatterjee.
• Comes with an essay by scholar Chandak Sengoopta.
• Features new cover art by Marian Bantjes.

Specifications

• Brand: Criterion
• Format: Blu-ray
• Language: Bengali
• Director: Satyajit Ray
• Starring: Madhabi Mukherjee
• Run Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
• Release Date: 11 May 2026
• Rated: Parental Guidance
• Manufacturer: Spirit Entertainment

This Criterion Collection Blu-ray offers definitive presentation quality for Satyajit Ray’s essential film, complete with scholarly context and rare supplementary materials.