Satyajit Ray's 'Aranyer Din Ratri' Restored in 4K; Premieres Soon

Kolkata, Oct 28 (PTI) Satyajit Ray’s iconic film, 'Aranyer Din Ratri' (Days and Nights in the Forest), has undergone a remarkable transformation with a 4K digital restoration. This restored version was previously showcased at the Cannes Film Festival in May and is set to be presented at Priya Cinema in Kolkata on November 7. This announcement was made by Arijit Dutta, theatre owner and a member of the film’s producers’ family.

The meticulous restoration was a collaborative effort between the Film Heritage Foundation and The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project, executed at L'Immagine Ritrovata in Bologna, Italy. Both Sandip Ray, the son of the legendary director Satyajit Ray, and the Dutta family were deeply involved, lending their approval to the restoration process.

The team addressed technical challenges such as dust, scratches, and digital flickering in the original film. Moreover, a magnetic audio track preserved by the BFI National Archive was utilized to enhance the sound quality in certain segments.

The newly restored classic will have its debut screening in Kolkata on November 7 at Priya Cinema. Following this, it will be shown on November 8 at the state-run Nandan complex as part of a tribute to Satyajit Ray at the Kolkata International Film Festival.

Arijit Dutta shared with PTI their plans to screen the film in additional theaters, although specific details are still being finalized. He noted that his wife and son, along with actors Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal, attended the Cannes premiere, where the film received an enthusiastic response and a standing ovation.

Additionally, the restoration included the creation of accurate English subtitles, collaboratively undertaken with Indrani Mazumdar, who had previously worked with Ray on subtitles.

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