Recommended Free Tools
When Satyajit Ray’s Mahanagar returned to Indian cinemas in 2024, it brought two stories back into view: a 1963 film about a woman entering the workforce, and producer RD Bansal’s unlikely route from marble supply to a six-film collaboration with Ray. The re-release was reported in four cities in a restored, English-subtitled version; it was a past theatrical run, not a notice of current screenings.
What was the Mahanagar re-release?
On 21 September 2024, Scroll reported that Mahanagar had returned to PVR-Inox cinemas in Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. The screenings used a 2K digital restoration by Pixion Studios and Cameo Media Labs and included English subtitles, according to Scroll’s feature on the re-run. That report documents the 2024 event; it does not establish current showtimes.
Varsha Bansal, RD Bansal’s granddaughter, described Mahanagar as her favourite among the six Ray films her grandfather produced. The return also gave Indian cinema audiences an opportunity to see the restored film on a theatrical screen.
What is Mahanagar about?
Ray’s black-and-white Bengali film is set in mid-1950s Kolkata. Arati, played by Madhabi Mukherjee, takes a door-to-door sales job with a sewing-machine company when her husband Subrata, played by Anil Chatterjee, struggles to cover household expenses. Arati’s paid work unsettles familiar expectations within the family. Her Anglo-Indian colleague Edith, played by Vicky Redwood, is part of the world Arati encounters outside the home.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
Ray adapted the film from Narendranath Mitra’s 1949 short story Awbotawronika, also rendered in English as “A Flight of Stairs.” The story’s social pressure is still legible: as film biographer Andrew Robinson writes in Satyajit Ray – The Inner Eye, “At the heart of the film is the plight of a young woman of pronounced talents being wasted in the name of a false standard of behaviour.”
How RD Bansal moved from marble to film production
Ram Das Bansal moved from Agra to Kolkata in the mid-1950s as a marble supplier. In the account his granddaughter Varsha Bansal gave to Scroll, supplying marble to a cinema hall prompted his interest in the film business. She recalled that the cash-at-entry model of cinemas appealed to him in contrast to the credit-based marble trade.
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Bansal went on to build six single-screen cinemas in Kolkata, including Vaishali and Grace. He entered Bengali film production in 1959 with Sudhir Mukherjee’s Shashi Babur Sansar. This path—from supplying a cinema to owning theatres and producing films—is the “marble-to-magic” journey behind the re-run’s history.
Where Mahanagar sat in Bansal’s work with Ray
Mahanagar was RD Bansal’s first film with Ray. Scroll identifies five subsequent productions in their association:
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Charulata
- Kapurush
- Mahapurush
- Nayak
- Joi Baba Felunath
Scroll reports that Bansal stopped producing after the arrest episode connected to prop money in Nayak; his son Kamal later produced Joi Baba Felunath. The family began restoring its Ray titles more than a decade before the 2024 feature, and the re-run marked the first time its restored Mahanagar was shown in Indian cinemas, according to the report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the theatrical restoration differs from the Criterion edition
Criterion’s official page separately lists The Big City (Mahanagar) as a 1963, 135-minute, black-and-white Bengali film. Its Blu-ray Special Edition and two-disc DVD are described as featuring a restored 2K transfer, an uncompressed monaural soundtrack, a new interview with Madhabi Mukherjee, an interview with Ray scholar Suranjan Ganguly, and a new English subtitle translation. Criterion’s edition details are at The Criterion Collection’s The Big City page.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Criterion’s 2K transfer and the 2K restoration reported for the 2024 Indian theatrical re-run are documented separately. The available descriptions do not establish that they are the same restoration or print. Criterion lists Blu-ray and DVD formats, but its page does not establish compatibility in every region; its listing alone also does not confirm streaming availability in a particular country.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →
