The Big City (Mahanagar in Bengali) is a drama film directed by Satyajit Ray released in 1963. The film is set in Calcutta in the 1950s and centers around the life of a middle-class family. The protagonist of the story is Arati (played by Madhabi Mukherjee), a housewife who lives with her husband Subrata (Anil Chatterjee), their young son and his elderly parents.
Arati's family is struggling financially, and her husband's income as a bank clerk is not enough to make ends meet. To ease the financial burden, Arati decides to look for a job. At first, her husband and in-laws oppose her decision, as they believe that it is not appropriate for a woman to work outside the home.
But Arati is determined and, with some persuasion, her husband eventually agrees to let her work. She starts working as a salesperson in a small company, selling knitting machines. Initially, Arati struggles to adjust to the new environment and new challenges, but she soon gains confidence and becomes successful in her job.
As Arati starts earning more, her family's financial conditions improve, and their social status also changes. However, the changes also come with their own set of problems. Arati's husband starts feeling inferior to her, and her in-laws worry that her job may affect their family's reputation.
Throughout the film, Ray skillfully depicts the complexity of human relationships, exploring themes such as gender roles, family dynamics, and social hierarchies. The Big City is a timeless masterpiece that highlights the struggles and aspirations of women in a patriarchal society and remains relevant even today.