Jalsaghar ( Jalsāghar, "The Music Room") is a 1958 Indian Bengali drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray, based on a popular short story by Bengali writer Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay, and starring Chhabi Biswas. The fourth of Ray's feature films, it was filmed at Nimtita Raajbari, in Nimtita , Aurangabad, Murshidabad. Despite initial poor critical reception in India, Jalsaghar went on to win the Presidential Award for best film in New Delhi, and played a significant role in establishing Ray's international reputation as a director. It has since gained near-universal critical acclaim, and has come to be regarded by the cinema community as one of the greatest films of all time. Plot Jalsaghar depicts the end days of a decadent zamindar (landlord) in Bengal and his efforts to uphold his family prestige while facing economic adversity. The landlord, Biswambhar Roy (Chhabi Biswas), is a just but otherworldly man who loves to spend time listening to music and putting up spectacles rather than managing his properties ravaged by floods and the government's abolition of the zamindari system after Independence. He is challenged by a commoner who has attained riches through business dealings, in putting up spectacles and organising music fests. This is the tale of a zamindar who has nothing left but respect and sacrifices his family and wealth trying to retain it. Cast Chhabi Biswas – Biswambhar Roy Padma Devi – Mahamaya, Roy's wife Pinaki Sen Gupta – Khoka, Roy's son Gangapada Bose – Mahim Ganguly, Neighbour Tulsi Lahiri – Manager of Roy's estate Kali Sarkar – Ananta, Roy's servant Ustad Waheed Khan – Ustad Ujir Khan, Singer Roshan Kumari – Krishna Bai, The dancer Begum Akhtar – Durga Bai, Singer Other credits Music & Dance performances (On screen) – Begum Akhtar, Roshan Kumari, Ustad Waheed Khan, Bismillah Khan (Off screen) – Dakhshinamohan Thakur, Ashish Kumar, Robin Mazumdar, Imrat Khan, Salamat Ali Khan Production Jalsaghar was based on a popular short story written by Bengali writer Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay. After the box office failure of Aparajito, Ray desperately needed a hit film and decided to make a film based on both a popular piece of literature and a film that would incorporate Indian music. It was his first film to extensively incorporate classical Indian music and dancing. Ray began shooting in May 1957. While in pre-production, Ray and his crew had difficulty finding a suitable location for Biswambhar Roy's palace. By