Pratidwandi

Pratidwandi (The Adversary)
A poster of Pratidwandi
Directed by	Satyajit Ray
Produced by	Priya Films (Nepal Dutta, Asim Dutta)
Written by	Satyajit Ray
Starring	Dhritiman Chatterjee Krishna Bose Indira Devi Kalyan Chowdhury Joysree Roy Debraj Roy Sefali
Release date	27 October 1970
Running time	110 min.
Language	Bengali

Pratidwandi or Pratidandi (literally Adversary, Opponent or Competitor in Bengali; known internationally as The Adversary) is a 1970 Indian Bengali drama film directed by Satyajit Ray based on the novel by Sunil Gangopadhyay. It is the first part of the Calcutta trilogy. Set during the period of the Naxalite movement in Bengal,

Pratidwandi tells the story of Siddharta, an educated middle-class man caught up in the turmoil of social unrest. Corruption and unemployment is rampant, and Siddhartha cannot align himself with either his revolutionary activist brother or his career-oriented sister. The film is known for experimenting with techniques such as photo-negative flashbacks and X-ray digressions. The film won three Indian National Film Awards; including the National Film Award for Best Direction in 1971. The film was Nominated for Gold Hugo Award, at the Chicago International Film Festival, 1971.

The historical background of the film is set in the decade of a wide range of political turmoil in India. The huge influx of refugees during the partition of India and loss of economic activity in the hinterland of Kolkata resulted in the stagnation of the economy of Kolkata. The protagonist Siddhartha is forced to give up his study of medicine and his ambition of becoming a doctor at the demise of his father. He makes several fruitless attempts to secure a job. The job interview scene shows interviewers asking irrelevant questions, just as in other films of Ray's Calcutta trilogy. He finds his only solace in Keya, who loves him but is troubled by the problems in her own family.

...
Wikipedia