a Nonprofit Bengali Film Society in Chicago
in Chicago
EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF
BENGALI CINEMAS
APPRECIATION OF BENGALI CINEMA
MEDIUM OF EDUCATION & ART
The journey began with the screening of AHARE MON, a widely acclaimed release from Tollywood, the tinsel town of the Bengali films in India. Enthusiasm and support from the Bengali movie lovers of Chicagoland have been exemplary since the inception of CHHOBIGHAR Film Society.
LET THE PASSION CONTINUE ...
Next Event
NABOBARSHO - Celebration of Bengali Cinema
এই নববর্ষে বাঙালিয়ানা ...
Celebrate Bengali New Year (নববর্ষ ১৪৩২) with Award-Winning Cinema, Short Film Festival and Bengali Cuisine. Immerse yourself in the celebration of Bengali cinema with fun, friendship & food.
Chicago Premiere of Bengali Masterpiece
BINODIINI - EKTI NATIR UPAKHYAN
A visually rich and emotionally resonant tale from the history of Bengal
Starring
Rukmini Maitra, Kaushik Ganguly, Rahul Bose, Gautam Halder, Mir, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Om Sahani, Chandrayee Ghosh and others
Direction
Ram Kamal Mukherjee
BENGALI SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Discover creativity of talented Bengali filmmakers
MADHU KAITABH (Direction - Souvik Dutta)
OKALBARSHON (Direction - Tanima Sen)
LIFE IS NOT FAIR (Direction - Nairita Banerjee)
Date & Time: Saturday, May 10 at 12 pm
Venue: Yellow Box, Naperville
Past Screening
KHADAAN
A blockbuster, marking a defining moment in the cinematic journey of Bengali films. It's a gripping ride from start to finish. Experience the magic of filmmaking which takes you to the world of amazement. Book Your Tickets Now.
starring
DEV, JISSHU, IDHIKA, ANIRBAN, BARKHA, JOHN. NEEL
direction
SOOJIT RINO DUTTA
Date & Time: Sunday, April 6 at 1:30 pm
Venue: The Matrix Club, Naperville
Past Screening
EI RAAT TOMAR AMAAR
where hearts whisper
Embark on an emotional odyssey where unexpressed feelings paint a canvas of unspoken love. Experience the Extraordinary. Book Your Tickets Now.
starring
APARNA SEN & ANJAN DUTT
direction
PARAMBRATA CHATTOPADHYAY
Date & Time: Saturday, March 1 at 1:30 pm
Venue: The Matrix Club, Naperville
Past Screening
SHONTAAN
Mithun Chakraborty, as fabulous as always, strikes again with an incredible performance!
Shontaan is a relevant film in today’s society. It stays true to its themes of inclusivity and family values. The real-life based heart touching story revolves around an older couple who are abandoned by their son. A self-centered and selfish man spends his time partying with his friends or going to family trips to Bangkok without giving any thought about his older mother’s medical treatment. He constantly neglects his older parents’ responsibilities and even insults them on their face. What happens when a devoted father is rejected by the son he raised? As he seeks justice in court, will the family heal, or will the divide grow deeper?
DIRECTED BY
Raj Chakraborty
CAST
Mithun Chakraborty, Ritwick Chakraborty, Anusuya Majumdar, Subhasree Ganguly, Kharaj Mukherjee, Sohini Sengupta and others
Date & Time: Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 2 pm
Venue: The Matrix Club, Naperville
CHICAGO BENGALI FILM FESTIVAL 2024
CBFF2024
We are pleased to announce the grand winners for the Chicago Bengali Film Festival 2024
Best Film
DOAANSH
Best Director
KAUSHIK GANGULY
for "AJOGYO"
Best Actor
SILAJIT MAJUMDER
for "AJOGYO"
Best Actress
SRITAMA DEY
for "DOAANSH"
Best Film Viewers Choice
AJOGYO
Supported by
Past Screening
BABLI
Experience the lavishness of The Matrix Club. Enjoy the magic of the latest Bengali Super Hit film Babli in a luxurious and upscale theater style ambience. Set in 1995, Abhiroop is a graduate from the London School of Economics. On the way to Dimapur from Imphal by car he befriended Damayanti aka Babli, his boss's relative. Babli, a chubby girl, thinks that writers don't create stories about people like her. She has a little complex about being overweight. Still their friendship takes a new color during the journey. When their car broke down midway they had to stay in a wooden house inside the jungle. Babli started to feel vulnerable afte r knowing that her air hostess friend Jhuma is also attracted to Abhiroop. The stunning cinematography captures the natural beauty. The music enhances the film's emotional core, making it a cinematic experience that stays with the audiences for years to come. Subhashree makes Babli her own, capturing the character’s intelligence, wit and vulnerability with remarkable precision. Abir’s portrayal of the brooding and enigmatic Abhirup is equally impressive, and their on-screen chemistry is striking.
DIRECTED BY
Raj Chakroborty
CAST
Abir Chatterjee, Subhasree Ganguly, Kaushik Sen, Sauraseni Maitra, Reshmi Sen, Sohini Sengupta and others
Date & Time: Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 2 pm
Venue: The Matrix Club, Naperville
CHICAGO BENGALI FILM FESTIVAL
CBFF2024
CBFF2024 Tickets are available online.
Buy your tickets. Reserve your seats NOW!
Past Screening
OTI UTTAM
For all Uttam Kumar fans, time came to a standstill with the untimely demise of the legend in 1980. Others found solace in his memories or revelled in the nostalgia by watching his films over and over again. He symbolised the golden era of Bengali movies. Now, here’s the great news for everyone — Uttam Kumar in the lead role ‘stars’ in the new film, Oti Uttam. Yes, Uttam Kumar himself has acted in this romantic comedy. It talks about a PhD scholar who is pursuing his research on Uttam Kumar. He likes a girl but gets rejected. He decides to bring Uttam Kumar, the love guru, with the help of his grandson. Uttam Kumar, the Mahanayok of Bengali cinema, has been brought back to life by Srijit Mukherji, the director of the film. How? Let's find that out! Let's Celebrate this Nabobarsho with Bengali's Eternal Matinee Idol, our All-Time Greatest Hero, Mahanayok Uttam Kumar.
DIRECTED BY
Srijit Mukherji
CAST
Uttam Kumar, Anindya Sengupta, Gourab Chatterjee, Roshni Bhattacharyya, Laboni Sarkar, Subhasish Mukherjee and others
Date & Time: Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 2 pm
Venue: Yellow Box, Naperville
Past Screening
KABULIWALA
Set in the bustling city of Kolkata in 1965, the film Kabuliwala, an adaptation of short story of Rabindranath Tagore, revolves around the heartwarming emotional bonding between Rahmat, a middle-aged Afghan man and Mini, a a five years old little girl. Why would a filmmaker in the 21st century feel the urge to turn to a story written 130-odd years ago for creative inspiration? If that question is on your mind, director Suman Ghosh answers it emphatically in his adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore's 1892 short story, Kabuliwala. The contemporary resonance of the film is unmistakable. A Mithun Chakraborty show but, given a script that retains the spirit of Tagore's unwaveringly inclusivist worldview, there is much more to Suman Ghosh's film than what one actor, one performance and one story bring to it. Kabuliwala benefits immensely from a solid supporting cast that includes Abir Chatterjee as Mini's writer-father Aurobindo Mukherjee and Sohini Sarkar as the girl's mother, Sneha. Certainly not the least impressive of the cast members is, of course, child actress Anumegha Kahali. She is an instantly endearing scene-stealer. A must watch movie for all generations.
DIRECTED BY
Suman Ghosh
CAST
Mithun Chakraborty, Anumegha Kahali, Abir Chatterjee, Sohini Sarkar and others
Date & Time: Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 3 pm
Venue: Cine Lounge, Niles
CHICAGO BENGALI FILM FESTIVAL 2023
CBFF2023
We are pleased to announce the grand winners for the Chicago Bengali Film Festival 2023
Best Film
SHESH PATA
Best Director
RAJA CHANDA
for "BIYE BIBHRAT"
Best Actor
PROJENJIT CHATTERJEE
for "SHESH PATA"
Best Actress
ISHAA SAHA
for "GHORE PHERAR GAAN"
Best Film Viewers Choice
BIYE BIBHRAT
CHICAGO BENGALI FILM FESTIVAL 2022
CBFF2022
Best Film
ABBAR KANCHANJANGHA
Best Director
RAAJHORSHEE DE
for "ABBAR KANCHANJANGHA"
Best Actor
JISSHU U SENGUPTA
for "ABHIJAAN"
Best Actress
BIDIPTA CHAKRABORTY
for "ABBAR KANCHANJANGHA"
Best Film Viewers Choice
ABHIJAAN
We are pleased to announce the grand winners for the Chicago Bengali Film Festival 2022
CHICAGO BENGALI FILM FESTIVAL 2021
CBFF2021
CHICAGO BENGALI FILM FESTIVAL 2020
CBFF2020
CBFF2019
CHICAGO BENGALI FILM FESTIVAL 2019
PAST SCREENINGS
2025
Khadaan - Apr 6
Ei Raat Tomar Amaar - Mar 1
Shontaan - Jan 25
2024
Babli - Oct 6
Doaansh - Aug 10
Ajogyo - Aug 10
Nayan Rahosyo - Aug 10
Sedin Kuyasha Chhilo - Aug 9
Oti Uttam - April 13
Kabuliwala - Feb 24
2023
Biye Bibhrat - Aug 26
Ghore Pherar Gaan - Aug 26
Shesh Pata - Aug 26
Maaya - Aug 25
Doctor Bakshi - Apr 15
Kaberi Antardhan - Mar 4
Projapati - Feb 4
2022
Boudi Canteen - Nov 20
Abbar Kanchanjangha - Sep 10
Bhotbhoti - Sep 10
Antardhaan - Sep 10
Abhijaan - Sep 9
Belashuru - Jun 11
Abar Bochhor Koore Pore - April 16
2019
Gumnaami - Nov 1
Tritio Adhyay - Sep 7
Kolkatay Kohinoor - Sep 7
Konttho - Jun 3
Basu Paribar - May 19
Bhobishyoter Bhoot - Mar 31
Rosogolla - Feb 3
2021
Golondaaz - Nov 13
Chhobiyal - Sep 25
WMT 9615 - Sep 25
Bohomaan - Sep 25
2018
Ek Je Chhilo Raja - Nov 17
Maati - Sep 22
Ahare Mon - Aug 25
2020
Doodh Pither Gachh - Dec 26
Happy Pill - Oct 4
Aami Joy Chatterjee - Oct 3
Rajlokhi O Srikanto - Oct 2
Sahobase - Oct 1
Samsara - Sep 30
Rong Beronger Korhi - Sep 29
Mitin Mashi - Sep 28
Dwitiyo Purush - Feb 29
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