Evolution of Bengali Film Posters: A Cultural Shift from the 1920s-1950s
Jayasmita Roy
Ph.D. Scholar, Department of History
University of Kalyani
jayasmitar@gmail.com
Submitted on: 05.05.2026
Accepted on: 28.06.2026
Abstract: Film posters serve not just as advertising tools but also as important visual artefacts that carry the messages of the time and culture. The Film poster is a key means of publicity. Apart from its commercial value, it has a sociocultural impact. The poster is the face of a film, and the filmmaker always wants to capture the audience's attention through it. The filmmakers tap into public sentiment and exploit it to make posters more appealing. Apart from advertising a film, a poster is a projection of the public's wish, what they demand from a film. Sometimes the audience craves a good story; sometimes the story of a God; sometimes the hero or heroine is the primary attraction in a movie. The poster makers portray according to public demand. The paper aims to investigate changes in film posters over the years and demonstrate cultural shifts in society. The depiction of women in Bengali film posters also changed from the 1930s to the 1950s. In the 1950s, rather than focusing on a theme of the film, posters were used to sell stardom. Analysing these film posters, the article observed a shift from god-centric, spiritual stories of a mundane world. This paper will shed light on the changing trends in Bengali film posters in the 1920s-50s.
Key Words: Bengali Film Poster, Visual Culture, Popular Culture, Stardom, Cultural Shift