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.

References:

[1] Goswami, Manash Pratim. “Bollywood Film Posters: A Study of Changing Trends.” Journal of Content, Community & Communication, Amity School of Communication, vol. 6, year 3, Dec. 2017, p. 78.
[2] Stephen Rebello and Richard Allen, Reel Art: Great Posters from the Golden Age of the Silver Screen (New York: Abbeville Press, 1988), p.14.
[3] Hossain, Mamun Belayat. Cholochchitrer Sathe Bojhapora (Conversation with Film Culture). Katha Prakash, 2016, p. 21.
[4] Mazumdar, Ranjani. “The Bombay Film Poster.” Seminar, no. 525, May 2003, p. 1.
[5] “Bollywood Poster of Alam Ara (1931).” History of Film, https://www.historyoffilm.net/picture/bollywood-poster-of-alam-ara-1931/. (accessed on 25th April, 2026)
[6] Ray, Parimal, and Kazi Anirban. A Directory of Bengali Cinema. The Colors of Art, Kolkata, 2013, p. 15.
[7] Ibid., p. 16.
[8] Ray, Parimal. Personal Collection.
[9] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 19.
[10] Ibid., p. 20.
[11] Ibid., p. 23.
[12] Ibid., p. 28.
[13] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa0022.
[14] Ibid., slide no. aa0021.
[15] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 95.
[16] Ibid., p. 97.
[17] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa0098.
[18] Ibid., slide no. aa0180.
[19] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 153.
[20] Ibid., p. 23.
[21] Ibid., p. 29.
[22] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa001.
[23] Ibid., slide no. aa003.
[24] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 40.
[25] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa0036.
[26] Ibid., slide no. aa0035.
[27] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 105.
[28] Ibid., p. 108.
[29] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa0081.
[30] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 119.
[31] Ibid., p. 122.
[32] Ray, Parimal. Personal Collection.
[33] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 81.
[34] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa12.
[35] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 82.
[36] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa0026.
[37] Ibid., slide no. aa0067.
[38] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 120.
[39] Ibid., p. 15.
[40] Ibid., p. 16.
[41] Ibid., p. 16.
[42] Ibid., p. 45.
[43] Ibid., p. 56.
[44] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. BF 3.
[45] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 54.
[46] Ibid., p. 58.
[47] Ibid., p. 59.
[48] Ibid., p. 61.
[49] Ibid., p. 69.
[50] Ibid., p. 68.
[52] Sarder, Ujjwal. Personal Collection.
[53] Goswami, Manash Pratim. “Bollywood Film Posters: A Study of Changing Trends.” Journal of Content, Community & Communication, Amity School of Communication, vol. 6, year 3, Dec. 2017.
[54] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa0086.
[55] Ibid., slide no. aa0077.
[56] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 203.
[57] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. AW 56.
[58] Roy, Falguni Dutta. Personal Collection.
[59] Somshankar. “Cinemar Poster Abang Kichhu Kutkachali.” In Dasgupta, Subhendu, ed. Bangla Postar: Due Banglar Lekha O Chhabi. Monfakira, 2020, p. 247.
[60] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa214.
[61] Ibid., slide no. aa288.
[62] Ibid., slide no. aa274.
[63] Ibid., slide no. aa289.
[64] Panda, Apurba Kumar. Personal Collection.
[65] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, Ibid., slide no. aa353.
[66] Ibid., slide no. BI 11.
[67] Roy, Falguni Dutta. Personal Collection.
[68] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa372.
[69] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 278.
[70] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. BI 24.
[71] Roy, Falguni Dutta. Personal Collection.
[72] Mazumdar, Ranjani. Bombay Cinema: An Archive of the City. University of Minnesota Press, 2003, p. 226.
[73] Mukhopadhyay, Samrat. “Jibani Sudhu Harafer Smritite Dhara Thak.” In Dasgupta, Subhendu, ed. Bangla Postar: Due Banglar Lekha O Chhabi. Monfakira, 2020, p. 243.
[74] Ray and Anirban, A Directory of Bengali Cinema, p. 66.
[75] Ibid., p. 77.
[76] Ibid., p. 36.
[77] Ibid., p. 81.
[78] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. aa40.
[79] Shahid, Mohammad, and Udaya Kumar. “Title Design in Hindi and Bengali Film Posters.” Typography and Culture, Pune, 2014.
[80] Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. Archive, slide no. BR 8.
[81] Ray, Parimal. A Vision of Ray: Cine Posters & Beyond. Pratikshan, Kolkata, 2005, p. 39.
[82] Ibid., p. 97.
[83] Ibid., p. 113.
[84] Ibid., p. 14.

Key Words: Bengali Film Poster, Visual Culture, Popular Culture, Stardom, Cultural Shift

Download Pdf

How to Cite

APA 7th Edition

Roy, J. (2026a). Evolution of Bengali Film Posters: A Cultural Shift from the 1920s-1950s. Antarvidya, 2(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.66182/antarvidya.v2.i1.001.2026

MLA 9th Edition

Roy, Jayasmita. “Evolution of Bengali Film Posters: A Cultural Shift from the 1920s-1950s.” Antarvidya, vol. 2, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 1–11. https://doi.org/10.66182/antarvidya.v2.i1.001.2026.