Puja is more than pandals and Pushpanjali. It's also about spending time with your family and friends. Whether you are spending time with your family, friends, or alone, movies can be a great start to bringing the festive mood.
Here are five Bengali films, from timeless classics to recent crowd-pleasers.
1. The Elephant God (1979)
Satyajit Ray's Feluda adventure is a Bengali rite of passage. Feluda, Topshe, and Lalmohan Babu travel to the ghats and lanes of Benaras and get tangled in a mystery of hidden treasure and suspicious holy men. It's sharp, witty, and endlessly rewatchable, and the whole family can enjoy it together. Few films capture the "Puja holidays and a good mystery" spirit so well.
2. Roid (2026)
Mejbaur Rahman Sumon's first film since Hawa is one of the most talked-about Bangladeshi films of the year. Set in rural Bengal, it follows Shadhu, a poor tenant farmer who keeps trying to leave behind his unpredictable wife, only for her to return each time a palm fruit falls. Part folk tale, part fable, it is shot with a painter's eye and draws on rain-soaked landscapes and old myths. It is darker and slower than the other picks here, so save it for a late-night watch after the Puja rounds are done.
3. Ekannoborti (2021)
A warm, emotional film about a joint family reuniting around Durga Puja and the traditions that hold them together. Directed by Mainak Bhaumik, it has a strong ensemble cast with Aparna Sen at its heart. It's also a gentle reminder of why we all come home for Puja, so keep tissues nearby.
4. Shubho Bijoya
Directed by Rohan Sen, this film is a heartfelt family drama set against the backdrop of Durga Puja. It has the festival's colour, dhak beats, and sindoor khela, along with the bittersweet feeling that comes with Bijoya. It's ideal for watching on or just after Dashami.
5. Utshob (2025)
Bangladeshi comedy-drama film directed by Tanim Noor, loosely inspired by Charles Dickens's classic novella Christmas Carol. A rude, bitter man is visited by three ghosts on Eid eve, learns from his past mistakes, and makes peace with the family and community he pushed away.
So settle in with some Puja sweets and press play. Shubho Sharodiya!
