IDSFFK 2025: Ritwik Ghatak’s short films to be screened

The 17th edition of IDSFFK will commemorate the centenary celebrations of legendary filmmaker Ritwik Ghatak by screening two of his short films during the festival.

Two of his iconic short films, namely There Flows Padma, The Mother River; and Fear, will be screened as part of the centennial tribute. Released in 1971, There Flows Padma, The Mother River brings to the screen the freedom struggle of Bangladesh against the tyrannical regime. Ritwik Ghatak dedicated this film to the ‘exploited humanity’ fighting for their freedom.

Conceived as a training exercise for students of the acting course, Fear features Subhash Ghai, Sudha Rani, Urvashi Dutta, Govardhan Sharma, and Asrani — names that would go on to leave an indelible mark on Indian cinema — in key roles. Shot in Hindi, the film captures a chilling moment of existential dread: with the alarm sounded that a hydrogen bomb is about to be dropped, a cross-section of humanity is herded into an experimental shelter.