About

The Music Room will screen from an archival 35mm film print

Biswambhar Roy (Chhabi Biswas) is an aging aristocrat, who has frittered away his wealth and yearns for his past life's opulence. He suffers the terrible tragedy of his wife and child drowning which is a final death knell to his already crumbling world. Roy arranges to spend the very last of his money on an exquisite performance of Indian classical music in his personal music room.

The veteran actor, Chhabi Biswas, caused the filming of The Music Room to be halted so he could accept an acting prize from the Berlin Film Festival. He gives an incredibly subtle and refined performance as the once-wealthy landlord clinging to a lost time. Satyajit Ray's anachronistic protagonist is redeemed (certainly in Ray's estimation) by his refined appreciation and passion for one of the most incandescent and transformative art forms: music.