Ritwik Ghatak was noted Indian Film Director, Screenwriter and Playwriter.  His Cinema is primarily remembered for social reality, partition and feminism.  As a filmmaker his main concentration was on men and life, especially the day to day struggle of ordinary people. He could never accept the partition of India of 1947. For him, film making was an art form and a means to the end of serving people.  It was expressing his anger at the sorrows and suffering of his people.  Ghatak was a member of the Communist Party of India.

In 1948, Ghatak wrote his first play “Kalo sayar” (The Dark Lake). Ghatak entered the film industry with Nimai Ghosh’s “Chinnamul” (1950) as actor and Assistant Director. Chinnamul was followed in two years by Ghatak’s first completed film “Nagrik” (1952). Ghatak’s only major commercial success was “Madhumati” 1958 a Hindi film which he wrote the screenplay for. It was the theme of reincarnation.  The most recent film to be directly inspired by Madhumati.  Madhumati nominated for Filmfare best story Award. Musafir is a 1957 Hindi film written by Ritwik Ghatak.  The film is about a house and the lives of three families who live in it. It is three stories linked by the house. Musafir has won the Certificate of merit for Third best feature film at 5th national film award in 1957.

In 1966 Ghatak taught at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). His students included film makers Mani Kaul, Kumar Sahani, Adoor Gopalkrishnan, Saeed Akhtar Mirza, John Abraham.  Ghatak and his films were appreciated primarily within India. 

Film “Heerer Prajapati” had won the best children’s film award (Prime Minister’s Gold Medal) at 17th National Film Awards in 1970. In 1974 film “Jukti Takko Aar Gappo” won National film award’s Rajat Kamal Award for best story.  Padma Shri for Arts in 1970 by the Government of India.  Best Director’s Award from Bangladesh Cine Journalist’s Association for “Titash Ekti Nadir Naam”.