The restored version of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s classic ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ will be screened at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The North American premiere will take place as part of TIFF’s 50th edition, scheduled from September 4 to 14.
The 4K restoration of the 1970 film was first shown at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May this year, followed by a screening at Italy’s Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in June. TIFF’s official X account announced, “#TIFF50 North American Premiere of the 4K restoration: Days and Nights in the Forest, directed by Satyajit Ray.”
Based on the novel by Bengali author Sunil Gangopadhyay, ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ follows the story of four friends from Calcutta — played by Soumitra Chatterjee, Subhendu Chatterjee, Samit Bhanja, and Rabi Ghosh — who go on a short trip to the wilderness for relaxation. The cast also included Sharmila Tagore, Kaberi Bose, and Simi Garewal.
Sharmila Tagore and Simi Garewal, the only surviving members of the cast, attended the Cannes premiere of the restored film earlier this year. They were joined by Hollywood filmmaker Wes Anderson and Purnima Dutta, head of Piyali Films and the producer of the film.
The film was originally nominated for Best Film at the 20th Berlin International Film Festival in 1970. Decades later, it inspired a sequel titled ‘Abar Aranye’, directed by Goutam Ghose and released in 2003, which revisited the lives of the four friends and their families as they returned to the forest.
The screening at TIFF will give North American audiences the chance to experience one of Ray’s most beloved works in restored quality, preserving its legacy for future generations.
