36 Chowringhee Lane(1981)

36 Chowringhee Lane is a 1981 Indian drama film written and directed by Aparna Sen in her directorial debut. It stars Jennifer Kendal as Violet Stoneham, an aging Anglo-Indian schoolteacher living alone in Calcutta. The cast also includes Dhritiman Chatterjee, Debashree Roy, and Geoffrey Kendal. The story follows Violet's quiet life and her growing attachment to a young couple who use her flat for their private meetings. The film explores themes of loneliness, trust, and the fading of the Anglo-Indian community in post-independence India. It was produced by Shashi Kapoor and shot on location in Calcutta. The film won the National Film Award for Best Director for Aparna Sen and Best Cinematography for Ashok Mehta. It was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Actress. The film is noted for its use of English as the primary language, a rarity in Indian cinema at the time.