Rating: 9.5 / 10 "If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." — Milton Berle Owing to a banking failure typical of the post-independence India, Subrata(Anil Chatterjee) loses his job and must reconcile with the shortcomings of the situation, his insecurities as his wife Arati(Madhabi Mukherjee)…
1963 · DRAMA
The Big City
Arati takes a job as a door-to-door saleswoman in Calcutta's wealthy neighbourhoods, in defiance of her traditionally-minded husband, Subrata, and his live-in parents. Emulating her Anglo-Indian friend Edith, who speaks equal to the men she encounters on the job, Arati quickly becomes her firm's top salesperson. When Subrata loses his job, the power dynamic begins to shift.
Availability
Where to watch The Big City
14 official sources across 3 regions. Rows with a direct link open this exact title on the provider’s own site; the others open that provider’s own search for the title, where price, video quality and audio options are confirmed before you pay.
Official trailer for The Big City, via BFITrailers. Open on YouTube
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Editor’s note
Should you watch The Big City?
The Big City is a drama film from 1963. Arati takes a job as a door-to-door saleswoman in Calcutta's wealthy neighbourhoods, in defiance of her traditionally-minded husband, Subrata, and his live-in parents. Emulating her Anglo-Indian friend Edith, who speaks equal to the men she encounters on the job, Arati quickly becomes her firm's top salesperson. When Subrata loses his job, the power dynamic begins to shift.
Directed by Satyajit Ray. Lead cast: Madhabi Mukherjee, Anil Chatterjee, Haren Chatterjee.
It runs 2h 16m, The current audience score is 7.8/10 across 113 ratings.
Skip it if drama rarely works for you; the upside is elsewhere.
Written by the MovieState editorial team from TMDB data (synopsis, cast, crew, runtime, ratings, certification, provider listings). Verified 2026-11-04. Read our editorial policy.
The facts
The Big City details
- Release date
- September 27, 1963
- Status
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 16m
- Genres
- Drama
- Original language
- BN
- Director
- Satyajit Ray
At a glance: The Big City runs 2h 16m, was directed by Satyajit Ray, opened in US cinemas on September 27, 1963, has 14 licensed options across 3 regions tracked here.
Exact record pages: IMDb record · TMDB record
Audience reaction
Ratings and reviews
7.8/10113 ratings
The Big City sits at 7.8 out of 10 from 113 user ratings.
Scores show TMDB user ratings at the time of publishing and shift as new votes arrive.
FAQ
The Big City — common questions
Is The Big City worth watching?
Audiences rate it 7.8/10 from 113 votes. Read the editor's note above for who it suits, then check the provider page before paying.
Who directed The Big City and who stars in it?
Directed by Satyajit Ray. Starring Madhabi Mukherjee, Anil Chatterjee.
How long is The Big City?
The Big City runs 2h 16m.
Where can I watch The Big City?
Official options are listed for United States, United Kingdom, Canada. We only link to licensed providers and never to unlicensed streaming sites.
When was The Big City released?
1963-09-27 (Released).
Who is in it
The Big City cast
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Sources & how we verify
Synopsis, cast, crew, runtime, certification, release dates and ratings come from the TMDB record for this title (TMDB). Provider listings and logos come from TMDB / JustWatch data. We check each page against those sources and date the page; corrections go through our editorial policy.
Verified 2026-11-04. MovieState does not host or stream video and links only to licensed providers.