Srijit Mukherji Favourite Films: The Bengali and World Films He Has Named

Checked on 26 October 2026. This page reports what the director wrote in two published lists. Neither is a ranking and he does not call any one film his single favourite.

Srijit Mukherji, the director of Autograph and Jaatishwar, has put his tastes in writing twice. The pattern is clear: the Satyajit Ray and Tapan Sinha films of his childhood, Rituparno Ghosh, and a wide, restless run of world cinema.

The films he names again and again

• Nayak (1966): in both lists. He ties it to his debut, since Autograph was a tribute to it, and calls it the film he would take to a desert island (Film Companion).
• Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969): in both lists. He calls it one of the strongest anti-war films ever made (DailyO).
• Bariwali (2000): in both lists. It is his favourite of Rituparno Ghosh’s films, and he says the lead character’s loneliness haunts him.
• Golpo Holeo Shotyi (1966): in both lists, and he names Tapan Sinha as one of his favourite directors, especially for the music.
• Aakaler Shondhaane (1980): Mrinal Sen’s film-within-a-film inspired the structure of Autograph.

Ten films that define Bengali cinema (DailyO, October 2015)

1. Apur Sansar (Satyajit Ray), which he prefers to Pather Panchali because it feels closer to an urban viewer like him. See The World of Apu.
2. Nayak (Satyajit Ray)
3. Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (Satyajit Ray)
4. Golpo Holeo Shotyi (Tapan Sinha)
5. Akaler Sandhane (Mrinal Sen)
6. Paromitar Ek Din (Aparna Sen), which he sees as a seed of Rituparno Ghosh’s style
7. Bariwali (Rituparno Ghosh)
8. Utsab (Rituparno Ghosh), which reminds him of home in Kolkata
9. Arekti Premer Golpo (Kaushik Ganguly), whose two-time-period technique he drew on for Jaatishwar
10. Bhooter Bhabishyat (Anik Dutta), which he calls a game changer for Bengali comedy

40 films he wants everyone to see (Film Companion, 2020)

This list, which he wrote himself, mixes Bengali classics with world cinema. Highlights, in his own framing:

• Bengali: Boidurjo Rawhoshyo, Nayak, Golpo Holeo Shotyi, Basanta Bilaap, Bariwali, Aakaler Shondhaane, Jawmaloye Jibonto Manush, Saptapadi, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and Ekhoni.
• His favourite romantic comedy: Notting Hill.
• Hollywood and Europe: A Clockwork Orange, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Bitter Moon, The Truman Show, Scent of a Woman, Cinema Paradiso, Goodbye, Lenin, La Vita E Bella and Belle de Jour, among others.
• Hindi: Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Mirch Masala, Kaun, Sparsh, Deewar, Saaransh, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and Filmistaan, plus Nayakan in Tamil.
• Iran and Assam: Jafar Panahi’s Taxi and Offside, and Bhaskar Hazarika’s Aamis.

The article carries no original publication date, only an update stamp of 26 May 2020.

Questions people ask

What is Srijit Mukherji’s favourite film?

He has not named a single one. Nayak is the film he points to most, as the model for his debut.

Which Rituparno Ghosh film does he like best?

Bariwali, in both of his lists.

See also our favourite films of Bengali directors and Srijit Mukherji’s page.

Sources

• Film Companion: Srijit Mukherji picks 40 movies
• DailyO: ten films that define Bengali cinema