Bengal’s well-known film production and distribution house marks 50 years

SSR Cinemas Private Limited, Eastern India’s well-known entertainment companies, celebrated 50 years of its cinematic journey with an evening that blended legacy, gratitude and celebration. The milestone event, held at a city five-star hotel, also doubled as a warm family moment with the first birthday celebration of Aria, daughter of director Satadeep Saha and Debasree Banik.

The evening which brought together prominent names from the Bengali film and television industry opened with host RJ Jinia introducing the Saha family. A special video montage was played to mark little Aria’s birthday. The one-year-old later made a grand entry which was followed by a cake-cutting ceremony. While the birthday added warmth to the evening, the focus soon shifted to SSR Cinemas’ five-decade-long contribution to the film exhibition and distribution space.

Founded in 1972 by the late Makhan Lal Saha, SSR Cinemas began its journey with three cinema halls and steadily expanded its footprint. Today, under the guidance of chairman Ratan Saha and the leadership of Satadeep Saha, the company is known for reviving iconic theatres, strengthening film distribution networks and stepping into production. Speaking on the journey, company patriarch Ratan Saha said, “My father started SSR with just three cinema halls in 1972. After he passed away, the responsibility came to us brothers. Over the years, we expanded into production and distribution, and our aim now is to build many more cinema halls.” Director Satadeep Saha added, “My father looks after production, I handle distribution. I’m continuing the legacy he built, and he remains my biggest inspiration.” A special video tracing the five-decade journey of SSR Cinemas was later screened, drawing applause from the audience.

The evening saw the presence of several celebrities and close friends of the family, including Subhashree Ganguly, Ankush, Oindrila Sen, Sourav Das, Darshana Banik, Rohaan Bhattacharjee, Rahul Mazumdar with his wife Priti Biswas, Rezwan Rabbani Sheikh, Indrajit Chakraborty, Tiyasha Lepcha and Ranojoy Bishnu, Joey Debroy.

Actor Ankush, sharing his association with the family, said, “I’ve known Satadeep from the time I didn’t even understand how film distribution works. Hats off to him, and I hope SSR completes 200, even 300 years.” Oindrila Sen added, “I first knew Satadeep as a cricketer. Both Satadeep and Debasree work extremely hard, and I wish that everything they dream of always turns successful.”

A moment of excitement swept through the venue with the arrival of actor-MP Dev, who took the stage to congratulate the family. “Satadeep is also one of the producers of my upcoming film. I have known him for a while and they are like family to me. I wish them all the very best,” he said. The celebration also saw the presence of actors Rachana Banerjee, Sudeshna Roy, Manasi Sinha, Haranath Chakraborty, singer Anik Dhar and politician Madan Mitra. The evening concluded with a vibrant performance by The Showman Show, drawing guests to the dance floor.