The heroes or heroines of these films may have been Om Puri, Jennifer Kendal or Ashok Kumar. But unquestionably the real star was Calcutta.
Supriya Newar on the 7 props or backdrops repeatedly used in Indian cinema that are distinctly and uniquely Kolkata.
Yellow Ambassador Taxis
The iconic Ambassador taxi is on its way out, but had its heyday in many a film.
Think of Bidya Bagchi (Vidya Balan) waving down a yellow taxi in Kahani.
Or 36, Chowringhee Lane where Jennifer Kendal hails a taxi in the last scene.
Trams
Electric tram scenes can be found in Satyajit Ray's Mahanagar -- Madhabi Mukherjee takes a tram, signifying her independence.
In Barfi, Ranbir Kapoor rides a tram.
Sushant hangs from a tram in Byomkesh.
Hand-Pulled Rickshaws
Right from Bimal Roy's classic Do Bigha Zameen to Om Puri pulling it in City of Joy, hand-pulled rickshaws are a unique prop in films that show glimpses of Cal.
Howrah Bridge
From being the title of a 1958 film, starring Ashok Kumar, to the backdrop to songs like Woh Shaam Kuch Ajeeb Thi in Khamoshi and Chingari Koi Bhadke in Amar Prem and in scenes from Yuva and Gunday.
Victoria Memorial
Vidya Balan with Sanjay Dutt and Raima Sen have puchkas outside the imperial Victoria Memorial.
It also pops up in Bhool Bhulaiya, starring Kartik Aaryan.
College Street Coffee House
A historic landmark, the famous coffee house, originally called Albert Hall, has a prominent role in Byomkesh Bakshi and birthed the evergreen Manna Dey number, Coffee Houser Sei Addata Aaj Aar Nei...
Raj Baris
These grand mansions have appeared in Piku, (Burdwan) Lootera (Eenta Chuna) and Chokher Bali (Bawali).
Ray's classic Jalsaghar was shot in a Raj Bari in Murshidabad, north Bengal.