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There are voices that linger long after the sound fades—voices that shape lives, nurture dreams, and become part of a people’s collective memory. For Bengal, in the golden decades of radio, that voice was Bela Dey’s. Clear, firm, yet filled with warmth, it reached countless households through Mahila Mahal, the celebrated All India Radio 

Kolkata programme that she helmed with rare dedication. For women across the state, Bela Dey was not only a broadcaster but also a friend and guide—one who spoke about their world, their needs, and their possibilities.

Today, her remarkable journey returns to public attention with Bela, a new biopic directed by Anilavaa Chatterjee and starring the accomplished Rituparna Sengupta. More than a film, it is an act of remembrance—bringing back to life the woman whose voice once gave confidence to millions.

Who Was Bela Dey?

In the years after independence, radio was the heartbeat of the nation. While newspapers informed and cinema entertained, radio comforted—it spoke directly into homes. In that sphere, Bela Dey was a pioneer. With Mahila Mahal, she created a space uniquely for women, offering a blend of practical domestic guidance, nutrition, hygiene, household management, and conversations on women’s rights and self-reliance.

Listeners recall her as the sarbesarbā—the one truly steering the show. Her style was instructive without being didactic, empathetic without being sentimental. And when she spoke, women listened not just for recipes or tips, but for a sense of dignity and recognition.

Her work on the airwaves was complemented by a prolific publishing career. Cookbooks such as Grihinir Abhidhan (1978), Ranna Banna (1982), Hajar ek Ranna, and Moner Moton Jalkhabar found their way into modest kitchens and middle-class bookshelves alike. Sold widely—even at 

railway station stalls—these books became household companions. Their strength lay in simplicity: measurements by cups and spoons, accessible ingredients, and economical yet wholesome recipes. Food, in Bela Dey’s hands, became a medium of empowerment.

A Cultural Force of Her Time

The decades after 1947 were charged with promises of progress, yet for women, empowerment often remained abstract. Bela Dey turned ideals into practice. Through Mahila Mahal, she taught women how to stretch budgets without sacrificing nutrition, how to manage time, and how to value their own expertise.

She also bridged the domestic and the cultural. The programme frequently connected listeners with writers and cultural personalities like Leela Majumdar and Indira Devi, subtly weaving women into larger conversations about literature and society. At a time when many women were confined to their homes, Bela Dey carried the world into their living rooms.

Her impact was profound because she modelled a new kind of authority: a woman who was both relatable and expert, public yet personal. By doing so, she widened the scope of what women could aspire to be in modern India.

The Biopic “Bela”

Nearly four decades after her voice last filled the airwaves, Bela Dey’s story finds a new resonance on screen. The film Bela, directed by Anilavaa Chatterjee, with Rituparna Sengupta in the lead role, seeks to capture both her struggles and triumphs. Its poster, released on August 2, 2025, evoked waves of nostalgia, reminding audiences of an era when radio was inseparable from everyday life.

Rituparna Sengupta has spoken movingly of her connection to Bela’s story—of how she admired Dey’s courage to travel abroad after personal abandonment, return to Kolkata, and build an enduring career. At the poster launch, the actress, dressed in simple attire reminiscent of Bela’s persona, reflected on the scene where she held the microphone: “It was not just a prop, it was a symbol of power and change.”

Shooting began on August 29, 2025, with a stellar creative team behind the project. The music, scored by Ranajoy Bhattacharjee and Amit Chatterjee, features voices like Arijit Singh, Somlata Acharyya Chowdhury, Ikkshita Mukherjee, and Hridisrota Mondal. With Saurav Banerjee as director of photography, editing by Debashis Roy, and the dedication of the entire crew, the film promises to be a landmark in Bengali cinema.

Legacy and Relevance

Even today, Bela Dey’s influence lingers. Families still recreate her recipes, and nostalgia posts on social media recall mothers and grandmothers gathering around radios to listen to her. To many, her name is synonymous with trust and care—a reminder of a time when radio was both intimate and authoritative.

The film is thus more than a biography; it is a cultural reminder. It pays tribute to a woman who made kitchens and households into classrooms of empowerment, and who taught that knowledge shared in kindness could change lives.

Conclusion

Bela Dey’s life was one of resilience, creativity, and service. Long before “women’s empowerment” became a slogan, she practiced it—through radio waves and printed pages.

Now, as Rituparna Sengupta brings her to life on screen, her legacy shines once more. Bela is not just a film; it is a celebration of a true icon—one whose strength lay in making others believe in their own.