International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Adaptations of Sunil Gangopadhyay’s ‘Kakababu’ in Bengali Cinema: Critical Analysis through the Lens of the Culture Industry

This study examines whether the SVF-produced Kakababu films function primarily as literary adaptations or as products of the contemporary culture industry. Drawing on Linda Hutcheon’s adaptation theory and Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer’s culture industry theory, the research analyses Mishawr Rawhoshyo (2013), Yeti Obhijaan (2017) and Kakababur Protyaborton (2022), comparing them with earlier non-SVF Kakababu adaptations. Using qualitative textual analysis, the study explores changes in adaptation practices, characterisation, franchise development and commercial strategies. The findings reveal a significant transformation from standalone literary adaptations to a contemporary corporatised franchise built around exclusive adaptation rights, recurring stars, promotional music, product placement, merchandise and cross-media branding. While the films remain recognisable adaptations of Sunil Gangopadhyay’s novels, they simultaneously operate within the logic of the culture industry. The study argues that the SVF Kakababu films occupy the intersection of literary adaptation and the culture industry, where creative reinterpretation and commercial motivations coexist, demonstrating how contemporary Bengali cinema negotiates artistic and industrial demands.