Saptapadi

My wife presented me with this evergreen and intensely romantic movie based on Tarashankar Bandyopadhyay's novel that was superbly directed by Ajay Kar. I don't think the movie needs much of an introduction as it is surely etched deeply in every Bengali movie lover's heart.

Krishnendu, a brilliant medical student in the National Medical College, Calcutta, in the pre-independence period and an avid atheist falls in love with Rina Brown, daughter to a Christian father. As Rina's father successfully convinces Krishnendu to change his religion, the fanatic Hindu in Krishnendu's father begs Rina to leave Krishnendu for good without disclosing to him the reason for this sudden flight. Though both the lovers part but Providence again brings them nearer in a miraculous way. The chance meeting reveals the silent adoration that each still felt for the other but again the promise to Krishnendu's father gets the better of Rina and she leaves Krishnendu once again. But the Almighty seemed to test these loving souls when a letter to Krishnendu from his repentant father arrives, revealing the secret to him with Rina still untracable. Meanwhile WWII breaks in and both Krishnendu and Rina, by a curious turn of fate, arrives at a Red Cross hospital at Assam at almost the same time. The audience is left breathless till the last moment and the intense drama of the movie makes it an all time classic.

The romantic duo of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen seems to attain a new height in this film while in the side roles Chayadevi excells with her muted expressions and Chobi Biswas is just perfect for his role. The photography, cinematography and overall direction are excellent and Hemanta Mukherjee's music direction blends just to well with the variety of emotions that the film exhibits. Utpal Dutta lends his majestic voice in one of the unique exhibitions of drama in silver screen that enriches the movie even more.

Dadathakur

Probably one of the greatest tributes to the memory of Sarat Pandit was through this film by Sudhir Mukherjee in 1962. This was also Chobi Biswas' last movie and maybe one of his best, if not the best, performances. Based on the life of Sarat Pandit of Jangipur who with his simple lifestyle and witty criticisms was revered by all for his strict principles and fearless attitude against any type of injustice. Clearly a man of ready wit, he was an institution by himself and his income was solely based on his press and the two papers - Jangipur Sambad and Bidushak - that he used to publish. The movie is full of puns created and used by Dada Thakur and one never forgets the prompt reply to Sarat Chatterjee's welcoming comment to Sarat Pandit that ran "Kemon aacho Bidushak Saratchandra?" to which Dada Thakur's replied "Kemon aacho Charitrahin Saratchandra?". Also Sarat Pandit's fight against injustice is portrayed by his indomitable will that he used in promoting a petty but competent shopkeeper, Kartik Saha, to the post of chairman of Corporation against the corrput local politicians of the town. The rhymes that he created for the canvassing of Kartik will be unforgettable as will be the tunes that he composed on various subjects, the city of Calcutta being one of them. Equally unforgettable will be his commitment to his duties that is once shown when he was given the duty of printing and transporting the exam question papers of a school, 8 miles away from his home. On the day of the exam, due to a terrible flood the rail service was disrupted. But this never dissuaded Dada Thakur who traversed the whole 8 miles across the flooded roads to deliver the papers at the correct time. Again this is shown once more when we find him composing puzzles for the next day's Akashbani's show of 'Galpodadur Ashor' hosted by Dada Thakur himself, while the locales are performing the cremation of his son who died on the same night. A poor family man, he never took any financial help from anybody to improve his living conditions and his firmness of character was all he needed to clear all the odds that he was up against. His principles and philosophies inspired many youths during his lifetime, one being zamindar Darponaryan Chowdhury who parted with his life of pleasure to become a patriot in the service of the country. Chobi Biswas' fascinating portrayal of the character was not only superb but the various facets of the great man's life was precisely depicted. The other characters played by Tarun Kumar, Chaya Devi, Sulata Chowdhury and Biswajit deserves special mention. I think this treasure of Bengali film and society should be viewed at least once by every Bengali through the ages.