Uttam Kumar's Khelaghar has appeal even today.

Uttam Kumar’s Khelaghar has appeal even today.

Mahanayak Uttam Kumar gave a brilliant performance in Ajoy Kar’s film Khelaghar released in early 60s. Ajoy Kar always considered Uttam Kumar as his model in most of the films including the greatest hits of all times, Harano Sur and Saptapadi. Uttam Kumar’s appeal had not died out even today after 29 years of his death. That is the reason Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee renamed Tollygunge Metro Station as Mahanayak Uttam Kumar Metro Station in the recent past to show homage to the greatest superstar of all times.

In Khelaghar, Uttam Kumar surrendered before Kolkata Police after being involved in anti-national activities. He was a freedom fighter. He ran out of the prison and entered the room of Mala Sinha, tied her up and by wearing the clothes of Mala Sinha’s father Chabi Biswas escaped.

The entire film was related to the efforts made by the Kolkata Police to arrest Uttam Kumar. In the meantime Mala Sinha did not want to marry the person selected by Chabi Biswas. So she left her house and took Uttam Kumar’s help to escape from the hands of local gundas.

The relationship developed into affection. Rafi sung for Asitboron in the film while Hemant Kumar sang songs for Uttam Kumar. At the end of the film, the actual freedom fighter for whom Uttam Kumar surrendered before the police appeared in Court and disclosed the truth. Uttam Kumar was a musician who had love for his country, so guarded the freedom fighter. Uttam Kumar was send to two years imprisonment for false personification under section 419 of the Indian Penal Code.

There were very few performers in the film including Chabi Biswas, Uttam Kumar and Mala Sinha. So these few characters Ajoy Kar, the giant director managed to deliver a hit film for the audience. The story still has relevance and Uttam Kumar’s appeal in the film had not died out. The film should be restored and preserved.

Happy birthday to Shekhar Kapoor.

Happy birthday to Shekhar Kapoor.

The viewers of bollywood films wish happy birthday to Shekhar Kapoor on 6th December, 2009. He was one of the thoughtful directors of bollywood films and still his films are cherished by a big section of the viewers today.

He directed a meaningful film Masoom in the early 80s. He used the most dynamic actors and actresses of the contemporary period that was Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddun Shah. Naseeruddin had a previous wife who died leaving his small child played by Jugal Hansraj. He married Shabana Azmi who already had her own daughters including Urmila Matondkar. It was difficult for Shabana Azmi to accept the step son when her own daughters’ interests were related. Naseeruddin Shah decided to send the young child to boarding, but Shabana Azmi’s conscious spoke and she brought him back at the end of the film. RD Burman’s composition titled “huzur is kadar bhi” sung by Bhupinder Singh and Suresh Watkar, and “tushse naraz nahi zindagi” sung by Lata appealed to the masses.

Shekhar Kapoor astonished the viewers with a masala film Mr. India in the mid-80s. Anil Kapoor found a device which could make people invisible. He used the device to encounter a big smuggler played by Amrish Puri with the title Mogambo. Anil Kapoor ran an orphanage full of children and after becoming Mr. India used the children in his fight against Mogambo. Anil Kapoor’s compassionate performance, Amrish Puri’s fiery acting, Sri Devi’s dance numbers, everything appealed to the masses and the film ended up being the greatest hit of the year. Laxmikant Pyarellal’s music in the film became super hit including songs like “hawa hawai”, “karte hai hum pyar Mr. India se”, etc.

Shekhar Kapoor was criticized the most for his film Bandit Queen based on the life of dacoit Phoolan Devi. Shekhar Kapoor tried to show the torture faced by Phoolan Debi who was a malwa, by the Thakurs of the area, which compelled her to become dacoit. But the film gathered controversy due to the details shown by Shekhar Kapoor in respect of humiliation faced by Phoolan Debi. The Censure Board came in the way. Shekhar Kapoor got criticized all the way. His other film Elizabeth was also a noble venture. Shekhar Kapoor is also known for his acting in TV serials like Khandan.

The viewers expect Shekhar Kapoor to continue his innovative film making in the years to come.

Teen Murti had memories of Tapan Sinha.

Teen Murti had memories of Tapan Sinha.

Teen Murti had memories of Dada Saheb Phalke Award Winner director Tapan Sinha’s pleasant memories. Tapan Sinha’s story, screenplay and music had been given expression by director Raja Sen in the film Teen Murti.

In the film, Manoj Mitra, Dipankar Dey and Ranjit Mallick at their old age opened a tea stall. Manoj Mitra was a retired ex-station master, Ranjit Mullick was a retired professor, while Dipankar Dey was a senior official who had once worked in the corporate sector. They opened the tea-stall to give a new meaning to their own lives.

Their fight against the social barriers inspire the other generation full of worries including the lives of Joy and Paoli. Paoli had depression for her resentments in romantic life. Manoj Mitra had differences with his wife played by Sabitri Chatterji, that did not stand in the way for going ahead with the project of the tea stall. The bigger reason was to keep themselves busy with some work after the busy life had changed its course.

While the tea stall was opened, the three veterans faced a lot of resistance from the local hooligans. One of such characters was played by Subhashish Mukherjee, a local mastan. The unity between the three vetarans could not allow the hooliganism of Subhashish to outweigh the project of the tea stall. The performances of Ranjit Mullick, Dipankar Dey and Manoj Mitra were excellent. Sabitri Chatterji was one of the most versatile actresses of Bengali films and professional theatre. So nothing new is mentioned if her acting efforts are appreciated.

The new actors and actresses like Paolomi and Joy did well. Even the character artists Papiya Sen and Kanchana Mitra did a good job. The film did not have a commercial masala of entertainment.

But viewers should watch the film to appreciate the efforts of Tapan Sinha in delivering a practical story which is related to an eternal truth that everyone are supposed to be old at some point of time and fight life at that old age with dignity.