Saptapadi (1961 film)
| Saptapadi | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Ajoy Kar |
| Produced by | Uttam Kumar |
| Starring |
Suchitra Sen Uttam Kumar Chhabi Biswas Chaya Debi |
| Music by | Hemanta Mukherjee |
| Distributed by | Alochhaya Productions |
| Release dates |
|
| Running time | 163 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Bengali |
Saptapadi (Translation: The seven steps ) is a 1961 Bengali romantic drama film by Ajoy Kar, starring Suchitra Sen, Uttam Kumar, Chhabi Biswas and Chaya Debi.
Plot
Its a love story with a twist set in Bengal in pre independent India (early 1940); the time when young Indian students were competing equally with British 'goras' in all fields whether it be education or sports. This was the time when barefooted Bengali football team defeated the booted British team to win the national football shield; this was the time when the ambitious and educated Calcutta students were matching their prowess in different fields of education with the British - be it law or medicine. It is in this time of rising nationalistic sentiments (1942 was when Gandhiji started the non violent Quit India movement) that Krishnendu (Uttam Kumar), a bright, young, athletic and Bengali Hindu youth falls in love with an equally talented and attractive but Christian Rina Brown (Suchitra Sen). Both of them were students at the Calcutta Medical College and they come close during their interaction in multitude of sports and cultural events (there is an interesting rendition of Othello within the movie; that portion of the movie was directed by Utpal Dutt). However their marriage is not on the cards due to the differences in religion (particularly opposed by Krishnendu's dad, a staunch, conservative Hindu) and they move each other ways only to clash unexpectedly again, later in life. Most of the movie is shown in flashback mode; Krishnendu pondering over the past upon his sudden and unexpected interaction with a drunk and passed out Rina in a military hospital in rural Bengal.
Cast (in alphabetical order)
- Chhabi Biswas ... Krishnendu's Father
- Chhaya Devi ... Rina's maid
- Utpal Dutt ... Othello (voice-over)
- Jennifer Kapoor ... Desdemona (voice-over)
- Tarun Kumar ... Krishnendu's friend
- Uttam Kumar ... Krishnendu
- Padma Devi ... Krishnendu's mother
- Suchitra Sen ... Rina Brown
Awards
- Silver Prize for Best Actress: Suchitra Sen[1]
References
- ↑ "3rd Moscow International Film Festival (1963)". MIFF. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
- ↑ "9th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Retrieved 8 September 2011.