Saraswatichandra (film)

Last updated

Saraswatichandra
Saraswatichandra.jpg
Directed byGovind Saraiya
Based on Saraswatichandra
by Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi
Produced byVivek
Starring Nutan
Manish
Cinematography Nariman A. Irani
Music by Kalyanji-Anandji
Production
company
Sarvodhya Pictures
Release date
  • 1968 (1968)
Country India
Language Hindi

Saraswatichandra is a black-and-white Hindi film released in 1968. It starred Nutan and Manish among others and was directed by Govind Saraiya.

Contents

The film was based on Saraswatichandra , a Gujarati novel, by Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi, set in 19th-century feudalism in India. It also won the National Film Awards in the Best Cinematography and Best Music Director categories. [1] [2]

Story

Saraswatichandra tells the story of a young aristocrat, Saraswatichandra, whose marriage has been fixed with Kumud (Nutan), an educated girl from a rich family. Saraswati decides to cancel the engagement and writes to Kumud to inform her. However, she replies and the two continue exchanging letters. Saraswati decides to defy customs and pays a visit to his fiancée. A short-lived romance ensues. Saraswati returns home after promising Kumud and her family that he will return for her. However, a family feud takes place and Saraswati writes to Kumud that he will not be able to marry her. This triggers a series of misunderstandings, ending up in Kumud's marriage to a rich but illiterate suitor named Pramad (Ramesh Deo). As soon as she joins her husband at his palace, he quickly disdains her for nautch girls, and hardly hides his double life, asking her not to comment on his "weakness".

Meanwhile, Saraswati, having forsaken his home, has been roaming the country, and reaches Pramad's mansion. His presence is made known to Kumud's father in-law, who despises his son's cheap life, and adopts the well-educated Saraswati as his secretary. The two former lovers meet, but Kumud is adamant to perform the duties of a faithful wife. Saraswati witnesses her anguished life and tries to reach out to her, but she objects. Nevertheless, things change, because Pramad’s behaviour grows more openly flirtatious. Kumud requests Saraswatichandra to stay away from her personal life and asks him to leave her in-laws' house. Determined to do whatever it takes to make her life easier, Saraswati decides to leave Kumud's life. On his way he is caught by dacoits and left for dead in the sun. A group of holy men spot him and take him away to their hermitage where he starts leading the life of a recluse.

Things darken for Kumud. She's chased away from Pramad’s mansion after he discovers one of Saraswati's letters. This gives Pramad the pretext he's been looking for: she must go back to her mother's house. Kumud's dignified attitude has earned her the friendship of women in her in-laws’ household, and they reveal to Pramad’s parents that he has chased his wife out of lust and selfishness. Pramad is thrown out of his house and he vows never to return. After leaving her in-laws' house, a disheartened Kumud tries to drown in the river but is retrieved by some holy women on the banks. They take her to the same temple where Saraswati is trying to atone for his sins.

The two lovers come face to face for one more time. Kumud submits to her fate and accepts the senior sister’s advice that she must do something for Saraswati. The latter, on the other hand, has a mission to fulfill: told by the guru that Pramad is dead, he will have to break the news to Kumud. A (very static) meeting is organised: after having realised that their fate has again brought them together, they admit that they are made for each other, and love blossoms between them. But Kumud doesn’t know she’s a widow, and still hangs on to the hope that she might change her husband.

When Saraswati reluctantly tells her, he faces a new Kumud, who must now embrace the widow’s status. The film ends with Saraswati accepting Kumud's request of marrying her younger sister, Kusum.

Cast

Soundtrack

All the songs were composed by Kalyanji Anandji and lyrics were penned by Indeevar.

S.NoTitleSinger(s)Duration
1"Chandan Sa Badan" Mukesh 03:57
2"Chandan Sa Badan" Lata Mangeshkar 03:24
3"Chhod De Saari Duniya"Lata Mangeshkar04:28
4"Hamne Apna Sab Kuch Khoya"Mukesh04:45
5"Main To Bhool Chali Babul Ka Des"Lata Mangeshkar04:15
6"Phool Tumhe Bheja Hai Khat Mein"Lata Mangeshkar, Mukesh04:25
7"Sau Saal Pahle Ki Baat" Mahendra Kapoor 03:37
8"Wada Humse Kiya Dil Kisi Ko Diya" Mubarak Begum 04:14

Awards and recognition

Remake

The 1968 Hindi film was followed by 1972 Gujarati sequel film Gunsundari No Ghar Sansar, also directed by Govind Saraiya, which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Gujarati at the 20th National Film Awards. [3] [4] The film was considered important for its artistry and aesthetic. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Bandini</i> (film) 1963 Indian film

Bandini is a 1963 Hindi drama film directed and produced by Bimal Roy.It stars Nutan, Ashok Kumar and Dharmendra. The film tells the story of a woman prisoner serving life imprisonment for murder, Kalyani, the all suffering, selfless, sacrificing and strong, yet weak Indian woman. She must make a choice between two very different men, Devendra (Dharmendra), the loving prison doctor, and Bikash, a man from her past.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nutan</span> Indian actress (1936-1991)

Nutan Samarth Bahl, known mononymously as Nutan, was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. In a career spanning nearly four decades, she appeared in more than 80 films, that ranged in genre from urban romances to socio-realist dramas. Regarded as one of the finest actors in the history of Indian cinema, Nutan was noted for her naturalistic acting style in parts of conflicted women often deemed unconventional. Her accolades include a record five Filmfare Awards for Best Actress. In 1974, Nutan received the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukesh (singer)</span> Indian playback singer

Mukesh Chand Mathur, better known mononymously as Mukesh, was an Indian playback singer. Mukesh is considered to be one of the most popular and acclaimed playback singers of the Hindi film industry. Amongst the numerous nominations and awards he won, his song "Kai Baar Yuhi Dekha Hai" from the film Rajnigandha (1973) won him the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalyanji–Anandji</span> Indian composer duo

KalyanjiAnandji were an Indian composer duo: Kalyanji Virji Shah and his brother Anandji Virji Shah. The duo are known for their work on Hindi film soundtracks, with many evergreen songs being composed by them.

Kalyanji Virji Shah was the Kalyanji of the Kalyanji-Anandji duo. He and his brother Anandji Virji Shah have been famous Indian film musicians, and won the 1975 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, for Kora Kagaz. He is a recipient of the civilian honour of Padma Shri (1992).India's fourth-highest civilian honour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anandji Virji Shah</span> Indian music director (born 1933)

Anandji Virji Shah is an Indian music director. Together with his brother he formed the Kalyanji-Anandji duo, and won the 1975 Filmfare Award for Best Music Director, for Kora Kagaz. In 1992, Anandji Shah received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sadhana Sargam</span> Indian singer

Sadhana Sargam is an Indian singer known for her playback career in Indian cinema predominantly in Hindi, Bengali and Tamil language films. She is a recipient of the National Film Award and Filmfare Awards South. She has also won five Maharashtra State Film Awards, four Gujarat State Film Awards, and one Orissa State Film.

<i>Sujata</i> (1959 film) 1959 Indian film

Sujata is a 1959 Hindi language Bimal Roy film. It stars Nutan and Sunil Dutt in lead roles, supported by Shashikala, Lalita Pawar, Sulochana Latkar and Tarun Bose. Based on a Bengali short story of the same name by writer Subodh Ghosh, the film explored the situation of caste in India. The music is by S. D. Burman and the lyrics by Majrooh Sultanpuri. It was entered into the 1960 Cannes Film Festival.

<i>Himalay Ki God Mein</i> 1965 Indian film

Himalay Ki God Mein is a 1965 Indian Hindi-language film directed by Vijay Bhatt starring Manoj Kumar and Mala Sinha, with Shashikala in a supporting role. The film won the Filmfare Best Movie Award and was a "Superhit" at the box office, listed in the top 20 earners of the 1960s. The film was remade in Telugu as Doctor Babu and in Tamil as Puthiya Bhoomi.

<i>Chhalia</i> 1960 film

Chhalia is a 1960 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Manmohan Desai. It stars Raj Kapoor, Nutan, Pran, Rehman and Shobhna Samarth. The story is loosely based on the 1848 short story "White Nights" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, but is focused on the issue of estranged wives and children in the aftermath of Partition. Chhalia was shot in black-and-white. Music by Kalyanji-Anandji, played a part in the film's box office success.

<i>Kora Kagaz</i> 1974 Indian film

Kora Kagaz is a 1974 Indian Hindi-language drama film produced by Sanath Kothari and directed by Anil Ganguly. The film stars Vijay Anand, Jaya Bhaduri, A.K. Hangal, Achala Sachdev and Deven Verma. The film's music is by Kalyanji Anandji. The famous title song "Mera Jeevan Kora Kagaz" was rendered by Kishore Kumar.

<i>Bairaag</i> 1976 Indian film

Bairaag (transl. Renunciation) is a 1976 Hindi-language film. Produced by the duo Mushir-Riaz, it is directed by Asit Sen. The film stars Dilip Kumar, who received a Filmfare nomination for Best Actor for playing a triple role. Bairaag also stars Saira Banu, Leena Chandavarkar, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Prem Chopra, Helen, Sujit Kumar, Madan Puri, Paintal, Kader Khan, Asit Sen and Sachin. Its music is by the duo Kalyanji Anandji, who received a Filmfare nomination for Best Music. The film received a Filmfare Award for Best Sound for P. Harikishan. The film failed to perform at the box office. It was Dilip Kumar's third consecutive failure at box-office, the first and only time in his career since Milan (1946). After this film, he went on an indefinite hiatus and returned after 4 years in Kranti (1981).

<i>Kasauti</i> 1974 Indian film

Kasauti is a 1974 Bollywood drama film directed and produced by Aravind Sen. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Pran in lead roles.

<i>Safar</i> (1970 film) 1970 film by Asit Sen

Safar is a 1970 Indian Hindi romantic drama film produced by the Mushir-Riaz duo and directed by Asit Sen, based on a novel by Bengali writer Ashutosh Mukherjee. The film stars Ashok Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore and Feroz Khan in lead roles. The film became the tenth top-grossing production of the year. It won one Filmfare Awards and four Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards. Rajesh Khanna received a nomination for BFJA Awards for Best Actor (Hindi). Asit Sen remade the 1956 Bengali film Chalachal, which was directed by him, in Hindi as Safar (1970). As per review by critics, Safar was carried more than ably by Khanna's immense charm at the peak of his popularity. Rajesh Khanna beautifully conveys his character's desperation and his conviction that surviving by a slender thread is not really living. This film is counted among the 17 consecutive hit films of Rajesh Khanna between 1969 and 1971, by adding the two-hero films Maryada and Andaz to the 15 consecutive solo hits he gave from 1969 to 1971.

<i>Saraswatichandra</i> (novel) Gujarati novel by Govardhanram Tripathi

Saraswatichandra is a Gujarati novel by Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripathi, an author of early twentieth century from Gujarat, India. Set in 19th-century India, It is acclaimed as one of the masterpiece of Gujarati literature. Though the novel was published in four parts, each part has a distinct thematic content, its own cast of characters and independent beginnings and ends. It was adapted into several plays, radio plays, films and TV series. It was well received by the number of critics, and was translated into several Indian languages, along with English. However, Suresh Joshi, a strong proponent of formalism theory, criticized the novel for its structural failure.

The 26th Filmfare Awards were held in 1979.

The 15th Filmfare Awards were held in 1968, celebrating the best in Hindi cinema in 1967.

The 13th Filmfare Awards were held in 1966, honoring the best in Hindi cinema in 1965.

<i>Saraswatichandra</i> (TV series) Indian television series

Saraswatichandra is an Indian Hindi - language musical romantic drama television series produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, written by Saba Mumtaz, Shruti Vaidys, Utkarsh Naithani, Ved Raj and Abhijit Sinha, and is based on Govardhanram Tripathi's 1887-1901 four volume novel of the same name. It aired on Star Plus from 25 February 2013 to 20 September 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Priya Saraiya</span> Indian singer and lyricist

Priya Saraiya is an Indian playback singer and lyricist in Bollywood. She is also a live stage singer for Bollywood and Gujarati Folk Songs.

References

  1. "Saraswatichandra (1968)". 21 January 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2013.
  2. Times of India, Entertainment. "National Awards Winners 1968: Complete list of winners of National Awards 1968". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. "20th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  4. Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul (2014). Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema (Revised ed.). Routledge. p. 206. ISBN   978-1-135-94325-7.
  5. Thaker, Dhirubhai; Desai, Kumarpal, eds. (2007). Gujarat: A Panorama of the Heritage of Gujarat. Prakashan: 2 (1st ed.). Ahmedabad: Smt. Hiralaxmi Navanitbhai Shah Dhanya Gurjari Kendra, Gujarat Vishwakosh Trust. p. 530.