Movie World
Rabindranath Tagore’s stories converted into Bollywood Films – Part 6
Uphaar (1971)
Some have successfully based their
screenplays on Tagore's unique plots, but modified it into their own
contemporary versions. Many celebrated filmmakers have adapted the Bengali
polymath's classic stories and novels. Tagore’s story has inspired a
commercially successful or remarkable piece of cinema in Hindi in recent times.
Let us take a look back at some of the Hindi language versions of his works on
screen.
Uphaar (1971)
Uphaar is a 1971 Hindi film.
Produced by Tarachand Barjatya for Rajshri Productions, the film stars Jaya
Bhaduri, Swarup Dutt and Kamini Kaushal. The music is by Laxmikant Pyarelal.
This film is based on the short story named "Samapti" (The End) by
Rabindranath Tagore. The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best
Foreign Language Film at the 45th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a
nominee. Following years this movie dubbed in various south Indian languages including
successful in Malayalam as Upaharam. "Samapti" was earlier made into
a movie by Satyajit Ray and is a part of his trio of short films released as
"Teen Kanya".
The movie has an interesting plot. Anoop
studies law in Calcutta, while his widowed mom lives in a small town in West
Bengal. He has a sister, Sudha, who is married to Anil and lives in Calcutta.
Since Anoop is of marriageable age, his mom has selected a prospective bride
for him in her neighbourhood. The girl's name is Vidya. When Anoop returns home,
his mother asks him for his approval, but he says he wants to see the girl
first. He goes to see Vidya, and also gets to meet another village belle by the
name of Minoo, the daughter of Sharda and Ramchandra. He returns home, tells
his mom that he cannot marry Vidya, and will marry only Minoo. His mother
reluctantly agrees and the marriage takes place. It is then that they find out
that Minoo has no household skills. Neither is she educated, nor mature enough
to understand her relationship with Anoop. Her only interests appear to be
stealing mangoes and other fruit, and playing with children much younger than
her. Anoop's mom is quite exasperated with Minoo and is compelled to keep the
new bride under lock and key. When the time comes for Anoop to return to
Calcutta, he asks Minoo to come with him, but she refuses.
His mother cannot handle Minoo's
childishness and refuses to let her stay with her. Anoop accordingly leaves
Minoo with her mom, Sharda. Once Anoop leaves her and heads back to Calcutta,
Minoo starts realising she misses him. All her earlier activities of fooling
around and playing with the village kids loses their charm and, in her
loneliness, she realises her love for Anoop. She then tells her mom that she
wants to go back to Anoop's house, reconcile with her mother-in-law and live
with her. Minoo goes back, a changed person. Anoop's mom welcomes her
daughter-in-law. Minoo excels in her household duties. But Anoop does not visit
even for his holidays. Minoo realises that, when she had refused to accompany
him to Calcutta, Anoop's ego was bruised. He had promised that he would come
only when she wrote to him to come back. So she writes a letter to Anoop
telling him to come home. But she does not have his address, so Anoop never
gets the letter. In the meantime, Anoop's mom, realizing that Minoo is truly
missing her husband, suggests a trip to Calcutta to visit him. It is in Anoop's
sister's house in Calcutta that the love-lorn couple finally comes together.
The film has Swarup Dutt as Anoop
(as Swaroop Dutt), Jaya Bhaduri as Minoo a.k.a. Mrinmayee, Suresh Chatwal as
Anil, Sudha's husband, Nandita Thakur as Sudha, Nana Palsikar as Ramchandra, Ratnamala
as Sharda, Leela Mishra as Kaki, Kamini Kaushal as Anoop's mother and Yunus
Pervez as Banwari.
The film has songs like "Mai
Ek Raaja Hu, Tu Ek Rani Hai' sung by Mohammed Rafi, "Chhal Chhal Bahati,
Maajhi Nayyaa Dhundhe Kinaaraa" – Mukesh, "Sunee Re Nagariya, Sunee
Re Sejariya" - Lata Mangeshkar and "Haathon Men Mehandi, Bol Re Mere
Gudde Tujhe Guddi Kubul" - Lata Mangeshkar.
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