''Bhuvan Shome'' is a 1969 Indian Hindi-language

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

directed by

Mrinal Sen Mrinal Sen (''Beng.'' মৃণাল সেন; 14 May 1923 – 30 December 2018) was an Indian film director, and screenwriter known for his work primarily in Bengali, and few Hindi and Telugu language films. Regarded as one of the finest Ind ...

based on the story of

Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay (19 July 1899 – 9 February 1979) was an Indian Bengali-language novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet, and physician who wrote under the pen name of Banaphul (meaning "the wild flower" in Bengali). He was a re ...

. The cast includes

Utpal Dutt Utpal Dutta () (29 March 1929 – 19 August 1993) was an Indian actor, director, and writer-playwright. He was primarily an actor in Bengali theatre, where he became a pioneering figure in Modern Indian theatre, when he founded the "Little The ...

(Mr. Bhuvan Shome) and

Suhasini Mulay Suhasini Mulay (born 20 November 1950) is an Indian actress in Assamese, Bollywood and Marathi films as well as television. She won National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1999, for her performance in Gulzar's film ''Hu Tu Tu''. ...

(Gauri, a village belle). Sen based his film on a Bengali story by

. The film is considered a landmark in modern

Indian cinema The Cinema of India consists of motion pictures produced in India, which had a large effect on world cinema since the late 20th century. Major centers of film production across the country include Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Ko ...

. This was the debut film of

Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; born as Amitabh Shrivastav; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor, film producer, television host, occasional playback singer and former politician known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of the most succe ...

did the voiceover and was the narrator.

Plot

Bhuvan Shome, a widower and a dedicated civil servant - strict, uncompromising - is a "big officer" in the Indian Railways. The background of the film is constructed in the context of a few railway ticket checkers discussing him as a strict, unreasonable officer ("afsar"). It continues with him being described, by the narrator, as a man whose "Bengali"-ness has not been affected by his travels. His apparent age, late 50s, is an important element of his psychology. Inspired by the idea of hunting, Bhuvan Shome takes a "hunting holiday" to Gujarat. It is quite clear that his expedition is amateurish. He is portrayed as an inept "hunter" rather than a man who knows how to acquire a skill. His encounter with the young Gouri is fortuitous because it is she who takes care of him and helps "hunt" birds. She helps him through a barren wilderness, takes him home and takes care of him. When he is made to change his clothes because otherwise the "birds will know" and fly away is probably an important part of his transformation from a strict, conformist and aging man to one of a person more open to the stimuli of his environment. The subsequent hunting sojourn of Gouri and Bhuvan Shome is a lyrical exploration of Bhuvan Shome's transformation. He is not only enamored by the simple beauty of Gouri, but also enchanted by the sights of birds on the lake and in the sky. His hunt is "successful," but only in a way that reflects Bhuvan Shome's limitations as a man. Bhuvan Shome is deeply affected by Gouri, who is actually schooled more than he could expect to be in that environment. When he returns to his office chambers, he is seen to reprieve an offending railwayman. This is a sub-plot that completes the story and context of the initial narration.

Cast

* Amitabh Bachchan *

as Bhuvan Shome *

as Gauri *

Shekhar Chatterjee Shekhar Chatterjee (1924–1990) was an Indian actor and film director. Career Chatterjee was born in Kolkata in 1924. He began his career in the Bengali theatre in the 1950s. He was associated with a number of leftist theatre groups, including ...

Sadhu Meher Sadhu Meher (born in Odisha, India) is an Indian actor, director, and producer. He has performed in both Odia and Hindi films. He primarily began his career in Hindi films such as ''Bhuvan Shome'', '' Ankur'' and '' Mrigaya''. Later on shifted ...

* Punya Das * Rochak Pandit

Themes

''Bhuvan Shome'' is said to have pioneered the Indian New Wave. It was one of the earliest films to get funded by the

National Film Development Corporation of India The National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) based in Mumbai is the central agency established in 1975, to encourage high quality Indian cinema. It functions in areas of film financing, production and distribution and under Ministr ...

. The film deals with themes of monotony, solitude, camaraderie, and compassion. It also highlights the rural-urban divide in India.

Awards

;

National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...

Best Feature Film Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...

Best Director Best Director is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organizations, festivals, and people's awards. It may refer to: Film awards * AACTA Award for Best Direction * Academy Award for Best Director * BA ...

* Best Actor -

;

4th International Film Festival of India The 4th International Film Festival of India was held from 5th to 18 December 1969 in New Delhi's hotel "Ashoka Convention Hall". 34 countries participated in the "4th IFFI" inaugurated by the then President of India V. V. Giri. The honors were ...

*Jury Prize for Mrinal Sen

References

External links

* * {{IFFI Silver Peacock - Special Jury Award and Special Mention, state=collapsed 1969 films 1960s Hindi-language films Indian avant-garde and experimental films Films directed by Mrinal Sen Films featuring a Best Actor National Award-winning performance Films whose director won the Best Director National Film Award Best Feature Film National Film Award winners Films based on works by Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay