''Balika Badhu'' is a 1967 Bengali film starring

Moushumi Chatterjee Moushumi Chatterjee (born Indira Chattopadhyay) is an Indian actress who is recognised for her work in Hindi as well as Bengali cinema. She was one of the highest paid actresses in Hindi films during the 1970s. She joined the Bharatiya Janata ...

(as balika badhu) and directed by Tarun Majumdar. The film was based on novel of same name by Bimal Kar. The film was remade in Hindi as same name in 1976 also directed by Majumdar.

Plot

The movie is about child marriage, a custom that was prevalent amongst various Indian societies. Set during

British Raj The British Raj (; from Hindi ''rāj'': kingdom, realm, state, or empire) was the rule of the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent; * * it is also called Crown rule in India, * * * * or Direct rule in India, * Quote: "Mill, who was himsel ...

in India, the movie tells the story of a village school boy Amal, who is married to a younger girl named Rajni. Left together for a few days, as a part of the ritual, the two develop friendship and love. Shortly, Rajni must return to her parents’ house, while Amal continues with his studies at home with Masterji, an elderly teacher. His life is enlivened occasionally when Rajni is permitted to visit. Though Rajni's next visit is scheduled for

Durga Puja Durga Puja ( bn, দুর্গা পূজা), also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga and is also celebrated ...

, she fails to make it. Instead, she arrives during

Vijayadashami Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hindu ...

, to stay for a couple nights, before going on a proposed, long pilgrimage with her family. However, the British Police arrests Masterji for being a "freedom fighter", harboring and training fugitives, and making explosives. How this incident affects Amal and Rajni forms the rest of the story.

Cast

* Partho Mukherjee * Juin Banerjee *

Anubha Gupta Anubha Gupta (1930 - 14 January 1972) was an Indian Bengali actress, known for her work in Bengali cinema. She received the Best Actress in Supporting Role Award at the 26th Annual BFJA Awards for the film '' Hansuli Banker Upakatha.'' Early li ...

* Santosh Bandyopadhyay * Prasad Mukherjee * Anup Kumar *

Ruma Guha Thakurta Ruma Guha Thakurta (21 November 1934 – 3 June 2019) was an Indian actress and singer primarily associated with Bengali language films. She founded Calcutta Youth Choir in 1958. Early life Ruma Guha Thakurta was born on 3 November 1934 to ...

Bankim Ghosh Bankim Ghosh (22 October 1922 — 3 June 1992) was a veteran actor of Bengali film and theatre personality. Early life Ghosh was born in 1922 in Kolkata, British India. He passed Matriculate examination from Oriental Seminary and B.Com. from C ...

Music

The songs used in the film are: 1. ''Aaji Esechhi Aaji Esechhi'' (Written and composed by

Dwijendralal Ray Dwijendralal Ray (19 July 1863 – 17 May 1913), also known as D. L. Ray, was an Indian poet, playwright, and musician. He was known for his Hindu mythological and nationalist historical plays and songs known as ''Dwijendrageeti'' or the ''So ...

; sung by Robin Banerjee) 2. ''Aami Kusum Tuliya'' (Written by

Gauriprasanna Mazumder Gauriprasanna Majumdar (1925–1986) was an Indian lyricist and writer, known for his work in Indian cinema and Bangladeshi Cinema . He is most commonly associated with the black and white era of Bengali cinema, when he penned several enduring c ...

; composed by

Hemanta Mukherjee Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (16 June 1920 – 26 September 1989), known professionally as Hemant Kumar and Hemanta Mukherjee, was a legendary Indian music composer and playback singer who primarily sang in Bengali and Hindi, as well as other Indian ...

; sung by Bani Dasgupta and Hemanta Mukherjee) 3. ''Bhajo Gaurango Kaho Gaurango'' (Traditional song; sung by Hemanta Mukherjee) 4. ''Chhere Dao Reshmi Churi'' (Written by Mukunda Das; sung by Sabitabrata Dutta) 5. ''Lag Lag Ranger Bhelki'' (Written by Gauriprasanna Mazumder; composed and sung by Hemanta Mukherjee) 6. ''Malay Asiya Koye Gechhe'' (Written and composed by Dwijendralal Ray; sung by Robin Banerjee) 7. ''Suk Bole Keno Shari''(Written by Gauriprasanna Mazumder; composed by Hemanta Mukherjee; sung by Hemanta Mukherjee and Bela Mukherjee)

References

External links

* 1967 films Bengali-language Indian films Films directed by Tarun Majumdar Films scored by Hemant Kumar Child marriage in India Bengali films remade in other languages 1960s Bengali-language films {{1960s-Bengali-film-stub