Saptapadi (1961 film)

The story takes place in pre-independent India (early 1940) when young Indian students were competing equally with Anglo-Indians in all fields whether it be education or sports. Krishnendu (Uttam Kumar), a young Bengali Hindu medical student falls in love with an equally talented and attractive Anglo-Indian Christian woman named Rina Brown (Suchitra Sen). Both are students at the Calcutta Medical College and become close while meeting at many 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 marriage is not on the cards for them due to their differences in religion, (it is particularly opposed by Krishnendu's dad, a staunch, conservative Hindu), and they go their own ways only to unexpectedly meet again later in life.

Most of the movie is presented in flashbacks with Krishnendu pondering over the past after unexpectedly encountering a drunk and passed out Rina in a military hospital in returns.

(in alphabetical order)

• Chhabi Biswas as Krishnendu's Father
• Chhaya Devi as Rina's maid
• Jennifer Kapoor as Desdemona (voice-over)
• Padma Devi as Krishnendu's mother
• Suchitra Sen as Rina Brown
• Tarun Kumar as Krishnendu's friend
• Utpal Dutt as Othello (voice-over)
• Uttam Kumar as Krishnendu

Shooting commenced started in late 1960. This was the second film after Harano Sur produced by Uttam Kumar under his banner Alochaya Production along with Ajoy Kar. Suchitra Sen was again cast in the Rina Brown role. This is returns after two years of Uttam Suchitra pair, last time their saw in Chawa Paoa. For the film Kumar and Sen practice dance and reading Shakespeare. But atlast the iconic Othello play scene in the film Uttam's voice-over by Utpal Dutta and Sen's voice-over by Jennifer Kapoor.

Kumar always be a Mohunbagan fan. In the football play scene Kumar want to play in Mohunbagan jersey but their was no Mohun jersey. When Kumar being insist then Sen force him to play him in East Bengal Jersey. Atlast Kumar being surrending and completed the scene wearing in East Bengal Jersey.[1]

The film was adapted from Tarashankar famous novel Saptapadi 1958. In the novel ending Krishendu is died. But in the film ending Ajoy Kar and whole team take a decision to changed the scene that Krishnendu was not died and again joined with Rina Brown. That decision take for the audience who loved this pair they don't want to see the separated scene in the film.

Saptapadi
Soundtrack album by Hemant Kumar
Released	1961
Recorded	1961
Genre	Feature film soundtrack
Length	0:11:11
Label	Sa Re Ga Ma
Producer	Alochhaya Productions Pvt Ltd
Hemant Kumar chronology
Punashcha (1961) Saptapadi (1961) Sathi Hara (1961)
External audio Audio Jukebox on YouTube

Saptapadi's music is directed by Hemant Kumar. And lyrics by the versatile Gauriprasanna Mazumder.[2] The song Ei Path Jodi Na which was sing by Hemanta on Uttam and Sandha on Suchitra lyp create a new era of the romanticism. The song become very popular untill today which has been worthly remembering.

The film was set to be released at the Durga Puja occasion in 20th October 1961. The film released with Kumar another film Dui Bhai. The craze of the film always staying on the top since it had been announce. Because this was the comeback after two years of Uttam Suchitra pair. For the advanced booking for the film thousands of people gathered in the ticket counter. When the released day of the film the public became violent. For the balancing of the situation police force doing lathi charge and many people was wounded.

The film generally create a record at the box office and become all time blockbuster hit. It was broken all the previous box office record of Bengali film. The film ranned over 15 weeks and became highest grossing film of the year and one of the highest grossing film of all time. The film regarded as one of greatest romantic film ever.

National Film Awards

• 1961: Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Bengali[3]

Moscow International Film Festival

• 1963: Best Actress: Suchitra Sen[4]

Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards

• 1962:Best Actor: Uttam Kumar

The bike sequences in the song "Ei Path Jodi Na Sesh Hoe" become one of the greatest and most iconic romantic scenes ever in the indian cinema history. The song and the sequence become the legendary and deep impact in Bengali Community and culture worldwide.[5] This sequence was also used for various social work. Recently this song and sequence used in Kalipuja 2018 at Baharampur puja committee.[6]

• Saptapadi at IMDb
• www.citwf.com