Chowringhee (film)
Encyclopedia
Chowringhee is a 1968 film by Pinaki Bhushan Mukherjee, starring Supriya Devi
and Uttam Kumar
. The film is based on the best-selling novel
of the same name
by Shankar
and was a huge hit in its own right.
, Hotel ShahJahan. At the end of the movie, most of the characters experience tragedy, in one form or another.
The major characters Shankar encounters with are:
from Rabindra Sangeet
.
Besides that there were two popular solos sung by the legendary Hemanta Mukherji('Kache Robe') and Manna Dey('Baro Eka Laage'and it was picturised on Uttam Kumar).
Supriya Devi
Supriya Devi , also known as Supriya Choudhury , is an Indian Bengali female actor, acting in Bengali cinemas for more than 50 years. Her real name was Krishna and nickname is Benu. She received Banga-Vibhushan, the highest civilian honour in West Bengal in 2011.-Early life:Supriya Devi was born...
and Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar
Uttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak . He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime...
. The film is based on the best-selling novel
of the same name
Chowringhee
Chowringhee is a neighbourhood in central Kolkata, earlier known as Calcutta, in the Indian state of West Bengal. Jawaharlal Nehru Road runs on its western side...
by Shankar
Mani Shankar Mukherjee
Shankar, real name Mani Shankar Mukherjee, and generally known in English-language literature as Sankar is a very popular writer in the Bengali language...
and was a huge hit in its own right.
Plot
The movie revolves around the experiences of the characters the author Shankar (played by Subhendu Chatterjee) meets while working at one of the large and reputed hotels of KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
, Hotel ShahJahan. At the end of the movie, most of the characters experience tragedy, in one form or another.
The major characters Shankar encounters with are:
- Mr. Satyasundar (Sata) Bose is Shankar's co-worker and the receptionist at the hotel. Mr. Bose, played by Uttam KumarUttam KumarUttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak . He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime...
, is shown to be extremely friendly, benevolent and loved by all. Being an efficient worker, he takes care of all the guests very well, including guarding their secrets, and earns the respect and admiration of his boss, Marco Polo (played by Utpal DuttUtpal DuttUtpal Dutt 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 Theater Group' in 1947, which enacted many English, Shakespearean and Brecht plays, in a period...
). He and Ms. Sujata Mitra (played by Anjana BhowmickAnjana BhowmickAnjana Bhowmik is a pretty actress of Bengali cinema of bygone years. She was born on December 30, 1944 in Cooch Behar. Her real name is Arati Bhowmik and nickname Babin. Her father was Bibhuti Bhusan Bhowmik. She spent her school days in Cooch Behar. She passed the Higher Secondary Exam of West...
), an air hostess who visits the hotel frequently, become close and they decide to marry. Sata resigns from his profession as a receptionist in search for a better living after their wedding. Sujata too decides to resign from her work since married women can no longer be employed as air hostesses. Unfortunately, just as she was about to take her last flight as an air hostess, she meets with a trajic air crash while take offTakeoffTakeoff is the phase of flight in which an aerospace vehicle goes from the ground to flying in the air.For horizontal takeoff aircraft this usually involves starting with a transition from moving along the ground on a runway. For balloons, helicopters and some specialized fixed-wing aircraft , no...
that leads to her death. Her death leaves Sata bereaved and at a huge loss. Unable to live with the fond memories of the past, he leaves KolkataKolkataKolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
and goes to AfricaAfricaAfrica is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
where his former boss, Mr. Marco Polo has opened a new hotel and is more than willing to have him as his old fond worker. Thereafter, the fate of Sata Bose remains unknown.
- Ms. Karabi Guha, played by Supriya DeviSupriya DeviSupriya Devi , also known as Supriya Choudhury , is an Indian Bengali female actor, acting in Bengali cinemas for more than 50 years. Her real name was Krishna and nickname is Benu. She received Banga-Vibhushan, the highest civilian honour in West Bengal in 2011.-Early life:Supriya Devi was born...
, is a housekeeper and hostess at the guest house owned by Mr. Aggarwal who is apparently a friend of the Pakrashis (see below). She takes a leading role in helping to close an important deal with the German businessmen who are visiting Kolkata. When she comes to know about the conspiracy plot of Mrs. Pakrasi's (see below) brother in jeopardizing the business agreement, she alerts Anindya Pakrashi. Eventually, Anindya and Karabi fall in love. However, when Mrs. Pakrasi comes to know about this, she insults Karabi and warns her to leave Anindya in exchange for money. Eventually, in the middle of an intense altercation, Karabi shows the pictures of Mrs. Pakrasi with her boyfriends. This leaves Mrs. Pakrasi stunned and agrees to let Karabi marry Anindya. However, later, thinking about this incident, Karabi feels an intense sense of guilt for her actions. Unable to confront with her feelings, she decides to end up her life.
- Anindya Pakrashi, played by Biswajit is the son of the renowned business personality of Kolkata, Mr. Madhab Pakrasi. He is shown to be as well mannered, humble and friendly. After returning from the WestWestern worldThe Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
, Madhab Pakrasi entrusts him with dealing with the German businessmen. In his effort, Anindya finds Karabi to be extremely helpful. Eventually, Karabi and Anindya fall in love. When unable to confront with her feelings, Karabi commits suicideSuicideSuicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, it leaves him heart-broken and dumbfound. The fate of Anindya Pakrashi remains unclear after this incident.
- Madhab Pakrasi is a renowned business man of Kolkata. Remaining busy and out of town most of the time, he is unaware of his wife's infidelity. His only son, Anindya is educated from outside India. When his son returns to Kolkata, he entrusts Anindya with dealing with the German businessmen.
- Mrs. Pakrasi, wife of the renowned businessman Madhab Pakrasi leads a double life. In the morning, she devotes herself to social work appearing as a perfect BengaliBengali peopleThe Bengali people are an ethnic community native to the historic region of Bengal in South Asia. They speak Bengali , which is an Indo-Aryan language of the eastern Indian subcontinent, evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages. In their native language, they are referred to as বাঙালী...
woman. At night, she visits the hotel in disguise and spends nights with her then boyfriend. As per Sata Bose, she engages in short term sexual relationships with different men at different times. Apparently, as shown in the movie, only Sata Bose, Shankar and Karabi knows about her infidelity and double life.
- Sujata Mitra, played by Anjana Bhowmick, is an air hostessAir Hostess"Air Hostess" is a song by the British pop trio Busted. Composed by the band with Tom Fletcher of McFly, it was released as the third single from their second album A Present for Everyone in June 2004, reaching #2 on the UK Singles Chart.-Background:...
by profession. Her family lives in MumbaiMumbaiMumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. As an air hostess, she spends her nights serving the passengers on board and lives at the hotels in the various cities where her work takes her. Sata finds her simple minded, smart and attractive and falls in love with her. She too commits to Sata and buys him a new apartment where they would spend together once married. Unfortunately, at her last flight as the air hostess, before leaving her profession (married women can no longer be employed as air hostesses), she meets with a trajic air crash and dies in the process. This accident leaves Sata bereaved and heart-broken.
Soundtrack
Among the lyrics is a classic rendering of "Ai Kothati Mone Rekho" ("Remember These Words")from Rabindra Sangeet
Rabindra Sangeet
Rabindra Sangeet , also known as Tagore Songs in English, is a form of music composed by Rabindranath Tagore who added a new dimension to the musical concept of India in general and Bengal in specific....
.
Besides that there were two popular solos sung by the legendary Hemanta Mukherji('Kache Robe') and Manna Dey('Baro Eka Laage'and it was picturised on Uttam Kumar).
External links
- Chowringhee at the The Complete Index To World Film