Bandini [DVD]

A must for Nutan fans

picture quality great and thoroughly enjoyed the film

Bandini is arguably Bimal Roy's greatest and most complete film, Do Bigha Zameen nothwithstanding. The story is based on a book by Jarasandha, a former jail superintendent who wrote fictional versions of his experiences (Louha-Kapat (1953), Tamasha (1958), Nyaydanda (1961)). Set at a time when women had no choices, the film's protagonist Kalyani had the courage to not only make choices in her life but choices which at times might appear to be even wrong ones as she gives up everything for love. The title, Bandini, is explained in the climax of the film in the song Mere Saajan Hai Us Paar - Main Bandini Hoon Piya ki, Main Sangini Hoon Saajan ki...The character of Kalyani gets lifted from that of a woman who is a prisoner of destiny to one who defines her own freedom. It may be another form of servitude but it is one of her own making, not something imposed on her. While the events of the story are highly melodramatic, Bimalda takes great care to handle them with sensitivity, simplicity and subtlety. He beautifully uses imagery and sound to convey the various moods of the female prisoner, Kalyani. Splendid use is made of the prison guard as he announces 'Sab Theek Hai (Everything is fine)' at times when nothing is actually going well. The first time he does so, a freedom fighter is caught and brought to the jail. The second time Deven goes out of Kalyani's life and the third time the freedom fighter is hung, all fine examples of making an ironic counterpoint in the film. If one person is the life and soul of Bandini, it is Nutan. Bandini sees her give an extra-ordinary performance - certainly one of the greatest by an actress in Indian Cinema ranking right there with Nargis in Mother India (1957) and Meena Kumari in Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). Totally devoid of highly charged emotion and theatrics, Nutan appears as a quiet woman with her passions raging from within her and plays her role with great delicacy and dignity. One just has to see the entire gamut of emotions fleeting across her face in the film's key sequence as she murders her lover's wife. It is a masterful performance by an artiste supreme at the peak of her histrionic powers.Nutan is strongly supported by Ashok Kumar, whose flawles performance matches Nutan scene for scene and Dharmendra, just beginning to make an impact in the film industry. Bandini is brilliantly photographed by Kamal Bose with its rich tonal quality and evocative framing. The film also sees the debut of Gulzar as a lyricist with Mora Gora Ang Laile, perhaps one of the most romantic songs in Indian Cinema as it expresses the heroine's first flush of love. The other songs, written by Shailendra, further add to the poetic quality of the film be it the haunting O Jaanewale Ho Sake to Laut ke Aanaa, or the soulful Ab ke Baras conveying Kalyani's solitude in prison at one level and the lament of the female prisoner singing it with no hopes of release at another. The music by S.D. Burman represents perhaps some of the finest work he has done in his entire career. Mora Gora Ang Laile, Ab ke Baras and O Jaanewaale always feature in the best ever songs of Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Mukesh respectively. Burmanda himself is in fine form as he renders the climactic song Mere Sajan Hai Us Paar with Nutan beautifully expressing Kalyani's dilemma of having to choose between security and love. The song picturizations by Bimalda help enrich the film even further. Quite simply one of the greatest films of Indian Cinema!

The life can be problematic. Yes, it is. In this story, love of good people are showcased. Brave freedom fighter. Generous medical doctor. Kind Jailer. And, a lady respected and loved by many people. Still, it takes great efforts and time for them to become happy. I love the ending of this story. Thank you very much, India.

Poor digitization of an ancient movie. Good story and good songs. Murshed AlamAhmed

Shemaroo is always the best

Amazing movie. Amazing amazon.

fine.