BHOPAL : Based on a Bengali novel, ‘Shaheb Bibi Golam’, penned by Bimal Mitra, “Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam” – a milestone movie – was screened here on Thursday at the Antarang Hall of Bharat Bhawan as part of the 34th anniversary celebrations of Bharat Bhawan.
Based on British-era Bengal Zamindars, the black and white movie released in 1962 was directed by Abrar Alvi and produced by Guru Dutt. The screenplay was by Dutt and Alvi. The film’s music is by Hemant Kumar and lyrics were by Shakeel Badayuni. The film stars Guru Dutt, Meena Kumari, Rehman, Waheeda Rehman and Nazir Hussain.
The film was a major critical and commercial success, with critics attributing it to Meena Kumari’s performance as Chhoti Bahu, which is regarded as one of the finest performances of Hindi cinema. It won four Filmfare Awards, including Best Movie award.
The movie is a look into the tragic fall of the haveli-dom and feudalism in Bengal during the British Raj. It is noteworthy here that it was not shot in Calcutta but a haveli was created in Bombay for Meena Kumari scenes.
The title of the movie and the story is a reference to the plot simultaneously exploring a platonic friendship between a beautiful, lonely wife of an aristocrat and a young man.
“I saw this movie for the first time. In fact this is the first Meena Kumari film I have seen. Its songs are mind blowing. The movie portrays the agony of women of aristocrat family wonderfully”, said Manisha, a Ph.D scholar.
“It is a moving tale of a hapless young woman, whose husband considers spending nights with prostitutes and getting dead drunk as a sign of aristocracy. The woman does everything she can think of to woo her husband – she starts drinking, she seduces her, she uses a magical vermillion. But nothing works. Ultimately, with her husband paralysed and the family falling on bad times, she is got murdered by the elder brother of her husband on the suspicion that she was having an extra-marital affair. And Meena Kumari excelled herself in the film”, said Suresh Chaudhary, who works in a private firm.
