Komal Gandhar
Encyclopedia
Kamol Gandhar is a 1961 Bengali
film written and directed by noted film maker Ritwik Ghatak. It was part of the trilogy, Meghe Dhaka Tara
(1960), Komal Gandhar, and Subarnarekha
(1962), all dealing with the aftermath of the Partition of India
in 1947 and the refugees coping with it, though this was the most optimistic film of his oeuvre. The film explores three themes juxtaposed in the narrative, the dilemma of Anusuya, the lead character, divided leadership of IPTA
and the fallout of the partition of India.
that meant a sur or note, E-flat
. As in other films by Ghatak, music plays a pivotal role in the movie.
Through the microcosmic perspectivising of a group of devoted and uncompromising IPTA
workers, Ghatak with his signature style touches on varied issues of partition
, idealism, corruption, the interdependence of art and life, the scope of art, and class-struggle. Unlike his other films, this one runs along an upbeat mood with the lead pair of lovers (Vrigu and Anusua) being reunited.
, and a noted Rabindra Sangeet
exponent who had previously given music in Ghatak's Meghe Dhaka Tara
(1960), and had song by singers like, Bijon Bhattacharya
, Debabrata Biswas
, Hemanga Biswas
. Bahadur Khan
played sarod
in the soundtrack. The film is noted for its wedding songs and also contrapuntal use of sound.
Bengali cinema
Bengali cinema refers to the Bengali language filmmaking industries in the Bengal region of South Asia. There are two major film-making hubs in the region: one in Kolkata, West Bengal, India and the other in Dhaka, Bangladesh .The history of cinema in Bengal dates back to the 1890s, when the first...
film written and directed by noted film maker Ritwik Ghatak. It was part of the trilogy, Meghe Dhaka Tara
Meghe Dhaka Tara
Meghe Dhaka Tara is a 1960 film by written and director Ritwik Ghatak, based on a novel Shaktipada Rajguru. It stars Supriya Choudhury, Anil Chatterjee, Gita Dey, Bijan Bhattacharya, Niranjan Roy, and Gyanesh Mukherjee...
(1960), Komal Gandhar, and Subarnarekha
Subarnarekha (film)
Subarnarekha is an Indian Bengali film directed by Ritwik Ghatak. It was produced in 1962 but was not released until 1965. It was part of the trilogy, Meghe Dhaka Tara , Komal Gandhar , and Subarnarekha , all dealing with the aftermath of the Partition of India in 1947 and the refugees coping with...
(1962), all dealing with the aftermath of the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947 and the refugees coping with it, though this was the most optimistic film of his oeuvre. The film explores three themes juxtaposed in the narrative, the dilemma of Anusuya, the lead character, divided leadership of IPTA
Ipta
IPTA can refer to:* Indian People's Theatre Association* International Pulsar Timing Array...
and the fallout of the partition of India.
Overview
The title was taken from the line of a poem by Rabindranath TagoreRabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
that meant a sur or note, E-flat
E-flat
E-flat may refer to:* E♭ * E-flat major* E-flat minor* E-flat tuning, on a guitar...
. As in other films by Ghatak, music plays a pivotal role in the movie.
Through the microcosmic perspectivising of a group of devoted and uncompromising IPTA
Ipta
IPTA can refer to:* Indian People's Theatre Association* International Pulsar Timing Array...
workers, Ghatak with his signature style touches on varied issues of partition
Partition of Bengal (1947)
The Partition of Bengal in 1947, part of the Partition of India, was a religiously based partition that divided the British Indian province of Bengal between India and Pakistan...
, idealism, corruption, the interdependence of art and life, the scope of art, and class-struggle. Unlike his other films, this one runs along an upbeat mood with the lead pair of lovers (Vrigu and Anusua) being reunited.
Cast
- Abinash Bannerjee as Bhrigu
- Abhi BhattacharyaAbhi BhattacharyaAbhi Bhattacharya was an Indian actor of Hindi and Bengali cinema, who is most remembered for his roles in films in 50s and the 60s, such as Yatrik , Jagriti , Anuradha and Subarnarekha...
- Bijon BhattacharyaBijon BhattacharyaBijon Bhattacharya was a prominent Indian theatre and film personality from Bengal.Bijon was born in 1917 at Faridpur in a Hindu Brahmin family, and was early a witness to the destitution and penury of the peasantry of that land...
as Gagan - Satindra Bhattacharya as Shibnath
- Debabrata BiswasDebabrata BiswasDebabrata Biswas , also known as George Biswas or George-da , was an Indian Rabindra Sangeet singer.-Early life:...
- Madhabi MukherjeeMadhabi MukherjeeMadhabi Mukherjee née Chakraborty is a reputed Bengali actress who has acted in some of the most critically acclaimed films in Bengali cinema.Her major role was the title role of Charu in Satyajit Ray's masterpiece Charulata...
- Anil ChatterjeeAnil ChatterjeeAnil Chatterjee was a Bengali actor in the Bengali cinema during the early fifties through to the late eighties and was mostly remembered as a character actor. He acted in about 45 movies, both as a character actor and in leading roles with the limited opportunities he received during his time...
as Rishi - Satyabrata Chattopadhyay
- 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...
as Anusuya - Gita DeyGita DeyGita Dey was a well-known actress in Bengali film, theatre and Bengali folk theatre. She acted in over two hundred Bengali language films and over two thousand stage shows.-Early life:...
Soundtrack
Music was by Jyotirindra Moitra, from IPTAIpta
IPTA can refer to:* Indian People's Theatre Association* International Pulsar Timing Array...
, and a noted 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....
exponent who had previously given music in Ghatak's Meghe Dhaka Tara
Meghe Dhaka Tara
Meghe Dhaka Tara is a 1960 film by written and director Ritwik Ghatak, based on a novel Shaktipada Rajguru. It stars Supriya Choudhury, Anil Chatterjee, Gita Dey, Bijan Bhattacharya, Niranjan Roy, and Gyanesh Mukherjee...
(1960), and had song by singers like, Bijon Bhattacharya
Bijon Bhattacharya
Bijon Bhattacharya was a prominent Indian theatre and film personality from Bengal.Bijon was born in 1917 at Faridpur in a Hindu Brahmin family, and was early a witness to the destitution and penury of the peasantry of that land...
, Debabrata Biswas
Debabrata Biswas
Debabrata Biswas , also known as George Biswas or George-da , was an Indian Rabindra Sangeet singer.-Early life:...
, Hemanga Biswas
Hemanga Biswas
Hemanga Biswas was an exponent of the Bhantiali folk music, originally popular among the fishermen of Bangladesh. He was born in 1912.-Songs:Hemanga Biswas wrote and sung some popular songs in Bengali...
. Bahadur Khan
Bahadur Khan
Ustad Bahadur Khan was a sarod player.-Early Life & Family:Ustad Bahadur Khan, a Bengali, was born on January 19, 1931 in Shibpur, Comilla, Bangladesh, , and died on October 3, 1989 in Calcutta, India...
played sarod
Sarod
The sarod is a stringed musical instrument, used mainly in Indian classical music. Along with the sitar, it is the most popular and prominent instrument in the classical music of Hindustan...
in the soundtrack. The film is noted for its wedding songs and also contrapuntal use of sound.