Dada Thakur (1962 film)

Dada Thakur (also Dadathakur) is a 1962 Bengali feature film based on the life of publisher and satirist Sarat Chandra Pandit (popularly known as Dada Thakur), starring Chhabi Biswas in the lead role. At the 10th National Film Awards, it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film.[1]

For 2001 Bengali film, see Dada Thakur (2001 film).

Dada Thakur
Directed bySudhir Mukherjee
Produced byShyamlal Jalan
StarringChhabi Biswas
Biswajit Chatterjee
Sulata Chowdhury
Tarun Kumar
Chhaya Devi
Music byHemanta Mukherjee
Release date
1962
Running time
153 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali

Plot

The film is based closely on the life of the real-life Dada Thakur, and was made in his lifetime. Dada Thakur (Chhabi Biswas) starts his career with a hand-operated press, with his wife (Chhaya Devi) as his assistant. Later he is joined by Nalini Kanta Sarkar (Tarun Kumar), an underground freedom-fighter. Dada Thakur brings out the newspaper Jangipur Sangbad. He campaigns against social evils and earns the ire of the ruling classes. He saves a girl, Lata (Sulata Chowdhury), from the unwanted advances of Darpanarayan (Biswajit Chatterjee), scion of the local zamindar. Lata joins the ranks of freedom fighters working with Sarkar. Subsequently, a reformed Darpanarayan too becomes an ardent follower of Dada Thakur and joins the struggle for India's freedom. Dada Thakur's greatest success is when he helps an ordinary man, a petty shopkeeper, get elected as the Municipal Commissioner of Jangipur.

Cast

Crew
  • Direction - Sudhir Mukherjee
  • Production - Shyamlal Jalan
  • Music - Hemanta Mukherjee
  • Audiography - Satyen Chatterjee

Production

The casting of the film was done in 1957. Biswajit, who made his debut with this film, recalls: "There was a family like atmosphere prevailing in the entire unit then. I fondly recollect one night when I was having disturbance in sleeping due to mosquito bites. We were shooting outdoors. Chhabi Biswas, like a parent figure, took care personally putting up a mosquito net and covered me with a blanket."[2]

Reception

When released, the film enjoyed both commercial and critical success. The performance of Chhabi Biswas as Dada Thakur was much appreciated. It is said that Sarat Pandit himself praised Biswas' portrayal.[3] Biswas' death in a road accident shortly before the film's release undoubtedly played a role in its commercial success. At the 10th National Film Awards, it won the top prize, ahead of the better known films Abhijan, directed by Satyajit Ray, and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, produced by Guru Dutt and directed by Abrar Alvi.[1] It also won a couple of BFJA Awards, including Best Indian Film.

Preservation

The film has been restored and digitised by the National Film Archive of India.[4]

Awards

10th National Film Awards
  • National Film Award for Best Feature Film [1]

BFJA Awards (1962)
  • Best Indian Films
  • Best Audiography - Satyen Chatterjee [5]

References
  1. "10th National Film Awards: Catalogue" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Government of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  2. "My First Break: Biswajit". The Hindu. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  3. "Chhabi Biswas|Upperstall.com". Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  4. "Digitized and Restored Films List" (PDF). nfai.gov.in. National Film Archive of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  5. "Dadathakur (1962) Awards". gomolo.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.


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