Jhinder Bandi
| Jhinder Bandi | |
|---|---|
 DVD Cover | |
| Jhinder Bandi | |
| Directed by | Tapan Sinha |
| Produced by | Bhola Nath Roy |
| Screenplay by | Tapan Sinha |
| Based on |
Jhinder Bondi by Saradindu Bandyopadhyay The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope |
| Starring |
Uttam Kumar Arundhati Devi Soumitra Chatterjee |
| Music by | Ali Akbar Khan |
| Cinematography | Bimal Mukherjee |
| Edited by | Subodh Roy |
Production company |
B. N. Productions |
Release date |
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| Country | India |
| Language | Bengali |
Jhinder Bandi (Bengali: ঝিন্দের বন্দী; English: Prisoner of Jhind) is a 1961 Indian Bengali-language historical drama film directed by Tapan Sinha, starring Uttam Kumar, Soumitra Chatterjee, Arundhati Devi, Tarun Kumar and Radhamohan Bhattacharya in lead roles.
The film was based on a novel of same name ঝিন্দের বন্দী written by Saradindu Bandyopadhyay ,though the ending has been totally altered as that was in the novel,whose base plot was adopted from the 1894 novel The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope which was had already been adapted into a 1937 film The Prisoner of Zenda. Human emotions like hate, love, jealousy and betrayal are all well dealt in the movie. For the first time Soumitra Chatterjee is seen in a villainous role. Soul touching music by Ali Akbar Khan further adds a facet to the film.
Plot
A person comes to meet with Gauri Shankar Roy (Uttam Kumar) living in Kolkata. He introduces himself as a 'fauji Sardar' of Jhind, Jhind being a small kingdom in Madhya Pradesh. He says that the to-be king of Jhind, Shankar Singh, is found missing from the kingdom right before his coronation and this is apparently a conspiracy by his own brother Udit Singh, who wants the kingdom for himself. Earlier too there were two occasions when abhishek was arranged but both the times the king was found missing. Udit is a cruel hearted man, unfit to be a good king. Shankar Singh has his vices too but is a kind hearted person who would care for his citizens and is thus worthy to be the king. Now, coincidentally, Gauri has exactly the same appearance as Shankar Singh(also played by Uttam Kumar). This being the last hope, Sardar requests him to enact the role of the King for the abhishek until he finds the real king. Gauri agrees.The two set off for Jhind.
Things aren't easy at the Palace in Jhind. Despite the great luxury of kingly life, Gauri is constantly threatened by Udit and his friend, the dashingly handsome but evil Mayurvahan (Soumitra Chatterjee). The abhishek however takes place successfully in the occasion of which the king is also engaged to Rani Kasturi Bai (Arundhati Devi). While the atmosphere gets more and more tensed, the life of king is at stake, there is also a blooming romance between Kasturi Bai and Gauri.
A secret agent unfolds that the king is hidden in the fortress owned by Udit who will murder him as soon as he gets rid of Gauri. Sardar then reveals to Gauri in secret that Gauri deserves the throne as much as Shankar or Udit because they were all the sons of the then-Dewan of Jhind,Kali Shankar Roy. The then-king being issue less, adopted Shankar and Udit as sons.
Planning a secret entry to the fortress where king was held prisoner, Gauri fights a battle with Mayurvahan, finally killing him as well as surprising and killing Udit. As he approaches his look-alike Shankar Singh, he has a momentary desire to kill the king, gaining the kingdom himself, he being as deserving by his blood as was Shankar Singh, but his humanity wins over and he approaches the king addressing him as "Your Highness". He then bids a last goodbye to Kasturi Bai and rides a horse, heading back to Kolkata.
Cast
- Uttam Kumar as Gauri Shankar Roy/Shankar Singh
- Arundhati Devi as Rani Kasturi Bai
- Soumitra Chatterjee as Mayurvahan
- Radhamohan Bhattacharya as Fauji Sardar of Jhind
- Tarun Kumar as Udit Singh, Brother of Shankar Singh
- Dilip Roy as Rudrarup, a loyal companion of the king
- Sandhya Roy as Champa
- Dhiren Mukherjee