Chaowa Pawa (1959 film)

Manju (Suchitra Sen) is the only daughter of newspaper tycoon (Chhabi Biswas), who owns the publishing house of one of the leading newspapers of Kolkata (and Bengal) named 'Janamat'. To keep up with the competition, she is particularly concerned with discipline and professionalism at all levels in the office, and her employees bear the brunt of her exacting authority. Rajat Sen (Uttam Kumar), one of her employees, is a staff reporter by profession. Rajat is a very smart and jovial guy but, unable to meet his boss' expectations, frequently gets ridiculed by him. He gets threatened to be fired when he messes up collecting a scoop, which leads him to think of changing careers. He can't because he doesn't have enough savings.

Manju's father also has his own troubles in life, mostly due to his daughter's lack of discipline. Being a widower and a businessman, he has to largely depend on his servants for his daughter's needs. Manju misbehaves with the servants every now and then, sometimes over petty issues, news of which reaches her father courtesy of the manager of the house. Annoyed by Manju's persistent mischief, her father is determined to marry her off to a highly educated man from an affluent family well known to him, against her will.

One day they head out on a trip to Somra, with the father's intention of the engagement ceremony to be held there. According to his plan, they are to be joined by Asit (the man the father has chosen for Manju) on the way. This is a surprise to Manju. On the way, Asit tries to impress her but his overly benevolent gestures and funny mannerisms increasingly annoy Manju, who tricks him and her sleeping father and escapes with only a briefcase which has the Bengali letter "Mo" (the initial letter of her name) inscribed on it. She boards a different train, where she accidentally meets Rajat, who is on his way to Patna. She has to seek help from him as she has no ticket or money. Initially reluctant, Rajat finally saves her from humiliation by letting her borrow his ticket to show to the checker while he himself pretends to be a passenger without a ticket.

Rajat soon deduces Manju's exact identity from the advertisement for missing people in classified columns of the newspapers given by her father with a detailed description of her and also with the announcement of a reward of 10000 rupees. In dire need of money, Rajat plots a plan to claim the bounty. He persuades Manju to travel with him by letting her know about his knowledge of her real identity while on the other hand he writes a letter to her anxious father and promises to update him regularly on their whereabouts. Reaching Patna, they board in an inn owned by a Bengali middle-aged man named Chakrabortymoshai/Chokkottimoshai (Tulsi Chakraborty). They book a room as a newlywed couple. While Rajat carries on playing his part of 'the husband' very smartly, it was Manju's awkwardness which instills suspicion in clever Chakraborty's mind, who himself also deduces the truth after going through the newspaper. In an attempt to grab the opportunity, Chakraborty together with his wife (Rajlakshmi Devi) tries to keep the couple on hold while planning to report to the police but his plan is foiled by a surprise arrival of Banku (Jiben Bose), a frequent customer of the inn who happens to be a friend of Rajat's. Surprised at seeing the newlywed Rajat and mistaking them to have come for honeymoon, he invites them to his home which Rajat quickly accepts in order to escape Chakraborty.

In his house, Banku introduces them to his wife (Bharati Devi) and his 'mejda' (elder brother), who by fate happens to be a self-proclaimed private investigator. Though Rajat and Manju feel much comfortable and at home due to the cordiality and friendly nature of Banku and his wife, trouble finds its own way too here in the form of that 'mejda' who soon starts suspecting something fishy about their new guests and gradually investigates out the truth. Meanwhile, Banku's wife arranges a romantic evening for the 'couple' at their rooftop on a full-moon day. Impressed by Rajat's good and simple nature and honesty, Manju is slowly falling in love with him. She thus goes with the arrangements with an expectation of reciprocation from Rajat, whom she has realised to have developed feelings towards her too. She meets Rajat and tells him that she will wait for his 'answer'. Rajat, on the other hand, is in a conflict between his duty towards his boss (so far, he slyly let him get updated about their whereabouts) as well his need for money and his newly developed crush on Manju. The night is spent pleasantly, and they shared their thoughts in the form of two songs. However, Rajat's message was to terminate any possibility of starting a relationship that disheartens Manju. She decides to step back respectfully. Their good time at Banku's house also comes to an end as the 'mejda' arranges a meeting with her father. Sensing his plan is now at stake Rajat hurriedly leaves with Manju even without any formal see off. He leaves a letter to explain the situation and also revealing the truth to Banku and his wife, who was stunned and Mejda is disappointed.

Next, Rajat and Manju book a guesthouse for the night's stay. They book two separate rooms to avoid staying together. However, their feelings towards each other deepen yet they both reserve their emotions and maintain their dignities. Manju urges Rajat to leave to her friend's house to which he agrees. However, he secretly arranges a meeting with Manju's father in that friend's house as he wants to get rid of his current situation and get his much-needed money in hand.

In the climax, Manju confronts her father instead of her friend in her house. She despises Rajat for his 'betrayal' but he is thanked cordially by his obliged boss and is handed over the prize money. However, he feels differently as he thinks more of Manju and returns the money back before leaving. He is walking out he is stopped by Manju herself who this time expresses her deep love to him. Manju stretches out her arms around Rajat's neck which immediately dissolves every bit of their awkwardness and their romantic relationship begins.

• Uttam Kumar as Rajat Sen, a young, smart journalist working as an employee under Manju's father at the newspaper agency 'Janamat', who initially eyes for the bounty announced for Manju's return but later falls in love with her.
• Suchitra Sen as Manju, the single daughter of a rich, newspaper tycoon, who initially is short-tempered and spoiled kid later turns into a benevolent and sweet personality as she gradually develops a romantic interest in Rajat.
• Chhabi Biswas as Manju's father, a newspaper tycoon, and a dignified man full of authority and professionalism. He is a caring father, who is determined to marry his daughter to a person of his choice initially and later announces prize money over his daughter's safe return.
• Tulsi Chakraborty as Chakraborty "Chokkotty" Moshai, a clever inn-keeper who plots a plan to grab the prize money.
• Jiben Bose as Banku/Banka, Rajat's friend, a jovial good-hearted person who invites Rajat and Manju to his home.
• Bharati Devi as Banku's wife, a friendly woman who acts as a catalyst in Rajat and Manju's relationship.
• Anil Chatterjee
• Amar Mullick
• Rajlakshmi Devi as Chakraborty's wife.
• Shailen Mukherjee as guest house manager.

• Director: Tarun Majumdar, Sachin Mukherjee, Dilip Mukherjee (as Yatrik
• Producer: Time Films
• Music director: Nachiketa Ghosh
• Cinematographer: Anil Gupta, Jyoti Laha
• Playback singer: Hemanta Mukherjee, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay

• Chaowa Pawa on IMDb
• www.citwf.com