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Ogo Bodhu Shundori

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Ogo Bodhu Shundori
Theatrical poster of Ogo Bodhu Shundori
Directed bySalil Dutta
Adapted fromPygmalion (British Play) by George Bernard Shaw
My Fair Lady (British Film)
by George Cukor
Screenplay byBibhuti Mukherjee
Dialogues byBibhuti Mukherjee
Story byKamal Bansal
Produced byKamal Bansal
StarringUttam Kumar
Ranjit Mallick
Moushumi Chatterjee
Sumitra Mukherjee
Santosh Dutta
Bikash Roy
CinematographyBijoy Ghosh
Edited byBaidyanath Chatterjee
Music byBappi Lahiri
Production
company
R. D. B. & Co.
Distributed byR. D. B. & Co
Release date
  • 6 February 1981 (1981-02-06)
Running time
132 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali

Ogo Bodhu Shundori (/ˈoɡo ˈbɔd̪ʱu ʃunˈd̪ɔri/ transl. Hey Beautiful Bride) is a 1981 Bengali-language romantic comedy film directed by Salil Dutta. Produced and conceptualized by Kamal Bansal under the banner of R. D. B. & Co.,[1] the title of the film is taken from a Rabindra Sangeet of the same. It stars Uttam Kumar, Ranjit Mallick, Moushumi Chatterjee and Sumitra Mukherjee in lead roles, with a supporting cast including Santosh Dutta, Bikash Roy, Haradhan Banerjee and Chinmoy Roy. It depicts Gagan, a phonetics professor who casually wagers his socialistic wife of teaching a poor monkey-showwoman to speak Bengali and English and also making her cultured with the society.

Written by Bibhuti Mukherjee, the film is an adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion (1913) and George Cukor's American film My Fair Lady (1964).[2] It marks the seventh collaboration between Dutta and Kumar.[3] Music of the film is composed by Bappi Lahiri, with lyrics penned by Mukherjee. The cinematography of the film is handled by Bijoy Ghosh, while Baidyanath Chatterjee edited the film. It was predominantly shot in Kolkata and Mumbai, and is also known for showing the Kolkata Book Fair in a sequence.

In July 1980, when the filming was in the process, Kumar died suffering from heart attack and his lookalike Prabir Kumar was brought in to stand in for him for the final sections of the film and for the song "O Daddy, O Mummy".[4] Because of the incompletion of dubbing his portions, Kumar's voice from the original footages was kept intact in the film,[5] and his brother Tarun Kumar dubbed for him due to mechanical glitches in some scenes.[6][7]

Ogo Bodhu Shundori theatrically released on 6 February 1981, after the languishment in production hell for seven months. It opened to highly positive response both critically and commercially. The soundtrack album of the film sold 8 million copies in West Bengal, also generally gaining a cult status among the audiences. It emerged as the highest-grossing Bengali film of 1981, running for over 26 weeks in theatres. The Times of India included the film in their list of "Bengali cinema's greatest comedy films".[8]

Plot

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In Kolkata, Professor Gagan Sen, a scholar of phonetics, gets honoured by Indian Languages Council for his phonetical research on the Bengali-language, accompanied by his assistant Abalakanta Dutta. He believes that a person's accent determines their prospects in society. Despite not liking to socialise, Gagan's wife Chitra always loves attending parties and functions. She always fails to interprete Gagan, and claims him to be "Old-school", because of his time-spending in reading various books and researches on the literature. As a result, detractors in society mock her, saying that she has completely flunked to subdue Gagan.

While visiting the Kolkata Book Fair one evening, Gagan observes Sabitri, a monkey-showwoman with a unique tribal accent, and notes the words down. He observes her trying to buy books and understands that she is keen to learn the language. Though he approaches her get tutioned, she doesn't believe Gagan and turns him down. On the other hand, her uncle, with whom she lives, allows a lustful drunkard to enter Sabitri's room. This leads her to come out of her room. Feeling disoriented, she roams here-and-there and all on a sudden notices Abalakanta. She identifies Gagan's residence by following Abalakanta, in order to seek lessons the following morning.

Gagan agrees and describes how women ruin lives ("I'm an Ordinary Man"). He boasts he could teach even someone like Sabitri to speak so well he could pass her off as a duchess at an embassy ball

Escaping from there she takes shelter in Gagan's house. When Gagan's wife sees Sabitri in their reading room, she leaves for her grandfather's house.

Gagan and Abalakanta help Sabitri learn etiquette and the ways of genteel society. Gagan plans an alliance between Sabitri and Abalakanta. But Sabitri does not agree. Gagan finds out that Sandeep loves Sabitri and arranges for theri wedding. Chitra's servant tells her that Gagan is marrying Savitri. Chitra back home along with her grandfather and realises that the bridegroom is sandeep, who happens to be her brother. The film thus ends on a happy note.

Cast

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Production

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The film was based on the 1913 English play Pygmalion of George Bernard Shaw which is it'self based on the super hit British musical comedy film called My Fair Lady. The legendary actor and the matinee idol of Bengal Mahanayak Uttam Kumar died during the production.[15]

Director Salil Dutta remembering the last two days of Uttam Kumar shooting. In the day July 22 There was a shot after lunch break. Suddenly Uttam closed his eyes with his hand on his forehead. All eyes were on Uttam. Blood was seen coming from the forehead. Director Salil Dutta quickly went ahead and seated Uttam. That scene was scene of throwing a Jaipuri ashtray. A piece of it stuck on the door and hit him on the forehead. Director quickly packed up and called the doctor, who was. a private doctor of Uttam. The doctor came in time, checked him and said that it was nothing and left some medicine. Then director wanted to stop the shoot for that day but Uttam protested against stopping the shooting. Uttam said During a work, such small and big incidents will happen. Then Uttam starts the shooting again.[16][17]

On 23 July, while going for the shooting, Uttam noticed that his favorite tap recorder was not in the car. Everyday in his free time, he used to listen to songs and recorded speeches by that tape recorder. It couldn't be found even after searching every place. This incident hurt him a lot. He came to the shooting spot with a lot of sadness. The last scene of the film which he shot that day was as follows- Sumitra Mukherjee, who played the role of his wife, was going to his father house in anger and Uttam was repeatedly trying to stop his wife by shaving his beard and saying his last dialogue, Amio Dekhe Nebo Amar Naam Gogon Sen. At that time he was having a heart at his hand going between his chest while speaking the dialogue.[18][19]

Soundtrack

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Ogo Badhu Sundari
Soundtrack album by
Bappi Lahiri
Released1981
Recorded1980
StudioBansal & Company
GenreFeature Film Soundtrack
Length0:33:25
LabelSA RE GA MA
ProducerKamal Bansal
Bappi Lahiri chronology
Sahhas
(1981) 		Ogo Badhu Sundari
(1981) 		Wardat
(1981)

All lyrics are written by Bibhuti Mukherjee; all music is composed by Bappi Lahiri.

Songs
No.TitlePlaybackLength
1."Ei To Jiban"Kishore Kumar4:23
2."Shikhte Tomay Hobei"Kishore Kumar5:00
3."Ami Ekjon Shanto Shishto"Kishore Kumar3:18
4."Nari Charitra"Kishore Kumar2:34
5."O Daddy O Mummy"Preeti Sagar, Chandrani Mukherjee, Poornima5:30
6."Ei Duk Duk"Asha Bhosle3:32
7."Malabika Anamika"Bappi Lahiri5:31
8."Tui Joto Phool"Asha Bhosle3:37
Total length:33:25

[20]

Release & Reception

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The film was made in 1980 but released in next year 1981 February. There was a huge craze for the film because this was Bengal's favorite matinee idol Uttam Kumar's one of the last films, who died during filming on 24 July 1980. There was not much promotion for the film but still there was huge hype.[21]

The film received overwhelming response from the critics and it is regarded as one of the best comedy Bengali films. The Times Of India kept this in their Bengali Cinema's all time greatest comedy films list.[8][22]

The film was also remembered for its song and Uttam Kumar- Kishore Kumar combination.[23] This was only the second Bengali film and only Uttam Kumar film where Bappi Lahiri composed the music. The album became huge hit and is still popular today.[24]

When the film was released, there was huge craze in theaters for the tickets and police charged lathi. The Bengali audience filled up all the theaters to see their idol one of the last work on screen. The film generally became blockbuster hit and is often regarded as one of the major hits in the history of Bengali Cinema. and ran for 26 weeks constantly in theaters. The film also became one of the highest grossers in that year.[25]

Trivia

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In 2010 a Bengali film was made in a same title directed by Sunanda Mitra. The film starring Shreelekha Mitra, Sabitri Chatterjee, Babul Supriyo, Monami Ghosh and Kharaj Mukherjee.[26][27] This is not a remake film of original. It's a tribute to Uttam Kumar and original Ogo Badhu Sundari film. In this film Babul played same name of Uttam Kumar as Uttam Kumar Chatterjee who is a die hard Uttam Kumar fan. There is also three song used in the movie from Uttam Kumar's film.[28]

References

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  1. ^ Ramnath, Nandini (21 September 2024). "The journey of R. D. Bansal & Co". Scroll.in. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025. Apart from the Ray movies, Bansal produced at least 29 other Bengali films, which include Salil Dutta's Ogo Bodhu Shundori (1981).
  2. ^ Mathur, Jitendra (18 February 2018). "Pygmalion and His Fair Lady". WordPress.com. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  3. ^ Gupta, Somashis (3 September 2023). "History of 3rd September- Uttam Kumar". East India Story. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Ogo Bodhu Shundori". The Indian Express. 15 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  5. ^ Bose, Priyanka (3 September 2021). "'ওগো বধূ সুন্দরী' নয়, উত্তম কুমারের শেষ ছবি ছিল অন্য! কোন ছবি জানেন?". Hindustan Times (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Did you know Uttam Kumar's last film wasn't Ogo Bodhu Shundori?". The Times of India. 3 September 2021. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025. Uttam Kumar finished his dubbing for 'Plot No. 5' in 1980 and then came back to Kolkata for his commitments to few other Bengali projects.
  7. ^ "Plot No 5, and not Ogo Bodhu Sundori was Uttam Kumar's last movie to release". Get Bengal. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Bengali cinema's all-time greatest comedy films". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  9. ^ "In the name of the hero". The Telegraph. 16 October 2006. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Let us go then, you and I..." The Telegraph. 8 October 2006. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025. The most popular on-screen pairing in the Bengali film industry after Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen had fizzled out when Prosenjit and Rituparna Sengupta parted ways on screen at the turn of the millennium.
  11. ^ Banerjee, Sudeshna (4 September 2010). "Uttam Kumar, the cashier - Labour of love by successor in office". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025. "I had about 60 per cent of these booklets at home. The rest I acquired from Prof Dipankar Chatterjee — he had sung songs composed by Uttam Kumar — and two other people," says Pal.
  12. ^ "Bride turns to ballot battle". The Telegraph. 5 May 2004. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025. Mousumi Chatterjee spoke about her celluloid trip from Balika Bodhu to Ogo Bodhu Sundari in her appeal for votes.
  13. ^ "UTTAM AND I..." The Telegraph. 4 September 2007. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  14. ^ Nag, Kushali (1 April 2013). "POPCORN PISHIMA!". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Uttam Kumar's last shot from 'Ogo Bodhu Sundori' forever etched in Bengal's memory". The Times of India. 24 July 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  16. ^ Basu, Satarupa (27 April 2024). "There Is A Kind Of Intense 'Bangaliana' Which Characterises My Films: Srijit Mukherji". Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  17. ^ admin (22 November 2020). "Uttam Kumar's last film scene/পরিচালক সলিল দত্তের দেখা ওগো বধূ সুন্দরী ছবির শেষ দৃশ্য - Uttam Kumr". Bengali lyrics. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Uttam Kumar: জীবনের শেষ দৃশ্যেও উত্তম বুঝতে দেননি হার্ট অ্যাটাক হচ্ছে". Aaj Tak (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  19. ^ Chowdhury, Sayandeb (23 July 2022). "The Day Uttam Kumar Died". Film Companion. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  20. ^ "Ogo Badhu Sundari Songs". play.raaga.com. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  21. ^ Chakraborty, Yajnaseni (1 July 2025). "Modern Masterpieces: Ogo Bodhu Shundori, the comedy that runs deep – GetBengal story". Get Bengal. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  22. ^ Ghosh, Tanushree (24 July 2024). "Remembering Uttam Kumar: 12 must-watch Bengali films of Bengal's superstar". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Kishore Kumar Uttam Kumar: উত্তম থেকে কিশোর, রোজ রাতে 'দুই কুমার'-এর আড্ডায় থাকুন". Aaj Tak (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  24. ^ Bagchi, Sumedha. "শুধু হিন্দিই নয়, বাংলা গানকেও নতুন মোড় দিয়েছিলেন বাপ্পি লাহিড়ী - Prohor". Prohor. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Uttam Kumar: Why the Bengali megastar could never become a national star". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  26. ^ "Ogo Bodhu release cancelled". The Telegraph. 7 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025. Kamal Bansal, son of RD Bansal who had produced the 1981 Uttam Kumar hit, had moved court accusing director Sunando Mitra of copying three songs and the logo of his father's film.
  27. ^ "Tribute to Uttam's Sundari turns ugly - Judge orders three songs to be deleted before release". The Telegraph. 24 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  28. ^ "Friday film - Ogo Bodhu Shundori". The Telegraph. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025. The three songs lifted from the Uttam Kumar-starrer — Ei toh jibon, Nari charitra and Tui joto phool dishna kine — stay, thanks to the out-of-court settlement.
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