{"id":10394,"date":"2025-12-08T20:41:37","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T15:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/?p=10394"},"modified":"2025-12-09T06:49:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T01:19:36","slug":"the-dagdar-baboo-of-maila-anchal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/the-dagdar-baboo-of-maila-anchal\/","title":{"rendered":"The Dagdar Baboo of &#8216;Maila Anchal&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">By Nabendu Ghosh<\/h2><p>In the early 1960s an anthology of Hindi stories, <em>Aath Lambi Kahaniyan<\/em> came into my hands. I read all the eight stories. The best, to me, was one by a new name: <em>Teesri Kasam Urf Maare Gaye Gulfam<\/em>. Seldom had I come by any writing with so much fidelity to lived life.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_2792\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2792\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2792\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/03\/Nabendu-Ghosh-screenplay-writer-400x280.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/03\/Nabendu-Ghosh-screenplay-writer-400x280.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/03\/Nabendu-Ghosh-screenplay-writer-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/03\/Nabendu-Ghosh-screenplay-writer-768x537.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/03\/Nabendu-Ghosh-screenplay-writer-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/03\/Nabendu-Ghosh-screenplay-writer.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2792\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nabendu Ghosh<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I learnt that the writer had already won recognition for writing a novel that voiced the reality of contemporary rural India. It radically changed the narrative styles that prevailed in earlier Hindi novels. This would later secure him\u00a0the national honour of Padma Shri, and he would be credited for bringing the regional experiences of Bihar into mainstream Hindi literature. But all these are later developments. That novel was <em>Maila Anchal<\/em>.<\/p><p>That very evening I made a trip to Dadar to procure a copy of <em>Maila Anchal<\/em>. It was an amazing piece of literature. Breath-taking in its sweep and breathing in its personas.\u00a0 It was a gallery of full bodied characters sketching a chiaroscuro of emotions \u2013 love, hatred, envy, violence, greed, prejudices, and politics. Congress, Communist, Socialist, Hindu Mahasabha: an unmapped village in a small pocket of Purnea district was mirroring all of Bihar \u2013 indeed, all of India. I was captivated. And I resolved to bring the novel on screen \u2013 as a director.<\/p><p>But that proved a challenging task. I had to upset many an applecart.<\/p><p>One day <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/remembering-phani-majumdar-nabendu-ghosh\/\">Phani Majumdar<\/a> called me. \u201cIf you transfer the rights to me, I have a producer willing to invest in the film.\u201d<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10396\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10396\" style=\"width: 283px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-10396\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Maila-Anchal-283x400.jpg\" alt=\"Maila Anchal by Phanishwar Nath Renu\" width=\"283\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Maila-Anchal-283x400.jpg 283w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Maila-Anchal-724x1024.jpg 724w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Maila-Anchal-106x150.jpg 106w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Maila-Anchal-768x1086.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Maila-Anchal-300x424.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Maila-Anchal-150x212.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Maila-Anchal.jpg 1061w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 283px) 100vw, 283px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10396\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">\u2018Maila Anchal\u2019 by Phanishwar Nath Renu (Pic: Amazon)<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>\u201cNot possible Phani Da,\u201d I politely refused to do that. \u201cMunshiji will not agree,\u201d I added. (Phani Da directed <em>Bhaiya<\/em> in 1961 and later <em>Kanyadaan<\/em>, in 1965. I had scripted both which were the first films respectively in Magadhi and Maithili languages. After <em>Kanyadan<\/em> Phani Da directed <em>Toofan Mein Pyar Kahan<\/em> for the same producer S H Munshi who had crafted a string of successes with <em>Kafila<\/em> directed by Arvind Sen and <em>Baap Beti<\/em> directed by Bimalda \u2013 both based on my stories. And, Renu had penned the dialogues for <em>Kanyadan<\/em>.)<\/p><p>Another day Bimalda said to me, \u201cPaul Mahendra mentioned that this novel by Phaniswar Nath Renu is terrific. Will you give me the rights to film it?\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cExcuse me Bimalda,\u201d I shook my head. \u201cI have decided to direct it.\u201d<\/p><p>A colleague of ours, and Bimalda\u2019s assistant Raghunath Jhalani had turned director and gained eminence (with <em>Aaye Din Bahar Ke, 1965<\/em>). He sent an emissary to Renu saying, \u201cI will make a success of <em>Maila Anchal<\/em> if you sell the rights to me.\u201d<\/p><p>Self-serving comes in many shades.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">******<\/p><p>Meanwhile two developments overtook my life. Scouting for stories that would be worthy of Bimalda I tumbled upon <em>Tamasi<\/em>, a riveting novel by Jarasandha. The name is highly regarded in Bengali literature for <em>Louha Kapat<\/em>. The writer had been a jailor and seen at close quarters the life behind iron bars.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_2571\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2571\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2571 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Bandini-300x225.png\" alt=\" Bandini, starring Nutan, Ashok Kumar and Dharmendra\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Bandini-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Bandini-150x113.png 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/01\/Bandini.png 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2571\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jarasandha\u2019s \u2018Tamasi\u2019 was adapted on screen as <em>Bandini<\/em>, starring Nutan, Ashok Kumar and Dharmendra<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>This novel <em>Tamasi<\/em> was about a woman who was convicted for poisoning a patient in the hospital where she was working as an ayah. The minute I finished reading it, I handed it to Bimalda.<\/p><p>He too was enthralled by <em>Tamasi<\/em>. \u201cPlease go to Calcutta and acquire the rights to film it,\u201d Bimalda directed me. \u201cOnce you agree on a figure I will send the amount.\u201d<\/p><p>Jarasandha was a pen name used by Charu Chandra Chakraborty. A perfect gentleman, courteous and erudite, he happily gave the filming rights to Bimal Roy Productions.<\/p><p>I had to work real hard to visualise for screen the multi layered love story. Set against the backdrop of the Nationalist movement of the 1930s, the film was titled <em>Bandini<\/em>, Prisoner. Cast in the title role was Nutan, who had charmed the world as Sujata in Bimalda\u2019s earlier production.<\/p><p>\u201cDada Namaskar!\u201d Nutan sweetly greeted me with her winning smile.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10398\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10398\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10398\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Talent-contest-photo-Dharmendra-644x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Talent contest photo Dharmendra\" width=\"300\" height=\"477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Talent-contest-photo-Dharmendra-644x1024.jpg 644w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Talent-contest-photo-Dharmendra-252x400.jpg 252w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Talent-contest-photo-Dharmendra-94x150.jpg 94w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Talent-contest-photo-Dharmendra-768x1221.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Talent-contest-photo-Dharmendra-300x477.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Talent-contest-photo-Dharmendra-150x239.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Talent-contest-photo-Dharmendra.jpg 781w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10398\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Talent contest photo of Dharmendra<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Tarun Bose, who was Nutan\u2019s foster father in <em>Sujata<\/em>, would play the jailor now. And Dharmendra, a young aspirant who had aced the Filmfare All India Talent Contest in 1958, was cast as the Doctor of the jail who comes to love the polite, soft spoken, ever-benign murderess. However, the real hero of the script was Ashok Kumar, the Nationalist for whose sake Kalyani had poisoned the hysteria patient.<\/p><p>Nutan was incomparable as the convict. She had internalised the trauma of the protagonist Kalyani, the product of a Vaishnav family whose love for the man who promised marriage; her sense of honour; her grief at having to leave her home and village; shock at her father\u2019s sudden death; and insufferable humiliation by the woman her betrothed had married \u2013 all culminated in her taking the unnerving step.<\/p><p>Nutan once again, after <em>Sujata<\/em>, won the Filmfare award. <em>Bandini<\/em> was adjudged the Second Best Film at Karlovy Vary Film Festival 1964. Bimalda came home victorious, only to take to bed with cancer. An irrepressible smoker who would think nothing of smoking away 50-60 Chesterfields in a day, he stayed up nights too puffing at a cigarette if he was preoccupied with the picturisation of a certain scene he was to shoot the next day. Boudi, the worthy other half of the dedicated director, had shared this with me one day when she woke up to see \u201ca disembodied red glow pacing from one end of the room to the other\u2026\u201d<\/p><p>The culmination of this ceaseless consumption was the chest cancer that took away the giant of cinema at age 56. Hardly an age to go \u2013 but January 8, 1966 brought to end two years of endurance test for the legend who was still dreaming of filming <em>Amrit Kumbher Sandhaney<\/em>.<\/p><p>I lost my film guru, the arching banyan who had given me a chance to leave behind the darkness that befell Bengali literature at Partition, by asking me to join him on his voyage to Bombay.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_4369\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4369\" style=\"width: 656px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4369\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/07\/and-they-made-classics-Nabendu-Ghosh-1.jpg\" alt=\"and they made classics Nabendu Ghosh\" width=\"656\" height=\"459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/07\/and-they-made-classics-Nabendu-Ghosh-1.jpg 656w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/07\/and-they-made-classics-Nabendu-Ghosh-1-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/07\/and-they-made-classics-Nabendu-Ghosh-1-400x280.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/07\/and-they-made-classics-Nabendu-Ghosh-1-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 656px) 100vw, 656px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4369\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nabendu Ghosh speaking about Bimal Roy and his films in <em>And They Made Classics<\/em>\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: center;\">******<\/p><p>The other development concerned Shailendra, who was lyricist for Bimalda since <em>Do Bigha Zamin<\/em>, and Basu Bhattacharya who had married Bimalda\u2019s daughter Rinki.<\/p><p>The two had struck a friendship since Bimalda was directing <em>Parakh. <\/em>Shailendra often visited the tiny place Basu had rented near Mohan Studios.<\/p><p>One day I heard people in the Studio discussing these two names in hushed tones. Shailendra, they said, was turning producer for his friend Basu who was raring to sit in the director\u2019s chair.<\/p><p>When I next met Basu he confirmed the grapevine. \u201cYes, Shailendra wants to produce a film but where is the story? Tell me if you have one Nabendu Da!\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cYes!\u201d I said, pulling out the <em>Aath Lambi Kahaniyan<\/em>. \u201cRead the story <em>Teesri Kasam<\/em>, and then let\u2019s discuss.\u201d<\/p><p>Basu took home the collection. Five or six days later I heard that Shailendra had also read the story and resolved to film it.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_5202\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5202\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5202 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/TEESRI-KASAM-BOOKLET-FRONT-300x230.jpg\" alt=\"Teesri Kasam booklet\" width=\"300\" height=\"230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/TEESRI-KASAM-BOOKLET-FRONT-300x230.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/TEESRI-KASAM-BOOKLET-FRONT-150x115.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/TEESRI-KASAM-BOOKLET-FRONT-768x589.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/TEESRI-KASAM-BOOKLET-FRONT.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5202\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The <em>Teesri Kasam<\/em> booklet (Pic: Ratnottama Sengupta)<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Shailendra was a star lyricist. Most of the hit songs in Hindi films of 1950s were penned by him. And, in particular, he was favoured by Raj Kapoor: he always relied on Shailendra\u2019s lyrics, Shankar-Jaikishan\u2019s music and Mukesh\u2019s playback. Given this association, it was taken for granted that the blue-eyed actor would play the central role of a bullock cart driver.<\/p><p>Raj Kapoor said, \u201cI am not saying \u2018Yes\u2019 without hearing the story. Ask your friend to come with Nabendu Ghosh Da for a sitting. Let me discuss it with them.\u201d<\/p><p>A date was decided upon. We went to Raj Kapoor\u2019s office at 9 pm. Why so late? Because Raj Kapoor used to have lunch at 4 pm, then rest for a while. It would be 7 pm by the time he came out of his siesta and prepared for social interaction. So it was close to 10 pm by the time we settled down in his R K Studios office at Chembur.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_3320\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3320\" style=\"width: 320px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3320 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/12\/teesri-kasam.jpg\" alt=\"Teesri Kasam\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/12\/teesri-kasam.jpg 320w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/12\/teesri-kasam-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/12\/teesri-kasam-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3320\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hiraman, the bullock cart driver has to ferry the nautch girl Hirabai<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I narrated the story of <em>Teesri Kasam<\/em>. It is again a unique love story set in the Purnea district of Bihar. Hiraman, the bullock cart driver gets a customer: he has to ferry the nautch girl Hirabai, to the big mela where the Nautanki company has set up tent. On the way the innocent <em>gariwan<\/em> strikes a conversation with the dancer. He would break the monotony of the journey by singing folklores and ballads of the region. Hirabai finds his innocence, his guileless affection quite fetching, and strikes a friendship with him.<\/p><p>This causes envy amongst his friends and equals. And raises the hackles of the Nautanki manager, and the ire of the zamindar whose advances the dancer rejects. At the end of the mela she turns down the offers from other Nautanki companies and returns to her native village, determined to live up only to Hiraman\u2019s trust.<\/p><p>Seeing her off at the railway station Hiraman sings, \u201cWhat was in your heart, Oh Creator of This World, when you planted love in men and women? Why did you bring them together if you wanted to part them again?\u201d<\/p><p>A bewitching story peopled by characters throbbing with life. The simplicity of village life, the complexities of a dancing woman\u2019s life, the rustic humour, the dreams, the pain of loss\u2026 Every emotion was made palpable by the performances. Yes, it remains one of Raj Kapoor\u2019s best. But here again, it was Waheeda Rehman who lifted the film to a new height with both, her acting prowess and her enticing dances.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_5203\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5203\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5203\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/Nabendu-Ghosh-in-Teesri-Kasam-300x161.jpg\" alt=\"Nabendu Ghosh in Teesri Kasam\" width=\"400\" height=\"215\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/Nabendu-Ghosh-in-Teesri-Kasam-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/Nabendu-Ghosh-in-Teesri-Kasam-150x81.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/08\/Nabendu-Ghosh-in-Teesri-Kasam.jpg 697w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5203\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nabendu Ghosh in a cameo as a drunkard spectator in <em>Teesri Kasam<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The cameos of the friends and leeches of the <em>gariwan<\/em> too remain etched in memory. I played one of them \u2013 a drunkard \u2013 at the behest of Shailendra, with whom I had struck a camaraderie since he wrote the songs for most of the films I scripted for Bimalda: <em>Naukri, Biraj Bahu, Madhumati, Yahudi, Bandini.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><p><em>Teesri Kasam<\/em> went on to win the President\u2019s Award, a crowning glory for the poet-lyricist. It remains the launching pad for three directors who emerged in a big way on the Indian screen \u2013 Basu Bhattacharya, Basu Chatterjee, B R Ishara. And it firmed up Shailendra\u2019s and my connections with our roots in Bihar.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">******<\/p><p>In Bombay my links with Bihar had always been strengthened by S H Munshi. This man from Gaya had struck big in Bombay when he produced <em>Kafila<\/em> with Ashok Kumar in the lead and the southern star Ranjan in a supporting role. Then he produced<em> Baap Beti<\/em> with Ranjan and Baby Tabassum in the lead roles. This was around the time <em>Maa <\/em>was getting delayed because Bombay Talkies had run into financial trouble.<\/p><p>Bimalda had come to Bombay with an entire team. It included screenplay writer, editor, cameraman, art director, dialogue writer, assistant director. So that we would not be idle, we were constantly narrating stories to other major producers. After one such narration S Mukherjee had said, \u201cIt is a nice story, but I am a businessman, so I will not make it.\u201d<\/p><p>Munshiji had heard the story, and he said, \u201cI like it very much. I would like to produce it if Bimal Roy directs it.\u201d That film was <em>Baap Beti<\/em>.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_5788\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5788\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-5788\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/07\/Bimal-Roy-Ranjan-Tabassum-Rinki-Roy-Baap-Beti-300x226.jpg\" alt=\"Bimal Roy Ranjan Tabassum Rinki Roy (Baap Beti)\" width=\"400\" height=\"301\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/07\/Bimal-Roy-Ranjan-Tabassum-Rinki-Roy-Baap-Beti-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/07\/Bimal-Roy-Ranjan-Tabassum-Rinki-Roy-Baap-Beti-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/07\/Bimal-Roy-Ranjan-Tabassum-Rinki-Roy-Baap-Beti-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/07\/Bimal-Roy-Ranjan-Tabassum-Rinki-Roy-Baap-Beti-1024x770.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2020\/07\/Bimal-Roy-Ranjan-Tabassum-Rinki-Roy-Baap-Beti.jpg 1579w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-5788\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Bimal Roy with Ranjan, Tabassum, the actors of <em>Baap Beti<\/em> and Rinki Roy<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Being from Gaya, Munshiji had an affinity for Renu\u2019s Maithili. Renu himself spoke fluent Bengali, just like one born into the language. In fact he once said to me that his ancestors were originally from Rahanpur in Malda district of West Bengal (now in Nawabganj district of Bangladesh). He had married thrice. The first time was to Rekha, as a boy in his village, Aurahi Hingna (near Forbesganj on Nepal border). Then he spent some years in Nepal where he tied the knot with Padma, a lady of Nepali origin. After he became a reputed writer and started living in Patna, he set up family with Bengali speaking Latika. By his own admission,<\/p><p>By his own admission, (R\/o) Renu\u2019s writing was influenced by Satinath Bhaduri, who authored the seminal Bengali novels <em>Jagori<\/em> and <em>Dhorai Charit Manas<\/em>, but I was captivated by <em>Maila Anchal<\/em>. And Munshiji, being an ardent admirer of Renu, at once procured the rights to the novel that I would direct.<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">******<\/p><p>Preparations were now afoot to can <em>Maila Anchal<\/em>.<\/p><p>The protagonist on whom the novel hinges is a village doctor.<\/p><p>Ever since he debuted in <em>Bandini<\/em>, Dharmendra used to respect me a lot. He had unreserved affection, indeed love for me. He trusted me with the screenplay of a number of films featuring him. So, the moment I proposed for him to play the role, he was on board.<\/p><p>Now for the leading lady: who should I approach? Since I was known as a writer, who would be drawn to a project that I would direct?<\/p><p>For a while before this I had been going to Pune at regular intervals, to give the students at the Film Institute of India an insight into the discipline of screenplay writing. For some years they had been sending me telegrams to own up this responsibility, but I had been shying away from it. Why? I was scared I would have to study a lot in order to teach the graduate students who were applying from across the land. I had served on the selection committee for some admissions, so I knew that most of the applicants were educated, intelligent and determined to grow in cinema. I couldn\u2019t possibly face such bright minds without constantly updating and equipping myself cinematically. So I would routinely disregard the telegrams \u2013 until 1967.<\/p><p>Vice Principal Mushir Ahmed had doubled the number of telegrams and Principal Jagat Murari was a gentleman whenever we met. So I had to give in. I would go once a month. A car would wait to pick me up at the station. \u00a0I would stay in a room of the Guest House for 3-4 days and return to my livelihood in Bombay.<\/p><p>The environs of the Institute was charged with creative energy. On my first visit students of all the departments had gathered in the classroom. A stimulating conversation ensued \u2013 and lasted for two hours. The next day Mushir Ahmed said to me, \u201cThe students are charmed by the interaction with you. You must continue this association with the Direction students.\u201d<\/p><p>And it continued for 25 years\u2026<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">******<\/p><figure style=\"width: 1507px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ftii.ac.in\/uploads\/userfiles\/images\/FTII%20Studio%20backside.jpg\" alt=\"FTII \" width=\"1507\" height=\"1200\"><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) was set up by the Government of India in 1960, in the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Studios in Pune (Pic: FTII)<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>Four students from Direction, but seven students were regular for Screenplay Writing. If my first visit had conquered their interest, from the second visit onward they would come to my guest room. Soon students from the other departments also started trooping in with the Direction students. I would be surrounded by them as long as my stay lasted. I came to treasure their love and respect.<\/p><p>From the first floor verandah, while waiting for the tea-biscuit from the canteen below, I would notice the movement of students and their interaction with their teacher. The Acting students were always the most chirpy. And, among them, there was this one girl \u2013 short, sharp features, very dignified though only about twenty years old. She seemed to be a natural ringleader. One day when chatting with the Direction students I asked about her.<\/p><p>\u201cShe is Jaya, daughter of writer <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/taroon-coomar-bhaduri-writes-about-his-daughter-jaya-and-her-husband-amitabh-bachchan\/\">Taroon Bhaduri<\/a>,\u201d they said.<\/p><p>\u201cTaroon Bhaduri\u2026 You mean the author of <em>Abhishapta Chambal<\/em>?\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cYes Sir. The writer serves in a high post in the Tourism Department of Madhya Pradesh government.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cWaah. So she is the daughter of a famous father.\u201d<\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\">******<\/p><p>On my next journey Basu Chatterjee was my co-passenger. He was the chief Assistant Director for Basu Bhattacharya during the making of <em>Teesri Kasam<\/em>. Now he had taken a loan from Film Finance Corporation to make a film. He was heading to the Institute to scout for a favourable newcomer for the central role.<\/p><p>Two days later Basu Chatterjee returned to Bombay. That same evening when I was relaxing on the verandah, the daughter of writer \u00a0Taroon Coomar Bhaduri came to see me along with some of my students.<\/p><p>\u201cSir, Jaya wants to speak with you\u2026\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cWhat about?\u201d \u2013 I asked after arranging seats for them.<\/p><p>\u201cTo seek your advice,\u201d my student explained noticing that my curiosity was turning into concern.<\/p><p>\u201cI am in a quandary,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/jaya-bachchan\/\">Jaya<\/a> spoke. \u201cYou know <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/manzil-memories-rare-memorabilia-basu-chatterjis-films\/\">Basu Chatterji<\/a> was here to select an actor. And he wants me to play the female lead in his film, <em>Sara Akash<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cThat is good news,\u201d I said. \u201cBasu will surely make a sensitive film.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cBut that is the problem,\u201d Jaya shook her head. \u201cThe admission rules had laid down that during the two years in the Institute no student can act in any film. But this is a good offer. So what should I do Sir?\u201d<\/p><p>I thought about it. \u201cIt will be a good debut for you. You can go ahead.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cEven if I have to go away from the Institute and give up the thought of getting a degree?\u201d \u2013 Jaya persisted. That forced me to rethink.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_2658\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2658\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-2658\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/02\/Jaya-Bachchan-Guddi-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/02\/Jaya-Bachchan-Guddi-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/02\/Jaya-Bachchan-Guddi-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/02\/Jaya-Bachchan-Guddi-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/02\/Jaya-Bachchan-Guddi.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-2658\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jaya Bhaduri in <em>Guddi<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>\u201cYou value your education \u2013 and a year from now you will graduate in Acting,\u201d I proceeded to clarify her thoughts. \u201cYou are the most promising student in your batch. Everyone praises your ability. A Gold Medal for the topper is likely to bring you more \u2013 and perhaps better \u2013 offers. So go ahead and respect the goal that has drawn you to this Institute. That way you will satisfy your inner self, your soul. And I am certain your histrionic ability will be duly recognised.\u201d<\/p><p>Jaya was convinced by what I said. \u201cYou have cleared my doubts,\u201d she said. \u201cThank you, Sir.\u201d<\/p><p>That day onwards Jaya Bhaduri too became one of my disciples. And her respect deepened a year later when, right after she graduated, Hrishikesh Mukherjee offered her the eponymous role of <em>Guddi<\/em> in the film he was set to launch.<\/p><p>That flagged off the victory trail of Jaya Bhaduri. And I got the leading lady for my planned film, <em>Maila Anchal<\/em>.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10411\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10411\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10411\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo.jpg\" alt=\"Dharmendra and Jaya Bhaduri in Dagdar Baboo\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1162\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-400x291.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1024x744.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-150x109.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-768x558.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1536x1116.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-300x218.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10411\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dharmendra and Jaya Bhaduri in <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p style=\"text-align: center;\">******<\/p><p>Those days, if you planned to make any film, you had to start by registering the title with the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA). No one else but you could then use that title.<\/p><p>I had to stumble when I entered the IMPPA office to register the title of <em>Maila Anchal<\/em>. Someone else had registered it some years ago! What misfortune was this? I had to let go of such a poetic and apt title.<\/p><p>I put on my thinking cap. But no other title was half as befitting. And then this thought occurred to me: In the central role Dharmendra was playing a Doctor. And he connects all the other characters in the film who represented the different segments of Mother India. And everyone he meets, greets him as \u2018Dagdar Baboo\u2019 \u2013 in rural Bihar that\u2019s how a Doctor was addressed. So why not have that as the title for the film?<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10421\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10421\" style=\"width: 1391px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10421\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1391\" height=\"924\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1.jpg 1391w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1-400x266.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1391px) 100vw, 1391px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10421\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(L) Dagdar Baboo was modelled on a real life village doctor (Dharmendra in and as <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em>) (R) Jaya dressed as Swami Vivekananda<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Munshiji happily concurred with this title. So we lost no time in cracking the auspicious coconut to mark the Shubh Mahurat inside the Mohan Studios that had been home to Bimal Roy Productions. Hrishikesh Mukherjee, my friend through highs and lows in cinema, sounded the clapper board while Dharmendra faced the camera on February 27, 1975.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10402\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10402\" style=\"width: 1793px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10402 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-S-H-Munshi-Manobina-Roy-Jaya-Bachchan-and-Mr-Wadia-of-Bombay-Laboratories-at-the-Shubh-Mahurat-of-Dagdar-Babu.jpg\" alt=\"Dharmendra, Producer S H Munshi, Manobina Roy (Bimal Roy's wife), Jaya Bhaduri and Mr Wadia of Bombay Laboratories at the Shubh Mahurat of Dagdar Babu\" width=\"1793\" height=\"1134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-S-H-Munshi-Manobina-Roy-Jaya-Bachchan-and-Mr-Wadia-of-Bombay-Laboratories-at-the-Shubh-Mahurat-of-Dagdar-Babu.jpg 1793w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-S-H-Munshi-Manobina-Roy-Jaya-Bachchan-and-Mr-Wadia-of-Bombay-Laboratories-at-the-Shubh-Mahurat-of-Dagdar-Babu-400x253.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-S-H-Munshi-Manobina-Roy-Jaya-Bachchan-and-Mr-Wadia-of-Bombay-Laboratories-at-the-Shubh-Mahurat-of-Dagdar-Babu-1024x648.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-S-H-Munshi-Manobina-Roy-Jaya-Bachchan-and-Mr-Wadia-of-Bombay-Laboratories-at-the-Shubh-Mahurat-of-Dagdar-Babu-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-S-H-Munshi-Manobina-Roy-Jaya-Bachchan-and-Mr-Wadia-of-Bombay-Laboratories-at-the-Shubh-Mahurat-of-Dagdar-Babu-768x486.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-S-H-Munshi-Manobina-Roy-Jaya-Bachchan-and-Mr-Wadia-of-Bombay-Laboratories-at-the-Shubh-Mahurat-of-Dagdar-Babu-1536x971.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-S-H-Munshi-Manobina-Roy-Jaya-Bachchan-and-Mr-Wadia-of-Bombay-Laboratories-at-the-Shubh-Mahurat-of-Dagdar-Babu-300x190.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1793px) 100vw, 1793px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10402\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dharmendra,\u00a0 Producer S H Munshi, Manobina Roy (Bimal Roy\u2019s wife), Jaya Bhaduri and Mr Wadia of Bombay Laboratories at the Shubh Mahurat of <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>\u00a0<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10407\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10407\" style=\"width: 1768px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10407\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/The-Clapper-Boy-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-and-the-Hero-Dharmendra-at-Dagdar-Baboo-muhurat.jpg\" alt=\"The Clapper Boy Hrishikesh Mukherjee and the Hero Dharmendra at Dagdar Baboo muhurat\" width=\"1768\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/The-Clapper-Boy-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-and-the-Hero-Dharmendra-at-Dagdar-Baboo-muhurat.jpg 1768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/The-Clapper-Boy-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-and-the-Hero-Dharmendra-at-Dagdar-Baboo-muhurat-400x258.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/The-Clapper-Boy-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-and-the-Hero-Dharmendra-at-Dagdar-Baboo-muhurat-1024x660.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/The-Clapper-Boy-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-and-the-Hero-Dharmendra-at-Dagdar-Baboo-muhurat-150x97.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/The-Clapper-Boy-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-and-the-Hero-Dharmendra-at-Dagdar-Baboo-muhurat-768x495.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/The-Clapper-Boy-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-and-the-Hero-Dharmendra-at-Dagdar-Baboo-muhurat-1536x990.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/The-Clapper-Boy-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-and-the-Hero-Dharmendra-at-Dagdar-Baboo-muhurat-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1768px) 100vw, 1768px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10407\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hrishikesh Mukherjee with the clapstick for the mahurat shot featuring Dharmendra \u2013 date 27th February 1975<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>\u00a0<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10403\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10403\" style=\"width: 1822px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10403\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dulal-Guha-Dharmendra-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-Jaya-and-Nabendu-Ghosh-after-the-Dagdar-Baboo-Mahurat-shot.jpg\" alt=\"Dulal Guha, Dharmendra, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Jaya, and Nabendu Ghosh after the Dagdar Baboo Mahurat shot\" width=\"1822\" height=\"1156\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dulal-Guha-Dharmendra-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-Jaya-and-Nabendu-Ghosh-after-the-Dagdar-Baboo-Mahurat-shot.jpg 1822w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dulal-Guha-Dharmendra-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-Jaya-and-Nabendu-Ghosh-after-the-Dagdar-Baboo-Mahurat-shot-400x254.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dulal-Guha-Dharmendra-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-Jaya-and-Nabendu-Ghosh-after-the-Dagdar-Baboo-Mahurat-shot-1024x650.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dulal-Guha-Dharmendra-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-Jaya-and-Nabendu-Ghosh-after-the-Dagdar-Baboo-Mahurat-shot-150x95.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dulal-Guha-Dharmendra-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-Jaya-and-Nabendu-Ghosh-after-the-Dagdar-Baboo-Mahurat-shot-768x487.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dulal-Guha-Dharmendra-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-Jaya-and-Nabendu-Ghosh-after-the-Dagdar-Baboo-Mahurat-shot-1536x975.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dulal-Guha-Dharmendra-Hrishikesh-Mukherjee-Jaya-and-Nabendu-Ghosh-after-the-Dagdar-Baboo-Mahurat-shot-300x190.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1822px) 100vw, 1822px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10403\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dulal Guha, Dharmendra, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Jaya, and Nabendu Ghosh after the <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em> Mahurat shot<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>That set off the shooting which proceeded unhindered. The script was peopled by so many characters. One chapter of the film unspooled around the Mahant of an Akhara in the village. This ascetic president of a Kabir Panthi monastic order was blind. To essay this, my longtime friend and associate Asit Sen agreed to go against his stereotyped image of a comedian.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10404\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10404\" style=\"width: 1599px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10404\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nabendu-Ghosh-directing-Asit-Sen-in-the-role-of-the-blind-Mahant-of-a-Kabir-panthi-Akhara-Dagdar-Baboo.jpg\" alt=\"Nabendu Ghosh directing Asit Sen in the role of the blind Mahant of a Kabir panthi Akhara (Dagdar Baboo)\" width=\"1599\" height=\"996\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nabendu-Ghosh-directing-Asit-Sen-in-the-role-of-the-blind-Mahant-of-a-Kabir-panthi-Akhara-Dagdar-Baboo.jpg 1599w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nabendu-Ghosh-directing-Asit-Sen-in-the-role-of-the-blind-Mahant-of-a-Kabir-panthi-Akhara-Dagdar-Baboo-400x249.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nabendu-Ghosh-directing-Asit-Sen-in-the-role-of-the-blind-Mahant-of-a-Kabir-panthi-Akhara-Dagdar-Baboo-1024x638.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nabendu-Ghosh-directing-Asit-Sen-in-the-role-of-the-blind-Mahant-of-a-Kabir-panthi-Akhara-Dagdar-Baboo-150x93.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nabendu-Ghosh-directing-Asit-Sen-in-the-role-of-the-blind-Mahant-of-a-Kabir-panthi-Akhara-Dagdar-Baboo-768x478.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nabendu-Ghosh-directing-Asit-Sen-in-the-role-of-the-blind-Mahant-of-a-Kabir-panthi-Akhara-Dagdar-Baboo-1536x957.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nabendu-Ghosh-directing-Asit-Sen-in-the-role-of-the-blind-Mahant-of-a-Kabir-panthi-Akhara-Dagdar-Baboo-300x187.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1599px) 100vw, 1599px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10404\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nabendu Ghosh directing Asit Sen in the role of the blind Mahant of a Kabir panthi Akhara<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>\u00a0<\/p><p>Utpal Dutt, the legend of Bengali theatre who made a remarkable changeover and turned comedian in Hindi films, was playing the heroine Jaya Bhaduri\u2019s father.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10408\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10408\" style=\"width: 1875px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10408\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Utpal-Dutta-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dharmenda-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Babu.jpg\" alt=\"Utpal Dutta, Nabendu Ghosh, Dharmenda and Jaya Bhaduri in Dagdar Babu\" width=\"1875\" height=\"1410\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Utpal-Dutta-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dharmenda-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Babu.jpg 1875w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Utpal-Dutta-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dharmenda-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Babu-400x301.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Utpal-Dutta-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dharmenda-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Babu-1024x770.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Utpal-Dutta-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dharmenda-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Babu-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Utpal-Dutta-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dharmenda-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Babu-768x578.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Utpal-Dutta-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dharmenda-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Babu-1536x1155.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Utpal-Dutta-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dharmenda-and-Jaya-Bhaduri-in-Dagdar-Babu-300x226.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1875px) 100vw, 1875px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10408\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nabendu Ghosh discussing a scene with Utpal Dutt, Dharmendra and Jaya Bhaduri<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>The villain of the story was being played by Ajitesh Bandopadhyay, so admired in Tapan Sinha\u2019s <em>Haatey Baajarey<\/em>. Kali Banerjee, another remarkable actor from Bengal seen in <em>Bawarchi<\/em> was to play Baldev. And the lilting music was scored by <a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/music-of-rd-burman\/\">Rahul Dev Burman<\/a> \u2013 Pancham to us, being the son of our adorable Sachin Karta.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10405\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10405\" style=\"width: 1865px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10405\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nandita-Thakur-Kali-Banerjee-in-Dagdar-Babu.jpg\" alt=\"Nandita Thakur, Kali Banerjee in Dagdar Babu\" width=\"1865\" height=\"1405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nandita-Thakur-Kali-Banerjee-in-Dagdar-Babu.jpg 1865w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nandita-Thakur-Kali-Banerjee-in-Dagdar-Babu-400x301.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nandita-Thakur-Kali-Banerjee-in-Dagdar-Babu-1024x771.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nandita-Thakur-Kali-Banerjee-in-Dagdar-Babu-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nandita-Thakur-Kali-Banerjee-in-Dagdar-Babu-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nandita-Thakur-Kali-Banerjee-in-Dagdar-Babu-1536x1157.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Nandita-Thakur-Kali-Banerjee-in-Dagdar-Babu-300x226.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1865px) 100vw, 1865px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10405\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nandita Thakur, Kali Banerjee in <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>With Dharmendra and a host of others we shot on location in Purnea zilla of north Bihar. In Forbesganj, to be precise. People emptied their homes and were hanging from trees to watch the shooting \u2013 perhaps because Phaniswar Nath Renu came from here. He belonged to the underprivileged Mandal community but enjoyed the benefits of land, education and social status.<\/p><p>I visited his family in the neighbourhood, he lived there with his wife \u2013 quiet natured, soft spoken \u2013 and his sons. We also shot some scenes in the paddy fields outside of Kolkata. Excellent performance by every single member of the cast.<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10406\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10406\" style=\"width: 1875px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10406\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Shekhar-Chatterjee-on-an-outdoor-location-in-Dagdar-Babu.jpg\" alt=\"Shekhar Chatterjee on an outdoor location in Dagdar Babu\" width=\"1875\" height=\"1432\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Shekhar-Chatterjee-on-an-outdoor-location-in-Dagdar-Babu.jpg 1875w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Shekhar-Chatterjee-on-an-outdoor-location-in-Dagdar-Babu-400x305.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Shekhar-Chatterjee-on-an-outdoor-location-in-Dagdar-Babu-1024x782.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Shekhar-Chatterjee-on-an-outdoor-location-in-Dagdar-Babu-150x115.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Shekhar-Chatterjee-on-an-outdoor-location-in-Dagdar-Babu-768x587.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Shekhar-Chatterjee-on-an-outdoor-location-in-Dagdar-Babu-1536x1173.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Shekhar-Chatterjee-on-an-outdoor-location-in-Dagdar-Babu-300x229.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1875px) 100vw, 1875px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10406\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Shekhar Chatterjee on an outdoor location in <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>I started dreaming big so far as the film was concerned. But I also sensed that many people were unhappy with the progress of the film. Why? What was my fault? Ambition?<\/p><p>Our producer trusted a Calcutta based financier, Mr Daga. He was true to his words, always. So Munshiji borrowed money at high interest for shooting, always by signing promissory notes to return the amount. I kept shooting but he could not arrange to edit the rushes. It was a sad state of affairs.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10401\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10401\" style=\"width: 1870px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10401 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-does-a-mock-check-up-of-the-Director-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dagdar-Babu.jpg\" alt=\"Dharmendra does a mock blood pressure check up of the Director Nabendu Ghosh (Dagdar Babu)\" width=\"1870\" height=\"1418\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-does-a-mock-check-up-of-the-Director-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dagdar-Babu.jpg 1870w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-does-a-mock-check-up-of-the-Director-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dagdar-Babu-400x303.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-does-a-mock-check-up-of-the-Director-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dagdar-Babu-1024x776.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-does-a-mock-check-up-of-the-Director-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dagdar-Babu-150x114.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-does-a-mock-check-up-of-the-Director-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dagdar-Babu-768x582.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-does-a-mock-check-up-of-the-Director-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dagdar-Babu-1536x1165.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dharmendra-does-a-mock-check-up-of-the-Director-Nabendu-Ghosh-Dagdar-Babu-300x227.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1870px) 100vw, 1870px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10401\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dharmendra does a mock blood pressure check up of the Director Nabendu Ghosh<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure id=\"attachment_10410\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10410\" style=\"width: 226px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10410\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dagdar-Baboo-advertisement.jpg\" alt=\"Dagdar Baboo advertisement in a Hindi magazine\" width=\"226\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dagdar-Baboo-advertisement.jpg 226w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dagdar-Baboo-advertisement-106x150.jpg 106w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Dagdar-Baboo-advertisement-150x212.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 226px) 100vw, 226px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10410\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em> advertisement in a Hindi magazine<\/figcaption><\/figure><p><em>Maila Anchal<\/em> is a literary work. It views the trials and tribulations of life in the caste-ridden interiors of the land during the Quit India movement \u2013 through the lens of a young doctor who cared for the people across the social structure. Reflecting the dialect, lifestyle, even the beliefs and superstitions that lead to catastrophe, it did not have any scope for lascivious dance or heady songs.<\/p><p>So, by watching the unedited rushes no distributor could get a hang of where the film was heading. And so, even when 75% of the film had been canned, no distributor was coming forth.<\/p><p>After 1977 no work was done on the film. But whatever was seen had made a deep impression on Dharmendra and \u2013 especially \u2013 on Jaya. They were very hopeful that this film will be a landmark in their careers.<\/p><p>But ill-starred Nabendu Ghosh could do little to salvage the situation. And Munshiji suffered far more. Dogged by money lenders, and unable to cope with the worries, he succumbed to ill health. After he passed away, his unworthy sons proved simply unequal to the task of carrying forward his legacy. Consequently the negatives of all that we had shot of <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em> gathered dust in the cupboards of Bombay Laboratories.<\/p><figure id=\"attachment_10400\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10400\" style=\"width: 1294px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10400\" src=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Chinmoy-Roy-and-the-drill-by-a-Nationalist-group-of-young-men-in-Dagdar-Baboo.jpg\" alt=\"Chinmoy Roy and the drill by a Nationalist group of young men in Dagdar Baboo\" width=\"1294\" height=\"965\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Chinmoy-Roy-and-the-drill-by-a-Nationalist-group-of-young-men-in-Dagdar-Baboo.jpg 1294w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Chinmoy-Roy-and-the-drill-by-a-Nationalist-group-of-young-men-in-Dagdar-Baboo-400x298.jpg 400w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Chinmoy-Roy-and-the-drill-by-a-Nationalist-group-of-young-men-in-Dagdar-Baboo-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Chinmoy-Roy-and-the-drill-by-a-Nationalist-group-of-young-men-in-Dagdar-Baboo-150x112.jpg 150w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Chinmoy-Roy-and-the-drill-by-a-Nationalist-group-of-young-men-in-Dagdar-Baboo-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Chinmoy-Roy-and-the-drill-by-a-Nationalist-group-of-young-men-in-Dagdar-Baboo-300x224.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1294px) 100vw, 1294px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-10400\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chinmoy Roy and the drill by a Nationalist group of young men in <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><p>From Nabendu Ghosh\u2019s autobiography <strong><em>Eka Naukar Jatri\/\u00a0<\/em>Journey of a Lonesome Boat<\/strong><\/p><p>Translation from Bengali: <strong><em>Ratnottama Sengupta<\/em><\/strong><\/p><p><strong>More Must Read on Silhouette<\/strong><\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/phani-majumdar-a-journey-through-life\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Phani Majumdar: A Journey Through Life\u2026<\/a><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/the-making-of-do-bigha-zamin\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">The Making of Do Bigha Zamin<\/a><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/nazir-hussain-the-ina-and-the-long-march-of-kadam-kadam\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Nazir Hussain, the INA and the Long March of\u00a0<em>Kadam Kadam<\/em><\/a><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/of-incomplete-tales-my-friendship-with-guru-dutt-part-1-2\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Of Incomplete Tales: My Friendship with Guru Dutt (Parts 1 &amp; 2)<\/a><\/strong><\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/teesri-kasam\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Teesri Kasam \u2013 A Story of Love That Meandered to its Dead End<\/a><\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nabendu Ghosh&#8217;s adaptation of Phaniswar Nath Renu&#8217;s &#8216;Maila Anchal&#8217; promised to be a remarkable film. It starred Dharmendra and Jaya Bhaduri in the lead roles. And 75 percent of the shooting had been completed. Yet <em>Dagdar Baboo<\/em> remained unfinished&#8230;  <\/p>\n<p>Ratnottama Sengupta translates pages from Nabendu\u2019s autobiography <em>Eka Naukar Jatri<\/em> (<em>Journey of a Lonesome Boat<\/em>) revealing the little-known saga of the film that never reached the screen, illustrated with exclusive, unseen photographs from her collection. A special <em>Silhouette<\/em> tribute on Dharmendra&#8217;s birth anniversary.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":871,"featured_media":10436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[424],"tags":[909,2649,929,931,911,932,2650,2460,1622,1623,1626,2651,1047,1320,1923],"coauthors":[1947],"class_list":["post-10394","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-cinema-retrospectives","tag-bimal-roy","tag-dagdar-baboo","tag-dharmendra","tag-hrishikesh-mukherjee","tag-jaya-bachchan","tag-jaya-bhaduri","tag-maila-anchal","tag-manobina-roy","tag-nabendu-ghosh","tag-nabendu-ghosh-films","tag-nabendu-ghosh-screenplay-writer","tag-phanishwar-nath-renu","tag-raj-kapoor","tag-shailendra","tag-teesri-kasam"],"acf":[],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/871"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10394"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10394\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10437,"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10394\/revisions\/10437"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10394"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dev.learningandcreativity.com\/silhouette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}