Mrigayaa

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Mrigayaa
Directed byMrinal Sen
Written by
Based onShikar
by Bhagabati Charan Panigrahi
Produced byK. Rajeshwara Rao
Starring
Asit Bandopadhyay
CinematographyK. K. Mahajan
Edited by
  • Gangadhar Naskar
  • Raju Naik
  • Dinkar Shetye
Music bySalil Chowdhury
Release date
  • 6 June 1976 (1976-06-06)
CountryIndia
LanguagesBengali, Hindi

Mrigayaa (lit. 'The royal hunt') is a 1976 Indian

Bhagbati Charan Panigrahi, called "Shikaar". The film portrayed the relationship between the British colonial government and native villagers, and the exploitation of the latter by Indian landlords in 1920s India. It also depicts the friendship between a British administrator, who has a flair for game hunting, and a native tribal, who is an expert archer. The lead actors, Mithun Chakraborty and Mamata Shankar
, both made their cinematic debuts through the film.

The

Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie apart from being nominated for the Golden Prize at the 10th Moscow International Film Festival
in 1977.

Plot

The plot is set in the 1930s and the film is about a group of tribals who live in a small village in Odisha amidst wild animals like tigers and boars. Apart from the problems faced by the tribals from the animals that ruin their crops, they also suffer at the hands of the greedy moneylenders and police informers. Around this time, a newly posted British administrator arrives at the village who happens have a passion for hunting. He befriends Ghinua, a native tribal who is also an exceptional archer. The two get into a deal where Ghinua will be rewarded if he brings down a "big game".

The story then focusses on Sholpu, a young revolutionary who surreptitiously comes into the village to meet his mother. Knowing this, the police informer chases him down till he reaches his house, but returns after seeing the whole village turn against him. However, he waits for his turn to punish Sholpu. Suddenly there is a robbery in the village and one policeman is killed. The blame falls on Sholpu and the administrator declares a reward for his head. The informer takes the opportunity and kills Sholpu, thereby claiming the reward. Sholpu's death creates tension between the tribals and non-tribals. During this time, Dungri, Ghinua's wife, is abducted by a moneylender. Ghinua kills the moneylender to bring his wife back. Thinking that the time has come for the "big game", he goes happily to meet the Sahab, the administrator. The Sahab, however, hangs him for committing a murder. Till his death, Ghinua fails to understand why for the same action one is rewarded while the other is punished.

Cast

Themes and influences

The film was based on Shikar, a short story by

Bhagbati Charan Panigrahi.[1] Set in the 1930s, during the apogee of the Indian independence movement,[2] the tale describes the lives of a tribal community who lead a tough life in a small odisha village. While the original story was set in the 1930s, the script is set in the backdrop of a rebellion on the lines of the Santhal revolt that took place in the 1850s;[3] Sen claimed that the story "could have happened anytime, anywhere". The theme of the villagers' facing a tough time in the form of wild animals, and cruel moneylenders on the other hand are connected in the opening sequence where a boar is seen destroying the crops, following which a moneylender arrives.[4]

Production

Mamata Shankar (pictured) made her acting debut through the film.[2]

Sen, who was making political films till then, decided to experiment on films that focus on personal relationships. He decided to film a village-based story.

Madras.[6]

Music

  1. "Gaye Garua Se Bharti Hai" - Mohammed Rafi, Pankaj Mitra
  2. "Suhag Reek Atauri Chetna Ko" - Mohammed Rafi, Pankaj Mitra

Reception

Mrigyaa was an average grosser at the box office. It received mixed responses from the critics and audience, who did not like the idea of mixing "story with history".[6] While Mithun's portrayal as a tribal fetched him unanimous acclaim, Shankar's performance was noted as being tense.[9] The performances of rest of the cast that includes Sadhu Meher, Samit Bhanja and Sajal Roy Chowdhury were well received.[3]

Awards

Award Ceremony Category Nominee(s) Outcome
National Film Awards 24th National Film Awards (1976) Best Feature Film K. Rajeshwara Rao (Producer)
Mrinal Sen (Director)		 Won[2]
Best Actor Mithun Chakraborty Won[2]
Filmfare Awards 24th Filmfare Awards (1976)
Critics Award for Best Movie
 K. Rajeshwara Rao Won[3]
Moscow International Film Festival 10th Moscow International Film Festival (1977) Golden St. George Mrinal Sen Nominated[10]

Notes

  1. ^ Gulazāra & Chatterjee 2003, p. 362.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lokapally, Vijay (16 May 2013). "Mrigayaa (1976)". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Kohli, Suresh (13 December 2012). "Mrigayaa (1976)". The Hindu. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  4. ^ Mukhopadhyay 2014, p. 101.
  5. ^ Indian Horizons 1977, p. 24.
  6. ^ a b c Mukhopadhyay 2014, p. 102.
  7. ^ Ayaz, Shaikh (25 May 2013). "The Poor Man's Pop Star". OPEN. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  8. ^ "A full life". The Hindu. 14 July 2002. Archived from the original on 3 May 2005. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  9. ^ Mukhopadhyay 2014, p. 103.
  10. ^ "10th Moscow International Film Festival (1977)". MIFF. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2013.

References

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mrigayaa&oldid=1212296766"