# Agni Pariksha (1954 film)

Agni Pariksha (alternatively Agni Pareeksha or Agni Pariksha or Agnipariksha, transl. The Test Of Fire) is a 1954 Indian Bengali-language romantic drama film directed by Agradoot and starring Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen. The film was adapted from Asha Purna Devi's novel of the same name. The film became an overwhelming success critically and commercially. The movie was remade in Hindi in 1967 as Chhoti Si Mulaqat also starring Uttam Kumar. Before that, the movie was simultaneously made into a 1959 Telugu - Tamil bilingual titled Mangalya Balam in Telugu and Manjal Mahimai in Tamil.
The plot was set to a girl who is an educated young girl who falls in love with Kiriti. But the fact that she was married as a teenager poses a hurdle; however, she decides to face her past in order to help her move ahead in life. This is one of the earlier romantic film like a typical and regular masala film of Bollywood at that time. The film was highly noted for the pairing and chemistry of Kumar and Sen and its outstanding music.
It is a trend setter for the Bengali industry. As to make a modern masala romantic film which is a very audience favor the film at the time the film become an instant blockbuster. The film create a record at the box office and become highest grosser ever and collect five times more than its budget. The film reached the industry on a new height and the first breakthrough film for Kumar and Sen who both become stars after this film.

## Plot

The story revolves around Tapasi, a singer who has been married forcefully as a child to an old village zamindar's grandson Bulu. Back at home, her parents discover the truth and vow to wipe out every single memory of Tapasi ever being married. Years later, Tapasi has now grown up to be a lovely young lady and is in love with Kiriti. She introduces Kiriti to her mother, who approves of him, and plans to marry them. Things change when Tapasi finds out that she was already been married off in her childhood. This creates a conflict as others find out this secret and ostracize Tapasi. How will Tapasi and Kiriti deal with this stigma? Will they triumph in their love?

## Cast

* Uttam Kumar as Kiriti Mukherjee
* Suchitra Sen as Tapasi Banerjee
* Anup Kumar
* Jahar Ganguly
* Jahor Roy
* Kamal Mitra
* Panchanan Bhattacharya
* Bibhu Bhattacharya
* Shikharani Bag
* Shyamali Chakraborty
* Suprabha Mukhopadhyay
* Aparna Debi
* Jamuna Singha
* Sabita Bhattacharya

## Soundtrack

Anupam Ghatak has composed all the songs for the film while Gauriprasanna Mazumder has written all the lyrics.

## Production

Film based on the novel of the legendary literarist Ashspurna Devi. Atfirst production team wanted to cast Bikash Roy and Anubha Gupta as the main lead but the pressure of director Bibhuti Laha the production team changed their decision finally and cast Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen. All the technisians and production team too confindent about Kumar and Sen's capability and on the story. Music composed by Anupam Ghatak and the lyrics part responsible goes to Gauriprasanna Majumder who wrote 22 times lyrics for the film. Film was shooted in Darjeeling and some portion shooted in indoor studio.

## Themes and influences

The story of the film talking about the child marriage and The family structure of Bangladesh after the partition. This film set a benchmark for how the zamindari system, with its urban nobility, the attitude of the younger ones towards the elders within the zamindari house, and the emotional tensions of the upper-class family can build or break the ideal of a woman.
The production team try to make this as modern masala romantic film. This is inspire from the Bollywood typically romantic masala film which regularly made at that time.

## Release

The film release at the time of durga puja season on 3 September 1954, the date on which Kumar born this is also unique. The film advertising at entire city as in the poster wrote as Agnipariksha : New application of love.

## Reception

The film became a trend setter for Bengali cinema. This the first masala romantic film this gave the oxygen to industry. The film was not a breakthrough for both Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen but also breakthrough for Sandhya Ray and Gauriprasanna Mazumder. The film highlighted also for its music which is main elements gives a new vibe. This create a new era of romance. Kumar and Sen chemistry is going to create a madness among the Bengal masses. Their pair was highly appreciate by the people. Which is led to do more film of their pair throughout the decades. After the film Uttam Kumar ruled in Bengali cinema until his death.
During that time Hindi cinema dominant in Bengal. Bengali film not do well. But the film changed the entire situation and bring back the audience permanently in Bengali film. The film created a record at the box office and became an all-time blockbuster and ran for 126 days in theatres. This is also the beginning of Kumar dominance at puja box office. It collected over five times its budget. It became the highest grossing Bengali film of 1954.

## Controversy

To see the poster of Agnipariksha Uttam's wife Gauri Devi and Suchitra's husband Divanath both thoughts there have been a real love affairs between Uttam and Suchitra. In the poster there is written Agnipariksha : Amader Pronoyer Sakshi to see this Dibanath and Gauri become so angry on Uttam and Suchitra so there had been huge problems between all of them.

## Remakes

The film was remade in Telugu and Tamil in 1959 as Mangalya Balam and Manjal Mahimai respectively, starring Savitri and the famous Telugu star ANR. That film was one National Film Award in 7th National Film Award. The film was remade in Hindi as Chhoti Si Mulaqat with Uttam Kumar producing and reprising his role and Vyjaianthimala in Suchitra Sen role.