# Utsav

Utsav (Hindi: उत्सव; English: Festival) is a 1984 Hindi erotic drama film, produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Girish Karnad. The film is based on play Mrichakatika (The Little Clay Cart) by Śūdraka. It was filmed in Hindi and English simultaneously, the post-production work of latter version was done in London.
The film stars Shankar Nag, Shashi Kapoor, Rekha, Amjad Khan, Anuradha Patel, Shekhar Suman, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Annu Kapoor, Sanjana Kapoor and Kunal Kapoor.
The role of Samsthanak is played by Shashi Kapoor, who is also the producer of the movie. It was originally supposed to be played by Amitabh Bachchan. However, in July 1982, Bachchan met with a major accident in Bangalore. So the producer himself decided to step in. The film's music is by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and is noted for its songs like, 'Man Kyun Behka Re Behka Aadhi Raat Ko', a famous duet song by sisters Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. Anuradha Paudwal's 'Mere Man Baja Mridang' for which she won the Filmfare Best Female Playback Award in 1985. Suresh Wadkar also has a song, 'Sanjh Dhale Gagan Tale'. The Central Board of Film Certification of India gave the film an "A" certificate on 23 August 1984.

## Overview

The film is an adaptation of Mṛcchakatika (The Little Clay Cart), a ten-act Sanskrit drama attributed to Śūdraka, an ancient playwright generally thought to have lived sometime between the second century BC and the fifth century AD. The prologue identifies him as a Kshatriya king and a devotee of Siva who lived for a 100 years. The play is set in the ancient city of Ujjayini during the reign of the King Pālaka, near the end of the Pradyota dynasty that made up the first quarter of the fifth century BC.

## Plot

The story is about a courtesan, Vasantasena (Rekha), and her chance meeting with a poor Brahmin man, Charudatta (Shekhar Suman), in Ujjain.

## Cast

* Shashi Kapoor as Samsthanak
* Rekha as Vasantsena
* Amjad Khan as Vatsayana, author of Kamasutra; narrator
* Shankar Nag as Sajjal, the thief
* Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Teacher of Aryak
* Shekhar Suman as Charudutt
* Neena Gupta as Madanika, courtesan slave in Vasantsena's house
* Anuradha Patel as Aditi, Charudutt's Wife
* Anupam Kher as Samsthanak's friend
* Annu Kapoor as Masseur who is trying to be an ascetic
* Sanjana Kapoor as A courtesan slave in Vasantsena's house
* Kunal Kapoor as Aryak, the revolutionary.
* Harish Patel as Maitreya, Charudutt's friend.
* Yunus Parvez as One of the gamblers, who later becomes the owner of the masseur
* Satish Kaushik as Cart driver

## Production

The film was shot in Kolkebail, Karnataka in 1982–83. Producer Shashi Kapoor incurred a loss of Rs 1.5 crore after the film's release in 1984.

## Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack was composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal and the lyrics were penned by Vasant Dev.
| Song | Singer |
| "Man Kyun Behka" | Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle |
| "Neelam Pe" | Lata Mangeshkar |
| "Mera Man Baja Mridang" | Suresh Wadkar, Anuradha Paudwal, Aarti Mukherjee, Udit Narayan |
| "Sanjh Dhale" | Suresh Wadkar |

## Awards

| Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref |
| 32nd National Film Awards | Best Art Direction | Nachiket Patwardhan Jayoo Patwardhan | Won | |
| 33rd Filmfare Awards | Best Lyricist | Vasant Dev ("Mann Kyun Behka") | Won | [9] [10] |
| 33rd Filmfare Awards | Best Female Playback Singer | Anuradha Paudwal ("Mere Man Baje Mridang") | Won | [9] [10] |
| 33rd Filmfare Awards | Best actor in Comic Role | Amjad Khan | Nominated | [9] [10] |
| 33rd Filmfare Awards | Best actor in Comic Role | Annu Kapoor | Nominated | [9] [10] |