Saptapadi (1961 film)
Saptapadi () is a 1961 Indian Bengali-language romantic drama film by Ajoy Kar, starring Suchitra Sen, Uttam Kumar, Chhabi Biswas and Chhaya Debi. Regarded as the romantic blockbuster of the evergreen romantic pair of Bengali cinema, Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen, accompanied with mesmerizing music direction and playback singing in Uttam's voice by Hemanta Mukherjee and in Suchitra's voice by Sandhya Mukherjee. The story is based on a 1958 novel written by Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay. The film story tell the love relationship between a ordinary Indian bengali boy and a anglo indian girl. Which become went  to twist and atlast they again joint. The film become one of the biggest hit of Kumar's career and often regarded one of the greatest romantic film of all time. The film won national award and Kumar won B.F.J.A Award Suchitra Sen won best actress in Moscow Film Festival 1963. After the film the Uttam Suchitra pair become one of the greatest romantic pair in history of Indian Cinema and their pair stated as "Sonar Juti" (Golden Pair). Plot. The story takes place in pre-independent India (early 1940) when young Indian students were competing equally with Anglo-Indians  in all fields whether it be education or sports. Krishnendu (Uttam Kumar), a young Bengali Hindu medical student falls in love with an equally talented and attractive Anglo-Indian Christian woman named Rina Brown (Suchitra Sen). Both are students at the Calcutta Medical College and become close while meeting at many sports and cultural events. There is an interesting rendition of Othello within the movie; that portion of the movie was directed by Utpal Dutt. However marriage is not on the cards for them due to their differences in religion, (it is particularly opposed by Krishnendu's dad, a staunch , conservative Hindu), and they go their own ways only to unexpectedly meet again later in life. Most of the movie is presented in flashbacks with Krishnendu pondering over the past after unexpectedly encountering a drunk and passed out Rina in a military hospital in returns. Production. Shooting commenced started in late 1960. This was the second film after "Harano Sur" produced by Uttam Kumar under his banner Alochaya Production along with Ajoy Kar. Suchitra Sen was again cast in the Rina Brown role. This is returns after two years of Uttam Suchitra pair, last time their saw in "Chawa Paoa . For the film Kumar and Sen practice dance and reading Shakespeare. But atlast the iconic Othello play scene in the film Uttam's voice-over by Utpal Dutta and Sen's voice-over by Jennifer Kapoor. Kumar always be a Mohunbagan fan. In the football play scene Kumar want to play in Mohunbagan jersey but their was no Mohun jersey. When Kumar being insist then Sen force him to play him in East Bengal Jersey. Atlast Kumar being surrending and completed the scene wearing in East Bengal Jersey. The film was adapted from Tarashankar famous novel Saptapadi" 1958. In the  novel ending Krishendu is died. But in the film ending Ajoy Kar and whole team take a decision to changed the scene that Krishnendu was not died and again joined with Rina Brown. That decision take for the audience who loved this pair they don't want to see the separated scene in the film. Music. "Saptapadi"'s music is directed by Hemant Kumar. And lyrics by the versatile Gauriprasanna Mazumder. The song Ei Path Jodi Na which was sing by Hemanta on Uttam and Sandha on Suchitra lyp create a new era of the romanticism. The song become very  popular untill today which has been worthly remembering. Released. The film was set to be released at the Durga Puja occasion in 20th October 1961. The film released with Kumar another film "Dui Bhai". The craze of the film always staying on the top since it had been announce. Because this was the comeback after two years of Uttam Suchitra pair. For the advanced booking for the film thousands of people gathered in the ticket counter. When the released day of the film the public became violent. For the balancing of the situation police force doing lathi charge and many  people was wounded. Reception. The film generally create a record at the box office and become all time blockbuster hit. It was broken all the previous box office record of Bengali film. The film ranned over 15 weeks and became highest grossing film of the year and one of the highest grossing film of all time. The film regarded as one of greatest romantic film ever. Legacy. The bike sequences in the song "Ei Path Jodi Na Sesh Hoe" become one of the greatest and most iconic romantic scenes ever in the indian cinema history. The song and the sequence  become the legendary and deep impact in Bengali Community and culture worldwide. This sequence was also used for various social work. Recently this song and sequence used in Kalipuja 2018 at Baharampur puja committee.