Sagar Sangamey (1959):
Brief Review -
Debaki Bose's heartbreaking Bengali drama about a woman and her emotional bond with a young, unfamiliar girl. For clarity, let me state up front - this film has nothing to do with K. Viswanath and Kamal Haasan's Sagar Sangamam (1983). Many might confuse the titles. You're probably familiar with Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan - Sagar Sangamey is somewhat similar in storyline. I'm not entirely sure whether this film deserved the National Award, as there were other better films released in 1959. That said, it's still a very Good film and is worth your time. Unlike Bajrangi Bhaijaan, the ending here is tragic. It's metaphorical and reflects the shifting mindset of the central woman. Let me elaborate with a small spoiler: the woman initially chooses not to take the girl - she's fine at that point. But when she changes her mind, fate steps in, and she can no longer have the girl. That's where the spiritual twist lands. The story follows a married woman on a boat journey who saves a young girl from drowning. She brings her to a camp, and they live together briefly. The woman must go abroad and cannot take the girl but also finds it impossible to leave her. Circumstances pull her back, and a deep mother-daughter bond forms. She ultimately leaves the girl at an orphanage. Will the girl listen to this thing said by her new mother? The climax is powerful and emotional. The rest of the film is simple, but marred by dark visuals, weak cinematography, poor editing, and shaky art direction. Debaki Bose's storytelling is strong, though the dim visuals and viewing discomfort lower its technical quality. But in terms of screenplay, performance, and emotion, I believe Sagar Sangamey was ahead of its time compared to other industries. Overall, a nice flick to look forward to, but the print, or the actual reel, isn't really of good quality.
RATING - 7/10*
By - #samthebestest.
