Bhuvan Shome

Bhuvan Shome is probably the finest film I have seen. The film is about Bhuvan Shome, a senior government officer and widower, who lives an isolated and strict life. He decides to take a vacation, and comes upon a pretty village belle, who is young, enthusiastic, full of life and humor. The short time they spend together changes Shome's entire outlook to life and his own future. The beauty of the film lies in its exploring the key issues in the protagonist's life through a simple narrative, beautiful scenery and light hearted interplay between the characters. To borrow Robert Browning's phrase, at the end you are left with the feeling of, "God's in His heaven - All's right with the world!"

Mrinal Sen's low-budget film is one of the most touching movie. He brings out the nuances in this simple yet touching story so poignantly. No special effects, no dramatic moments! Just simple depiction captured on film to move the audience. The performers were so natural in their portrayal of the characters and effectively communicated & shared their feelings/ emotions/ attitudes with the audience. An exceptional artistic endeavour!

Bhuvan Shome is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen. Mrinal Sen,director of the film once said "BHUVAN sHOME IS THE STORY OF TRAGIC REALISATION' However I do not agree with it.In my opinion:

This film is about the most beautiful experiences of man.First of all he is touched by the beauty of NATURE.The open land and wind and.sky and birds,...An altogether different life from his PRISON. Nature sooths his hard rigid persona.

Secondly it is the realization that there is a vast unknown world beyond our own.Bhuwan shome did not know the names of many birds,trees,people.He experiences the joy of knowing his own limitations.

THIRDLY he experiences the touch of "unselfish love".The simple village girl takes pains to do many things for him.She does it because it is her nature.She did not expect anything in return.

Now there is the last touch: The touch of pity and sympathy.Bhuvan is moved because of the captivity of the bird and its desperate efforts for escape.....It is very rare for a person to experience so many touches in one day.Naturally they make deep impression on his soul.He will always remember this day,will always thank the wonderful girl for the gift she has given to him.

Hence the realization of Shome is not a tragic one.On the contrary it is a sublime realization that he can throw his burdens ,though even for one day.So he does a thing which he has not done in his life.He pardons a criminal.He discovers that feeling which a man experiences when he does something for others,unselfishly.He feels relieved.

And the viewer also finds the relief :"When the film discovers something fine ,something good something wonderful about the human animal"

We have seen him as one of the most whimsical funny old man 'Bhavanishankar' in Hrishida's timeless classic comedy 'Golmaal'or 'Naram Garam'. Utpal Dutt was one of the absolutely brilliant and rare breed of actor. I don't remember any other actor who became so graceful at one time and so funny at the other as he grew old in his characters. He was one of the original Indian comedian who didn't require funny dialogues or situations to make you laugh. Humor is the integral part of his natural body language.

The film is Winner of President's Gold Medal and made by India's art house director- Mrinal Sen. It's a limited budget small film with the length of one and half hours. The plot is more seems like reading one of R K Narayan's Malgudi tales.

Bhuvan Shome is typical Bengali Babu who is very principle loving, strict, angry old man serving as a Railway Officer. Due to his arrogant typical characteristics he always regarded in staff as the dangerous man whose sight everyone likes to avoid. He didn't pay heed to his own single son and left him from several years. Now at the ripe age he cultivated a new suitable hobby of hunting birds. He landed up in one of the local Gujarati town for hunting and met a smart local Gujarati village girl with whom he shared a strange relationship as she helped him in his hunting task. How his encounter with the girl transformed him from a whimsical, arrogant old officer into a lovable life loving gentleman is a thing to watch for all Indian cinema lovers.

I don't want to ruin the characteristic charm of Utpal Dutt while praising him much but let me say that I surely include his act here in one of my favorite Indian movie characters list. Watch his mood in the last scene when he committed a single good act of his life and you can't resist smile on your face. The film also has fine act by young and charming Suhasini Mulay.( Remember the modern age mother of Akshay Khanna in 'Dil Chahta Hai') You just love his natural act here.

The only thing you have to bear is few tiring long shots which sometimes bore you. But if you tolerate it, I guarantee you will surely enjoy a quality cinema.

Highly Recommended for all Utpal Dutt fans.

Ratings- 8/10

What worked: It's a sweet, slight of life, light hearted movie. What captured the attention was the narrative, the way the story unfold, the introduction as well as the use of unique frames to tell the story. Mrinal Sen as a director aced along with Utpal Dutt with his fine performance. Suhasini, as a village girl, stole the show and I think it was meant to be because she plays a pivotal role in the movie, bringing the positive transformation in Shome's life. The execution worked because of the fine and not complex storytelling What did not work: I would say the technical aspect is the weaker point of the movie, especially video editing. But we need to consider that the movie was made decades ago, so with that regard it can be overlooked. Final verdict: recommended