Kabuliwala

Adaptation of Tagore's short story of the same name. Too much real, and too much important too. I mentioned in somewhere else that Tagore was a great short story writer, and this is considered to be one of his top ten works. Even, as a film, this was pathbreaking because the previous Tagore adaptations were too much stiff and unreal to consume, ever for the old days' standard. This movie treatment was remade by the great Balraj Sahni and had so many beautiful songs in it.

Kabuliwala (1957) : Movie Review -

Kabuliwala remains one of the most emotionally resonant films in Indian cinema. It is adorable, heartwarming, and deeply touching. There won't be a single viewer who doesn't tear up by the end. The emotional trauma that Moondram Pirai (1982) or Sadma (1983) delivered in their climaxes had already been masterfully explored by Kabuliwala decades earlier in the late 1950s.

At its core, it's a tender story about the innocent bond between a man and a little girl-one that's far purer and more soulful than most romantic tales. The adorable Mini, with her innocent expressions and delightful chatter, instantly captures your heart. You find yourself completely drawn into the narrative, feeling every emotion that Rahmat, the Kabuliwala, experiences.

As fate would have it, Rahmat is imprisoned for a crime, and spends eight long years yearning to meet Mini again. But when he returns, he finds a grown-up girl who doesn't recognize him. That's the cruelty of time-for adults, memories become a weight, while for children, they fade into oblivion. Kabuliwala explores this eternal truth with quiet grace, delivering a poignant life lesson wrapped in cinematic beauty.

The ending, ambiguous yet heartbreaking, leaves a lasting impression-was Rahmat's own daughter still waiting for him? Would she remember him? This subtle emotional layer was ahead of its time, especially when Indian cinema largely leaned towards either completely happy or devastatingly tragic endings.

The story follows a dry fruit seller from Kabul who travels to Calcutta. There, he forms a beautiful friendship with Mini, a little girl whose innocence reminds him of his own daughter back home. But one unfortunate incident changes everything, landing him in jail. During his prison years, he cherishes a letter from his daughter and memories of Mini, even as silence replaces all correspondence. Has he been forgotten by both?

Chhabi Biswas delivers a performance for the ages. He was, is, and will always remain the definitive Kabuliwala on screen. Little Oindrila Tagore is arguably one of the most adorable child actors ever to grace Indian cinema. Radhamohan Bhattacharya and Manju Dey shine as Mini's loving parents. The screenplay, cinematography, and editing are all masterful, capturing the quiet dignity of the story.

A heartfelt salute to the legendary Tapan Sinha for adapting Rabindranath Tagore's classic short story so faithfully and poignantly. One feels that even Tagore himself would have been proud of this cinematic version-it remains the most cherished portrayal of his beloved Kabuliwala.

RATING - 8/10*

Not too many films of yesteryears have survived the ravages of time. Thus, it was heartening to see that the print quality of this 54 year old Bengali film , an award winner @ Berlin Film Festival in 1962 in a good condition.

Watching the film one felt how the natural school of acting thrived in those days in the films of filmmakers like Tapan Sinha. It is a delight to watch actors like Chabi Biswas, Radhamohan Bhattacharyya, Manju Dey, Jahar Roy and others bring their respective roles alive with such finesse.

Around late 50s-early 60s Bengali filmmakers like Mrinal Sen and Tapan Sinha made a foreigner in Kolkata as the protagonist of their films. Kali Bannerjee played a Chinese hawker in Sen's NEEL AKASER NEECHEY & Sinha's KABULIWALLAH showcased Chabi Biswas as an Afghani Pathan. Both the films play around with suspicions arising in the minds of people when a bonding develops between the foreigner with a local (the wife in NEEL AKASER NEECHEY & the little girl in KABULIWALLAH). Did the two writers, Mahadevi Verma (Neel Akaser Neechey) & Tagore (Kabuliwallah) ever found any similarities in their works? In both the films the ending finds the protagonist returning to his home country.

The child actor is superlative. Jeben Bose & Nripati Chaterjee act in supporting roles. The director uses a couple of Rabindrasangeet in the film. KHORO BAYU BOY BEGE is one of them. The music of the film was scored by sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. Rating: 3.8 out of 5

Here I was introduced to young Tapan Sinha and the giant of an actor, Chhabi Biswas. Based on a short story of Tagore, this leaves a mark, stupendous direction by someone who went on to become one of the best from his country. A heart-warming tale by the Nobel laureate gets perfect cinematic treatment and drenches your soul leaving you to tears. A must watch again... 9/10.