Ogo Bodhu Shundori (Bengali: ওগো বধূ সুন্দরী; English: Hey Beautiful Bride) is a 1981 Bengalicomedy film, directed by Salil Dutta. It was one of the last films of the iconic Bengali actor Uttam Kumar, who died during production. A lookalike, Prabir Kumar, was brought in to stand in for Uttam Kumar during the final sections of the film and in the song O Daddy O Mummy. The film starred also Moushumi Chatterjee, Sumitra Mukherjee, Ranjit Mallick and Santosh Dutta. The film became blockbuster hit at the box office.
The film was produced by RD Bansal. The music was composed by Bappi Lahiri. This was the second Bengali film after Dadu and the only Uttam Kumar film where Lahiri composed the music. The movie is a Bengali reworking of the story of Pygmalion, heavily drawing upon the BritishmusicalMy Fair Lady.
Plot
Gagan (Uttam Kumar) does not like to socialise, while his wife Chitra (Sumitra Mukherjee) loved attending parties. One day, Chitra's friend Lola invites her to a party. In the meanwhile, the Kolkata Book Fair takes off and Gagan wanted to go. Savitri (Moushumi Chatterjee) lived with her uncle from an early age. One day, her uncle sold her for some money, from where Savitri escaped and took shelter in Gagan's house. When Gagan's wife saw Savitri in Gagan's reading room, she went to her grandfather's house. Gagan and Abalakanta (Santosh Dutta) helped Savitri learn etiquette and the ways of genteel society.
One day, Gagan thinks of an alliance between Savitri and Abalakanta. But Savitri did not agree to marry Abalakanta. In the meanwhile, Sandip (Ranjit Mallick) came and becomes confused on seeing Savitri. Gagan then realises about their love. So he arranges Sandip and Savitri's marriage in his house. But Chitra's servant told her that Gagan was to marry Savitri. So Chitra comes to the house with her grandfather. Finally, Chitra realises that the bridegroom was her brother Sandip. The film thus ends on a happy note.
The film was based on the 1913 English play Pygmalion of George Bernard Shaw which is it'self based on the super hit British musical comedy film called My Fair Lady. The legendary actor and the matinee idol of Bengal Mahanayak Uttam Kumar died during the production.
Director Salil Dutta remembering the last two days of Uttam Kumar shooting. In the day July 22 There was a shot after lunch break. Suddenly Uttam closed his eyes with his hand on his forehead. All eyes were on Uttam. Blood was seen coming from the forehead. Director Salil Dutta quickly went ahead and seated Uttam. That scene was scene of throwing a Jaipuri ashtray. A piece of it stuck on the door and hit him on the forehead. Director quickly packed up and called the doctor, who was. a private doctor of Uttam. The doctor came in time, checked him and said that it was nothing and left some medicine. Then director wanted to stop the shoot for that day but Uttam protested against stopping the shooting. Uttam said During a work, such small and big incidents will happen. Then Uttam starts the shooting again.[1]
On 23 July, while going for the shooting, Uttam noticed that his favorite tap recorder was not in the car. Everyday in his free time, he used to listen to songs and recorded speeches by that tape recorder. It couldn't be found even after searching every place. This incident hurt him a lot. He came to the shooting spot with a lot of sadness. The last scene of the film which he shot that day was as follows- Sumitra Mukherjee, who played the role of his wife, was going to his father house in anger and Uttam was repeatedly trying to stop his wife by shaving his beard and saying his last dialogue, Amio Dekhe Nebo Amar Naam Gogon Sen. At that time he was having a heart at his hand going between his chest while speaking the dialogue.[2]
The film was made in 1980 but released in next year 1981 February. There was a huge craze for the film because this was Bengal's favorite matinee idol Uttam Kumar's one of the last films, who died during filming on 24 July 1980. There was not much promotion for the film but still there was huge hype.
The film received overwhelming response from the critics and it is regarded as one of the best comedy Bengali films. The Times Of India kept this in their Bengali Cinema's all time greatest comedy films list.[4]
The film was also remembered for its song and Uttam Kumar- Kishore Kumar combination.[5] This was only the second Bengali film and only Uttam Kumar film where Bappi Lahiri composed the music. The album became huge hit and is still popular today.[6]
When the film was released, there was huge craze in theaters for the tickets and police charged lathi. The Bengali audience filled up all the theaters to see their idol one of the last work on screen. The film generally became blockbuster hit and is often regarded as one of the major hits in the history of Bengali Cinema. and ran for 26 weeks constantly in theaters. The film also became one of the highest grossers in that year.[7]
Trivia
In 2010 a Bengali film was made in a same title directed by Sunanda Mitra. The film starring Shreelekha Mitra, Sabitri Chatterjee, Babul Supriyo, Monami Ghosh and Kharaj Mukherjee. This is not a remake film of original. It's a tribute to Uttam Kumar and original Ogo Badhu Sundari film. In this film Babul played same name of Uttam Kumar as Uttam Kumar Chatterjee who is a die hard Uttam Kumar fan. There is also three song used in the movie from Uttam Kumar's film.[8]
