Champadangar Bou (1954)

Hit joint family melodrama in a sentimentalised rural setting, scripted by a noted Bengali novelist. The crusty head of the family, Setap Moral (Bannerjee), is contrasted with his irresponsible younger brother Mahatap (Kumar). Their conflicts are usually resolved by the elder brother’s efficient and matronly wife Kadambini (Gupta), who is so fond of Mahatap that it causes a scandal. When the showdown between the brothers comes, Setap blames his wife for everything and wants to kill her. However, he relents when he realises Kadambini’s commitment is really to the maintenance of the family’s unity. A later Hindi version, Aanchal (1980), with Rajesh Khanna and Amol Palekar, emphasised the plot’s association with the Ramayana legend. The boudi or elder sister-in-law’s sexual attraction for a younger brother-in-law is a familiar theme in Bengali literature (cf. Saratchandra’s Niskriti) and film (cf. Ray’s Charulata, 1964).