Bandhana
Bandhana | |
---|---|
![]() Poster | |
Directed by | Rajendra Singh Babu |
Screenplay by | H. V. Subba Rao Rajendra Singh Babu |
Based on | Bandhana by Usha Navarathnaram[2] |
Produced by | Rajendra Singh Babu |
Starring | Vishnuvardhan Suhasini Jai Jagadeesh |
Cinematography | D. V. Rajaram |
Edited by | V. P. Krishna |
Music by | M. Ranga Rao |
Production company | Rohini Pictures |
Release date | 24 August 1984[1] |
Running time | 153 minutes |
Country | India |
Language | Kannada |
Bandhana is a 1984 Indian Kannada-language romantic drama film directed by Rajendra Singh Babu, based on a novel by Usha Navaratnanram of the same name, and starring Vishnuvardhan and Suhasini.
At the 32nd National Film Awards, the film was awarded the Best Feature Film in Kannada. It also won two awards at the 1984–85 Karnataka State Film Awards; Best Actor (Vishnuvardhan) and Best Music Director (M. Ranga Rao). In addition to this, Vishnuvardhan and Suhasini won the awards for Best Actor and Best Actress categories at the South Filmfare Awards. The film is seen as a milestone in Kannada cinema.[3] The film was remade in Tamil as Premapasam.[4]
Plot[edit]
Harish (Vishnuvardhan) is a doctor, who falls in love with his protege Nandini (Suhasini) but is too shy to express his feelings for her. When he finally musters the courage to tell her that he loves her, he finds out that she holds him in high esteem more as a teacher. She tells him she is unable to reciprocate his feelings. Nandini marries an engineer Balu (Jai Jagadish), who is incidentally Harish's friend. Harish starts withdrawing into a shell. However, The Marital problems crop between Nandini and Balu because of her dedication to her career as a doctor. Harish develops a heart enlargement condition which draws Nandini closer to him in the hospital. This frustrates Balu, who accuses her of having an affair with Harish. When Nandini discovers that Balu has assaulted their house maid, she decides to leave him. Harish tries to convince Balu that his relationship with Nandini is pure but Balu misbehaves with him. Harish saves Nandini's child but dies because of his advanced heart condition. Nandini divorces her husband and moves on with her new born child.
Cast[edit]
- Vishnuvardhan as Doctor Harish
- Suhasini as Doctor Nandini
- Jai Jagadish as Balu
- Roopadevi
- G. K. Govinda Rao
- Kanchana
- Shivaram
- Mysore Lokesh
- Musuri Krishnamurthy
Production[edit]
Casting[edit]
When director Rajendra Singh Babu cast Vishnuvardhan for a love story like Bandhana, the industry had been skeptical, for Vishnuvardhan was known more for his action roles. But the director's faith in the actor and the way Vishnuvardhan managed the role of Dr. Harish built up reputation in the industry.[6]
Originally actress Kalpana held the rights to the script and happened to give it to Babu on request, just before she died. In 1983 when Babu set about to make the movie, his first choice for the heroine's role was Aarati. But her date diary was full and the search for the heroine started. He happened to meet Suhasini who was acting with his sister, and immediately knew she was going to be Dr. Nandini. The negative role portrayed by Jai Jagadish was first offered to actor Ambareesh.
Filming[edit]
The film was shot in several scenic locales such as Lakya Dam, Hanumanagundi Falls, Lalitha Mahal Palace, Krishnarjuna Sagar Dam, Harangi Dam and the Grand Ashok Hotel in Bangalore.[7]
Usha Navratnaram's novel was a literary romance that dealt with the inner feelings of the lead players. Babu with his strong command of film-making techniques, effectively adapted the novel into a screenplay rich in visuals and external drama that are required for the medium of cinema. He also showed a penchant for filming on a grander scale like the Hindi movies of the time - be it the Holi song or the prominent presence of the grand piano in the wedding song.
Release[edit]
The movie was certified on 26 July 1984 and was released on 24 August the same year. The songs of the movie were chart busters.
Reception[edit]
The movie garnered immensely positive reviews from both critics and viewers alike. The performance of Vishnuvardhan and Suhasini received high praise while the story and direction received equally high acclaim.
Box Office[edit]
The movie ran for 100 days in 18 theatres and 25 weeks in many first class theatres. The movie had a 30 weeks run in two theatres (a big record then) and completed 469 days of run in one movie hall. Bandhana was the highest-grossing Kannada film at the time and one of the highest grossing Kannada films of the 1980s.[8]
Legacy[edit]
In Bandhana, Vishnuvardhan played the role of a shy doctor who fails to express his love to a girl and ends up as a tragic hero by developing a fatal heart condition. The role of Dr. Harish brought him critical appreciation. The success of Bandhana was a turning point in Vishnu's career. He began acting in more family-oriented movies like Krishna Nee Begane Baro, Karunamayi, Sowbhagya Lakshmi, Suprabhatha and carved another niche among family audience. The movie also made Dr. Vishnuvardhan - Suhasini duo a much celebrated pair onscreen. Following the immense success of Bandhana they acted together in several movies like Suprabhata, Mutthina Haara and Himapaata.
The song Noorondu Nenapu from this movie was a chart buster and later inspired a 2017 movie with the song's title.[9]
Awards[edit]
- 1985 Special Filmfare Award for best actor - Vishnuvardhan
- 1985 Filmfare award for best actress - Suhasini
- 1985 National Film award for best feature film in Kannada - Bandhana[1]
Remake[edit]
Bandhana was remade in Tamil as Premapasam. The Tamil version released in 1985 and had Sivakumar and Revathy. The movie was directed by K. Vijayan and had musical score by Gangai Amaran.[10]
Soundtrack[edit]
Bandhana | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Soundtrack cover | ||||
Soundtrack album by | ||||
Released | 1984 | |||
Recorded | Prasad Studios | |||
Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
Label | Sangeetha | |||
M. Ranga Rao chronology | ||||
|
M. Ranga Rao composed the soundtrack, and the lyrics were written by R. N. Jayagopal. The album consists of four soundtracks. The track of Banna Nanna Olavina Banna was based on the tune of the soundtrack Per Qualche Dollaro In Più - Spanish Intro Opening Theme from the 1965 movie For a Few Dollars More. The songs of the movie were chart busters.[11]
No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Banna Nanna Olavina" | R. N. Jayagopal | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki, chorus | |
2. | "Ee Bandhana" | R. N. Jayagopal | K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki | |
3. | "Noorondu Nenapu" | R. N. Jayagopal | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam | |
4. | "Premada Kadambari" | R. N. Jayagopal | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Bandhana Movie: Showtimes, Review, Trailer, Posters, News & Videos | eTimes". m.timesofindia.com.
- ^ @NFAIOfficial (5 November 2019). "#Adaptation A poster for National Award winning #Kannada film #Bandhana (1984), starring #Vishnuvardhan and…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Politics likely to 'caste' a role in film body polls". The Hindu. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "Bandhana (1984) | Bandhana Movie | Bandhana Kannada Movie Cast & Crew, Release Date, Review, Photos, Videos". FilmiBeat.
- ^ "Bandhana (1984) - IMDb" – via m.imdb.com.
- ^ "10 Interesting Facts about Vishnuvardhan – DADA of Kannada Cinema". 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Bandana Movie Shooting Locations | Filmapia – reel sites . real sights". www.filmapia.com.
- ^ "HIT Percentage / HIT Quotient of Actors". Shivu aDDa Forum - Kannada Movie Discussion.
- ^ "Recreating the Bandhana magic - Times of India". The Times of India.
- ^ "Prema Paasam (1985)" – via www.tamilmdb.com.
- ^ "For a few Dollars more Spanish Intro Opening Theme". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via www.youtube.com.