Pinjar (film)

Pinjar
Directed by	Chandra Prakash Dwivedi
Screenplay by	Chandra Prakash Dwivedi
Story by	Amrita Pritam
Based on	Pinjar by Amrita Pritam
Starring	Urmila Matondkar Manoj Bajpayee Sanjay Suri Kulbhushan Kharbanda Isha Koppikar Farida Jalal Sandali Sinha Priyanshu Chatterjee
Music by	Uttam Singh
Cinematography	Santosh Thundiyil
Edited by	Ballu Saluja
Release dates	24 October 2003
Running time	188 minutes
Country	India
Language	Hindi/Urdu Punjabi

Pinjar (Hindi: पिंजर, Urdu: پنجر‎, Punjabi: ਪਿੰਜਰ; English:The Cage) is a 2003 Indian period drama film directed by Chandra Prakash Dwivedi. The movie is about the Hindu-Muslim problems during the partition of India. The film is based on a Punjabi novel of the same name, written by Amrita Pritam.^[1] Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpayee and Sanjay Suri are in the lead roles. Besides critical acclaim, the film also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.

Plot

Pinjar tells the story of Puro, a young woman of Hindu background, living a lovely life — circling the time of the partition of 1947 — with her family. Puro is betrothed to a wealthy, sweet young man, Ramchand, from a promising family. Puro's bliss is shattered one day as a leisurely trip with Rajjo, her younger sister, turns traumatic as she is kidnapped by a mysterious man, Rashid. Rashid's family has an ancestral dispute with Puro's family. Puro's family had made Rashid's homeless by taking over their property. Puro's grand-uncle had even kidnapped Rashid's grand-aunt and then released her after defiling her. Rashid's family made him swear that he would kidnap Puro to settle the score.

It is clear that Rashid is drawn to Puro and would do anything for her. One night, Puro manages to escape and return to her parents. Her parents woefully turn away their daughter, explaining that if Puro were to stay, Rashid's extended Muslim clan would slaughter everyone. Left with no support, Puro returns to Rashid who is well-aware of Puro's escape; he knew she wouldn't be let in by her parents and had been waiting for her nearby. After a few months, Puro's family marries their son Trilok to Ramchand's younger sister, Lajjo while Rajjo is married off to Ramchand's cousin. Meanwhile Rashid marries Puro (Hamida), they adopt a child,found on the road, and treats him with much affection and love. But when the village people come to know that the child belonged to a Hindu background, they take him away from the couple.

The British colonialists leave India and the subcontinent reels under the effects of partition. Ramchand's uncle, cousin and Rajjo leave for India and are safe. Ramchand, his parents and Lajjo are caught in the riots. Ramchand hurriedly leaves to India with his younger sister and mother; his father is already missing. Shortly after, Lajjo is kidnapped by thugs. Puro meets Ramchand, who woefully tells her of Lajjo's situation. Puro finds Lajjo and helps her escape with Rashid's assistance. They send Lajjo to Lahore where Trilok and Ramchand come to receive her.

Trilok has a tearful reunion with Puro and explains to her that she can start life anew as Ramchand is ready to accept her even now. Puro surprises Trilok by refusing and saying she is where she belongs. Ramchand responds with tremendous empathy to Puro, as he sees that she has accepted Rashid. Rashid slowly tries to fade, making it easy for Puro to leave with her folks, but is heartbroken, as he is deeply in love with her. However, Puro seeks Rashid out and the two tearfully bid Ramchand, Trilok, and Lajjo farewell forever.

Cast

• Urmila Matondkar as Puro/Hamida
• Manoj Bajpayee as Rashid
• Sanjay Suri as Ramchand
• Sandali Sinha as Lajjo
• Priyanshu Chatterjee as Trilok
• Isha Koppikar as Rajjo
• Lilette Dubey as Tara, Puro's mother
• Kulbhushan Kharbanda as Mohanlal, Puro's father
• Alok Nath as Shyamlal, Ramchand's father
• Farida Jalal as Ramchand's mother
• Seema Biswas as Pagali
• Dina Pathak as Rashid's aunt
• Sudha Shivpuri as Rashid's mother
• Parveena Bano as Rashid's wife
• Pradeep Kukreja as Hukamchand
• Salima Raza as Hukamchand's wife
• Ghulam Arif as Managing director
• Rohitash Gaud as Rashid's brother
• Saurabh Bavaliya as Lajjo's cousin child
• Niharika as Kamla

Soundtrack

All of the tracks were composed by Uttam Singh, with lyrics by Gulzar. Tracks "Charkha Chalati Maa" and "Waris Shah Nu" lyrics by Amrita Pritam.

Awards

• 2004: Filmfare Best Art Direction Award:Munish Sappal
• 2004: National Film Award - Special Jury Award: Manoj Bajpai

References

1. ↑ "Always Amrita, Always Pritam". Chandigarh. The Tribune. 5 Nov 2005. Retrieved 29 March 2012. 

External links

• Pinjar at the Internet Movie Database