What the original was not (Prem Patra)

Here is a film that beats its original hands down. I'd never thought I would point fingers at a Uttam Kumar - Suchitra Sen classic. But, Agragami's Sagarika is so killingly boring that any tepid film of that age would be a better option any day. So, when I accidentally discovered that Bimal Roy's underrated classic Prem Patra is but a Hindi remake of Sagarika, I sat down to watch it with trepidation, expecting the usual tedious drama. But lo! This small film engages with its charming cast, lovely songs, easy narrative and an execution that is way, way better... 

Prem Patra is a film very different from Roy's repertoire. It is a sweet love story that has its base on misunderstandings. But then these differences only take the story forward. A silly misjudgement on the part of an adolescent almosts costs a young man his career. He is forced to decide that a pretty girl needn't be the owner of a beautiful heart. More misunderstandings follow. But then, all's well that ends well...
Ratna (Parvin Choudhury) is infatuated with Arun Kumar (Shashi Kapoor), who stays with her and her father. Ratna's father has been Arun's guardian and benefactor for long, since he was a poor man. So, the old man has taken care of his education. Arun is a meritorious chap. He is selected by his principal for a foreign scholarship. And understandably everyone is overjoyed.

Arun's college mate is Kavita Kapoor (Sadhana), a haughty but well mannered girl who is always troubled by the young boys of the college. They write her anonymous love letters and irk her. The only boy who is not interested in all this petty business is Arun. As events unfold, Arun and Kavita meet and develop a liking for each other. But Ratna will have none of this. She copies Arun's hand and shoots off an impulsive love letter to Kavita, who is so shocked (and partly instigated by her giggly friends) that she complains to the principal. Arun is called for questioning. He recognises that this is Ratna's doing, but keeps mum for the sake of her honour. His scholarship is cancelled and he leaves for his village.

Ratna is swept with remorse and owns up her folly before Kavita. A lot of things happen before Arun can finally set foot in foreign shores. His marriage is fixed to a village belle called Tara (Seema Deo) because her father is paying for his foreign education. Tara, as it happens, is Kavita's cousin, who comes to the city to get groomed in city manners. Since she is too busy with her new friends, Kavita is given the job of writing and responding to Arun's letters for Tara. Involuntarily, Kavita pours out her feelings and emotions in these letters and Arun grows to love the Tara that he recognises through these letters. He even informs 'Tara' about the girl who almost ruined his future and explains that he only has hatred for her. This information prevents Kavita from acknowledging in the letter that she is actually not Tara. The letter game continues till one day news arrives that Arun has met with a freak accident and has lost his eyesight. Now, Tara and her father will have nithing to do with him. But Kavita is already in love with this man who she had so misunderstood...

I say Prem Patra is engaging because of the lucid nature of the script. There is no high strung drama or histrionics like in its 1957 Bengali cousin. All the characters talk like normal human beings and the events are absolutely incredible. If you discard the scene featuring Kedar (Rajindernath) trying to kill a tiger, and the related tomfoolery with it, you will like every bit of this Roy 1962 classic. However, I do feel that Rajendranath is not his usual self here. He is way tempered and low key. And let's thank the director for that...
One of the best things about this romance is the music by Salil Chowdhury. Save the first track Do ankhiyan jhuki jhuki si, every song is superb. This song is not bad, but somehow Mukesh's voice sounds jarring in Shashi Kapoor's lips. But the picturisation is sensitive and soft.

The next song comes rather late in the film. But it is worth the wait. Sadhana looks absolutely breathtaking in Ab aur na kucch bhi yaad rahaan. Here she is head over heels in love with Arun and is in no mood to mull over past happenings. She is ready to forget why they grew apart, what separated them and is regaling in her new found love for Arun. She is seeing a different world altogether, courtesy the sweet letters from Arun. She knows that they are not for her, but for Tara, but this dreamy-eyed young woman is thoroughly sinking into a world of romance. Lata Mangeshkar's mellifluous voice breathes life into Sadhana's charming visage. It is as if nature is recognising Kavita's feelings and emotions...
Another great song is Sawan ki raaton mein (Lata Mangeshkar and Talat Mehmood). It stands out for the way it is executed-- part poetry and part song. Love is felt from within and Arun's ailment will not stop these two lovebirds from acknowledging their love for each other. Sadhana here looks really fancy and Shashi Kapoor dashing.Then there is the sublime beauty of Yeh mere andherey ujaaley na hotein...
In terms of performance, I feel Shashi Kapoor was still growing as an actor. He is good, but there are sometimes when I feel he is trying too hard. His character is utterly believable and strong. And surprisingly, he does make a much much better blind man than Uttam Kumar.
Seema Deo is a pretty inclusion in the film. She is effortless as the village girl metamorphosing into the chirpy city chick. Her fleeting emotions are depicted with utmost panache by Bimal Roy...

But the cake here is taken away by the scintillating Sadhana. In a role that has a variety of shades, she is subtle, soft, sensitive and oh-so-charming. First, as the vain college girl, then as a faithful lover, she does reflect the many shades of her character with finesse. A pretty picture at all times, she does make Kavita Kapoor a much more sustainable person than Sagarika...