Sagarika (1956 film)

Sagarika^[2] is a 1956 Bengali romantic drama film.directed by Agradoot.^[3] The film has been music composed by Robin Chatterjee. The film starring Uttam Kumar, and Suchitra Sen who was in leading role and others artists like Jamuna Sinha, Namita Sinha, Kamal Mitra, Pahadi Sanyal, Jahar Ganguli, Anup Kumar in the supporting roles. The film become a huge successful at the box office.

Arun, a bright medical student, wants to fulfill his dad's last wish to go to England and become a doctor and come back to treat the village folk. He stayed in Shipra's house. Shipra, a naughty and insensitive girl, wants to marry Arun, ? at college arun ? into sagarika and falls in love with her. The college student runs and makes fun of this greatly offending Sagarika. Shipra overcome with jealousy, sends Arun's poem to Sagarika with a love letter. Sagarika complains to the principal who cancels the state scholarship which would have sent Arun to England. Arun understands Shipra's conspiracy and leaves. He goes back to his village to the uncles, determined to go to England. A repentant Shipra confesses to Sagar who breaks down. Sagar's uncle brings his daughter Basanti to her asking her to groom ? her for her ? would be husband who has gone to medicine in England. Arun had become engaged to Basanti whose father had paid for the expenses. Sagar in love with Arun takes up the responsibilities. She fierced ?and write to Arun in Basanti's guise and the couple comes close to each other through their correspondance. Meanwhile, Basanti is enticed by a conning ? cheat Ajit who promises to marry her. Arun passes with flying colours but met with an accident and becomes blind . His hopes are dashed. He returns to India.Basanti refuses to marry a blind man .Kedar, Arun's old friend takes Arun to his house and Sagar pretending to be Basanti , takes care of him . A famous doctor from Vienna agrees to operate Arun's eyes. At the prospect of Arun's recovery, Basanti's father wishes to revive the marriage proposal. Basanti filted ? by asitn ?agrees .Sagar prepares to disappear after Arun's operation . Post-operation , Arun touches the real? of basanti and knows her immediately not to be his beloved .The doctor fears that the excitement would cost his ? again .Arun welcomes blindness if he gets Basanti .Kedar frightened ,calls Sagar , who Arun knows to be his Basanti immediately .He sees Sagar in front of him. The couples are reconciliated.

• Uttam Kumar as Arun
• Suchitra Sen as Sagarika
• Jamuna Sinha as Basanti
• Namita Sinha as Sipra
• Kamal Mitra as Professor of Medical College
• Jahar Ganguly as Basanti's father
• Pahadi Sanyal as Arun's uncle
• Anup Kumar
• Jiben Bose as Kedarda

During the shooting of the film producer Sukumar Kumar become ill so shooting going to be stopped for the lack of money. Kamal Mitra, Pahadi Sanyal shooted some portion of the film but not able to continued the shooting. Director Agradoot told Uttam Kumar, then Kumar give to him 30,000 rupees to continued the shooting. Here we see the greatness of Uttam Kumar.^[4]

Robin Chatterjee composed the songs for the film and Gouri Prasanna Majumdar, Pranab Roy and Nitai Bhattachariya has written the lyrics. The songs became very popular and are famous even today. They are considered as timeless classics.

The film become all time blockbuster and ran for 24 weeks constantly which is highest for any Uttam Suchitra film.

The film was remade in hindi as Prem Patra in 1962, starring Sashi Kapoor and Sadhana.