Amol Palekar popularised the sensitive man’ archetype way before Gen Z claimed it as their own creation. He’s the quintessential common man’s hero. His portrayal of the shy, often bumbling protagonist—such as the hesitant lover in Chhoti Si Baat, or earnest suitor in Chitchor—stands in stark contrast to the ‘angry young man’ trope, offering a refreshing alternative to the macho leads of the time.
Palekar is at his finest in Basu Chatterjee’s Chitchor. He plays Vinod, the potential suitor for the village headmaster’s daughter, Geeta, played by Zarina Wahab. The quiet evolution of their relationship from strangers to friends to lovers is pure cinematic gold. Except, that it’s a case of mistaken identity. Geeta’s suitor was supposed to be an engineer from Mumbai.
Based on Subodh Ghosh’s Bengali short story Chittachakor, the 1976 film is more than just a Bollywood romance. It gives agency to Geeta, which is evident in how she prioritises her education over marriage. Moreover, when she finally falls in love with Vinod, she refuses to end their relationship just because he isn’t the engineer her sister in Mumbai had originally chosen for her. Wahab’s performance as a carefree teenager who transforms into a young woman asserting her right to marry the man of her choosing is impeccable and a delight to watch.
This ‘freedom’ given to the female protagonist is a trademark of many of Basu Chatterjee’s films, such as Piya Ka Ghar (1972) and Rajnigandha (1974). On the one hand, they are rooted in and shaped by the time and space they inhabit. But on the other hand, they are independent and assert their individuality.
Women’s right to love
When Vinod, an overseer of a construction company, arrives in Madhupur village for work, he is mistaken for Sunil (Vijayendra Ghatge), the man her sister has selected to be Geeta’s husband.
Her parents, a timid schoolmaster (AK Hangal) and his somewhat domineering wife (Dina Pathak) welcome Vinod to their house and visualise him as the perfect son-in-law. Geeta is also drawn to him.
Vinod, who also happens to be passionate about music, begins to give lessons to Geeta. While she initially makes fun of his singing, Geeta is left visibly mesmerised when Vinod breaks into Gori Tera Gaon Bada Pyaara (sung by KJ Yesudas). The track, composed in Raag Dhani, marked the beginning of Vinod and Geeta’s courtship and won Yesudas a Filmfare award for Best Male Playback Singer that year.
Hemlata and Yesudas sang all the songs for Chitchor. The album featured four tracks, which were written and composed by Ravindra Jain. Each of them contributed to furthering the budding romance between Amol Palekar and Zarina Wahab’s characters. In one scene, Geeta and Vinod sing the duet Tu Jo Mere Sur Me, Sur Milale, a confession of love between the two. The song won Hemlata the Filmfare award for Best Female Playback Singer in 1977.
Their love blossoms in the hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani, where the film was shot.
But this fairytale is rudely interrupted by the arrival of Sunil – Vinod’s senior at work, a ‘foreign-returned’ engineer, and the original prospective son-in-law. Once Geeta’s parents discover the reality, they stop singing Vinod’s praises and ask Geeta to marry Sunil instead.
As the situation becomes more complicated and tensions run high, Geeta ‘grows up’ and fights to be with Vinod.
Wahab’s character is ambitious, assertive and independent. She will be lucky to marry a man of Sunil’s calibre, her parents tell her, but Geeta doesn’t relent. “Why am I unlucky now?” she shoots back. The actor embodies the teenage girl’s rebellion, who, despite being told how to look and behave, chooses to retain her playfulness. She refuses to act or dress a certain way to look appealing to her suitor. When she first meets Vinod, she looks distinctly bored, playing with her braid and making a face.
Palekar shines as the young engineer, who is initially confused by the attention of Geeta’s parents but slowly eases into life in the village and falls for the vivacious heroine.
Also read: Love, Bombay, middle-class — Basu Chatterjee’s ‘Rajnigandha’ is relevant even today
Remakes couldn’t do justice
The film was produced by Tarachand Barjatya under his banner Rajshri Films. His son, Sooraj Barjatya, made a remake of this timeless classic, titled Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003), starring Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan.
Kareena Kapoor played Geeta, Hrithik Roshan played Vinod, and Abhishek Bachchan played Sunil. But the movie lacked the magic of the original, and the actors were criticised for their over-the-top portrayals. Hrithik’s character spoke in an unnaturally high-pitched voice, with a loud and annoying CGI pet dog and parrot in the backdrop. The film, which bombed at the box office, is now fodder for memes and reels.
Chitchor provided family entertainment by portraying realities such as a middle-class household’s aspiration to find the best groom for their daughter. In one comic scene, Geeta’s mother invites Vinod over for tea and never stops talking about her daughter’s many talents— from her cooking and embroidery skills to her academic calibre. The couple is not extraordinary, and the parents are not villains. That in itself is refreshing.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)