Sujata is Bimal Roy’s classic on the social issue of untouchability..this film succeeds in making a social malaise which has been plaguing indian society for centuries into an intensely personal study. Seen from the POV of Nutan who plays the title role of Sujata, the film (its the irony of the highest order that a girl bearing the name of Sujata which in hindi means- a ’’good’’ caste-whatever that means!!! is deemed ’’untouchable’’) sensitively examines the impact and implications it has on the young girl’s life.
The plot is simple:an infant from a ’’low’’ caste...untouchable’’ family is adopted by a well-educated, cultured family in the pre-independence era. She is named Sujata and she becomes a kind of companion of the newly born daughter of the family. They grow up to become Nutan and Shashikala respectively. Nutan considers this to be her own family doing all the household chores and acting as a friend and companion to the younger Shashikala.
A distant relative of the family tries to fix the match of her grandson(Sunil Dutt) with Shashikala but instead Sunil Dutt is drawn towards the simplicity of Sujata who too after initial inhibitions reciprocates. But all hell breaks lose when the grandmother(Lalita Pawar) comes to know of it and she is further shell-shocked to learn that the girl is ’’Achoot’’.
It has no impact whatsoever on Sunil Dutt who does not believe in these illogical orthodoxies and proposes to Sujata. She refuses as she cannot forget the ’’ehsaan’’ the family has done- raising her up and giving her love and shelter. But in the end everone relents..though without the usual melodrama which was typical of the films made then..on second thoughts why then..even now..
This simple story is brilliantly handled by Bimal Roy. He extracts wonderful performances from the entire cast especially Nutan who lives the role.watch her scene when she learns that she is ’’achoot’’..her expressions range from total bewilderment to shock to acceptance of her status..watch how quickly she withdraws her hands from her ’’maa’s’’ arms when she calls her(sujata) ’’achoot’’. Sunil Dutt was an upcoming actor at that time and performs his role with a lot of restrain and sensitivity. Shashikala the age old vamp is a surprise..no ’’kamini, kalmuhin’’kinda dialogues. She plays the role of a vivacious, carefree girl who loves her ’’didi’’ sujata with aplomb. Even Lalita Pawar who plays the stern grandmother of Sunil Dutt is admirably restrained.
The film has memorable music by S.D Burman. Each song is a gem especially ’’Jalte hain Jiske liye’’ and the ever popular boatman’s song ’’Sun mere Babdhu re’’.
The dialogues are intelligent and without being rhetorical, makes you think. One of the most hilarious dialogues of the films is when a panditji explains why one should stay away from ’’untouchables’’..He explains that they release a gas of somekind which if inhaled can vitiate the ’’normal’’ people. Its hilarious because it is said with complete seriousness by the panditji..LOLOL..
CHEERS!!!