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synopsis

Ora Thake Odhare

The story depicts the constant battle between the members of a family from West Bengal and a family from East Bengal. The film represents the eternal friction, quarrel between the two communities of divided Bengal – the 'GHATI' and the 'BANGAL'. But then, as the time ticks away, this extremely amusing film turns out into an emotional shape that one got to see in the Bengal of yore. How despite all the friction and differences, families, both from West and East Bengal, were there for each other in times of joy, sorrow and distress. How, in spite of their so called fighting, they helped each other in every big or small way.
Harimohan Babu (Chhabi Biswas) and his family are from West Bengal. His neighbour, Shibdas Babu (Dhiraj Bhattacharya) is an East Bengali. Harimohan Babu lives with his wife, one college-going son called Chanchal (Uttam Kumar) and daughter Rini. He is often visited by a relative called Kartick (who turns out to be quite a selfish lad later on). Shibdas Babu has in his home his wife, his young niece Meenu (Suchitra Sen) and his son Naru. There is also the comical Nepal Mama (the inimitable Bhanu Bandopadhyay).

The funny fighting starts between the two families for any small excuse which shapes into a heavy brawl and ends up with a sweet note. For instance, the film starts with a loads of accusations about who has borrowed what from each other's families. The Das family has borrowed a sewing machine from the Mohan family, the Mohan family has borrowed the iron from the Das family, the Das family has borrowed a bag from the Mohan family and so on and so forth. So, in the course of the verbal duel, the owners take back their belonging one after the other to hilarious consequences. It's like a never ending fight. But what makes it even more funny is the way they fight over these non-issues and within seconds the members of both the families reunite once again. You will feel that a unseen bonding of love is acting like a bridge between the two families.

When the film ends, it does leave you with a feel-good emotion, that is not devoid of the tinge of wistfulness for what we have lost from the days of yore.

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film details

Name of the Film:
Ora Thake Odhare
Director:
Sukumar Dasgupta
Production Company:
Aurora Film Corporation P. Ltd.
Music:
Kalipada Sen
Cast:
Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen, Chhabi Biswas, Dhiraj Bhattacharya, Bhanu Bandopadhyay and others
Format:
DVD
Genres:
Familiy Drama
Release Date:
February 05, 1954