Atithi (literally The Guest; also known by the alternative English title The Runaway) is a 1965 Bengali film based on a short story by Rabindranath Tagore, and directed by Tapan Sinha. It tells a simple story about a teenage boy who prefers the life of a wanderer to the confines of a domestic life. At the 13th National Film Awards, it won the National Award (Certificate of Merit) for the Second Best Feature Film. It also won several BFJA Awards. It was India’s competitive entry at the Venice International Film Festival in 1966, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion. The film was remade in Hindi as Geet Gaata Chal.
Synopsis
Tarapada is a teenage boy who lives in a Bengal village with his mother and elder brother. To their exasperation, he often runs away from home for days on end. He has a wanderlust which makes him join groups of wandering players, musicians and acrobats. On his last flight he meets Moti Babu, a wealthy aristocrat who is returning by boat from a pilgrimage with his family. Tarapada takes a lift with them. On the boat, both Moti Babu and his wife Annapurna take a liking to the boy. Their only daughter, Charu, begins to feel jealous, which amuses Tarapada. He accompanies them to their home and soon becomes like a family member. Charu too accepts him as a companion. Moti Babu and Annapurna want to take the responsibility for his education. They think the relationship will be consolidated if the two young people get married. They write to Tarapada’s mother, who is happy at the prospect of her son settling down. Tarapada, however, remains a free spirit and cannot be caged. He sets out once again on a voyage to an unknown destination.
Cast
Partha Mukherjee (as Parthasarathi Mukherjee) – Tarapada
Ajitesh Bandopadhyay
Samita Biswas – Tarapada’s mother
Geeta Mukherjee
Basabi Banerjee – Charushashi
Salil Dutta
Bankim Ghosh
Smita Sinha
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