Bimal Roy’s vision and persistence for perfection was unmatched. There is this interesting story around a scene in Sujata which testifies his eye for detail. In the sequence Adhir (Sunil Dutt) tells Sujata (Nutan) in the greenhouse that the main purpose of his visit is to see her which makes her blush and turn away with the closing of leaves.
Here Bimal Roy wanted the leaves to close naturally. Roy shot the scene for four days, filming it over and over. Only on the fourth day, when a huge propeller fan was put to use, the leaves finally closed. By then, 50,000 feet of film was used. When it was handed over to the editor, he had to bring to life a scene lasting barely a minute and a half from 50,000 feet of film! When Bose’s efforts verged on despair, Roy along with his assistant Sakharam cut the sequence in less than two days. Such was Bimal Da’s dedication.
Sujata highlights the burning issues of caste system and untouchability in Indian society through a touching and humane story. It also raises interesting questions regarding family ties and how deep they can be. The movie revolves around Sujata (Nutan) who gets adopted by the Chowdhury family and is treated just like a daughter. A young man, Adhir (Sunil Dutt), comes to the Chowdhury and falls in love with her. When he informs his aunt of this decision, she is aghast, as she knows that Sujata is not only of a lower caste but is also an untouchable
Will Sujata and Adhir ever tie the knot?
