Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2019: From Chokher Bali to Bioscopewala, 5 Popular Screen Adaptations of the Nobel Laureate's Works

Today, May 7 marks the 158th birth anniversary of the Indian poet, author, composer, philosopher and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. One of the main reasons why Tagore is remembered after so many years is that his works are still relevant. Many found Tagore's writings ahead of his time because of the topics he chose. Imagine, back in 1929, he published a novel that was a compelling take on marital rape titled, Jogajog. Several works of Tagore have inspired filmmakers and we have seen some interesting adaptations. The Bengali author has had a huge impact on Bengali cinema and some of the most popular films from the industry are adaptations of his writings. Rabindra Jayanti 2019: Know Interesting Facts From Rabindranath Tagore's Life on His Birth Anniversary

On his birth anniversary today, we look at some of the famous films that were inspired by Tagore's stories. While Chokher Bali remains to be one of the most-known works, there are some others as well that you may have not known.

1. Chokher Bali

Directed by Rituparno Ghosh, Chokher Bali marked the Bengali film debut of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, back in 2003. The film deals with the themes of adultery and distrust, among others and is known to be one of Tagore's most popular works. Its main plot revolves around a Widow, Binodini (Aishwarya Rai) who begins to have an affair with a narcissistic Mahendra (Prosenjit Chatterjee) who is a married man. It is considered to be a modern-day classic and if you haven't watched it yet, you definitely should.

2. Kabuliwala

Kabuliwala is one of the most popular Rabindranath Tagore stories. It has been adapted into films across several languages. It is a moving story of a father, who is a dry-fruit vendor, forming an unusual bond with a young girl who reminds him of his estranged daughter. In the 1961 film, Balraj Sahani brought to life this iconic literary character.

3. Uphaar

The 1971 film starring Jaya Bachchan in a lead role was India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 45th Academy Awards. Uphaar was based on Rabindranath Tagore's short story, 'Samapti'. Jaya Bachchan starred in the role of a young, immature woman who's not ready to understand the dynamics of a marriage. The film showed how her childish ways come in the way of her marriage. Directed by Sudhendu Roy, the film received positive responses. Rabindranath Tagore and Translations: Why His Works Hold Indomitable Influence in Literature.

4. Biocsopewala

Last year's release,Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti 2019: From Chokher Bali to Bioscopewala, 5 Screen Adaptations of  the Nobel Laureate's Works is a brand new interpretation of Tagore's short story Kabuliwala. The film, starring Danny Denzongpa as Bioscopewala, Geetanjali Thapa and Adil Hussain in key roles was very well-received and is one of the latest films that was based on Tagore's 1892 story.

5. Charulata

One of Satyajit Ray's best works, the 1964 film was based on Tagore's short story, Nastanirh or The Broken Nest. It revolved around the story of a lonely wife who after getting neglected by her workaholic husband, finds a friend and eventually a lover in her brother-in-law. The film starred Soumitra Chatterjee and Madhabi Mukherjee in lead roles.

Mostly, Tagore's writings seem to be even more relevant today because his stories revolved around strong women. His feminist works hold more important today than ever. He is also one of the earliest Indian writers to have explored the themes of female sexuality and morality with such grace. We hope filmmakers keep taking inspiration from his works more often and bring his characters to life.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 07, 2019 10:02 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).