''Namkeen'' (), is a 1982

Hindi Hindi ( Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...

-language social

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

, directed by

Gulzar Sampooran Singh Kalra (born 18 August 1934), known professionally as Gulzar, is an Indian Urdu poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, and film director known for his works in Hindi cinema. He is regarded as one of greatest Urdu poets of this ...

, it stars

Sanjeev Kumar Sanjeev Kumar (born Harihar Jethalal Jariwala; 9 July 1938 – 6 November 1985) was an Indian actor. He is well remembered for his versatility and genuine portrayal of his characters. He acted in genres ranging from romantic dramas to thrille ...

Sharmila Tagore Sharmila Tagore (also known as Begum Ayesha Sultana; born 8 December 1944) is a retired Indian actress, primarily known for her work in Hindi and Bengali cinema, Tagore is the recipient of two National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and the F ...

Shabana Azmi Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of Hindi film, television and theatre. One of India's most acclaimed actresses, Azmi is known for her portrayals of distinctive, often unconventional female characters across several ge ...

Waheeda Rehman Waheeda Rehman (born 3 February 1938) is an Indian actress and dancer. Regarded as one of Hindi cinema's finest actresses, Rehman's accolades include a National Film Award and three Filmfare Awards. Rehman was honoured with the Padma Shri by G ...

in the lead role. It was yet another film by Gulzar made on some very sensitive but untouched aspects of Indian society especially in rural areas. The story ''Akal Basant'' was by

Samaresh Basu Samaresh Basu (11 December 1924 – 12 March 1988) was a writer in modern Bengali literature, known for his versatility and vast range of themes. He wrote under the pen name ''Kalkut''. Basu was awarded the 1980 Sahitya Akademi Award in Bengal ...

on whose story, Gulzar had previously made ''

Kitaab ''Kitaab'' (''English: The Book'') is a 1977 Indian drama film written and directed by Gulzar. The film stars Uttam Kumar, Vidya Sinha, Shreeram Lagoo, Keshto Mukherjee and Asit Sen. The film was based on Bengali story ''Pathik'' by Samaresh ...

'' (1977). The film won the National Film Awards in 1983 for Best Audiography for Essabhai M. Suratwala. At the

30th Filmfare Awards The 30th Filmfare Awards were held on 25 September 1983. ''Prem Rog'' led the ceremony with 12 nominations, followed by ''Nikaah'' with 11 nominations, and ''Bazaar'' and ''Shakti'' with 7 nominations each. ''Prem Rog'' and ''Shakti'' won 4 ...

, ''Namkeen'' won Best Story and Best Art Direction, while

and Kiran Vairale both received Best Supporting Actress nominations for their performances in the film.

Plot

Three unmarried sisters live in a remote village in

Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh (; ; "Snow-laden Mountain Province") is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks ...

with their old mother, Jugni (

), a former '' nautanki'' (folk theatre) dancer, who sells spices and takes in boarders to make a living. The three daughters are named like flavors in food. The 'salty' eldest daughter Nimki (

), quietly but firmly holds the household together. The 'sweet' middle sister is Mitthu (

), an intelligent and romantic girl, unable to speak. The 'tangy' youngest one is Chinki (Kiran Vairale), a bold and vibrant teenager, who turns out to be very perceptive. Their quiet little haven is occasionally threatened by the alcoholic father Kishanlal (Ram Mohan), a

sarangi The sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument played in traditional music from South Asia – Punjabi folk music, Rajasthani folk music, and Boro folk music (there known as the ''serja'') – in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It is ...

player from the travelling troupe, who keeps trying to reclaim his daughters. Jugni would have left him years ago to protect her daughters from the life of a nautanki dancer which she had always struggled to escape. The four women live in a very old house outside the village. Gerulal (

) is a truck driver who joins this peculiar household for a brief time as a tenant. Initially stunned by their non-social ways, watching the grit with which they struggle through their difficulties, he is filled with respect for them. Despite the crisis they face in terms of money and facilities, all three sisters maintaining their moral values and dignified behavior. He begins to like Nimki. Mitthu, whom he sympathizes with, develops feelings for Gerulal. When Gerulal needs to move on from that region because of work, he proposes to Nimki. She turns down his proposal citing the responsibility of her sisters and her mother, and suggests he marry Mithu instead. Gerulal is unable to comply with her request. Three years later, Gerulal is shocked to find Chinki performing at a village nautanki. He learns how drastically things changed after he left the village. Miitthu loses her mental balance and accidentally falls off a cliff and dies. Jugni dies from the shock and Chinki, with not much left to choose from, has joined her father's troupe. Gerulal rushes back to Jugni's crumbling old house to find Nimki, alone and aged beyond her years, looking almost like a reflection of her mother. This time, he takes her away with him.Namkeen': The tears are salty
merinews, 5 October 2008.

Themes

The main characters of the movie are Gerulal and Nimki. Gerulal was depicted as a thread who brought together all the sporadic pearls of that family. Nimki is a person who is always ready to sacrifice and she always puts her interests after her sisters and mother.

Cast

as Gerulal *

as Nimki *

as Mithu *

as Jyoti/Jugni *Kiran Vairale as Chinki

Production

Originally

Rekha Bhanurekha Ganesan (born 10 October 1954), better known by her stage name Rekha, is an Indian actress who appears predominantly in Hindi films. Acknowledged as one of the finest actresses in Indian cinema, she has starred in more than 180 fi ...

was cast in the role of Nimki, which was later played by

.Namkeen : A film review
/ref>

Release

Soundtrack

The soundtrack was composed by

R. D. Burman Rahul Dev Burman (27 June 1939 – 4 January 1994) was an Indian music director who is considered one of the most influential composers of India. From the 1960s to the 1990s, Burman composed musical scores for 331 films. Burman did major work w ...

and lyrics by Gulzar, and featured songs by playback singers Kishore Kumar and

Asha Bhosle Asha Bhosle (; Mangeshkar; born 8 September 1933) is an Indian playback singer, entrepreneur and occasional actress and television personality who predominantly works in Indian Cinema. Known for her versatility, she has been described in th ...

Awards

30th National Film Awards The 30th National Film Awards, presented by Directorate of Film Festivals, the organisation set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India to felicitate the best of Indian Cinema released in the year 1982. Ceremony took place in ...

: * Best Audiography: Essabhai M. Suratwala

: Won * Best Story –

* Best Art Direction – Ajit Nanerjee Nominated * Best Supporting Actress – Kiran Vairale * Best Supporting Actress –

References

External links

* {{Gulzar 1980s Hindi-language films Films scored by R. D. Burman 1982 films Films based on short fiction Films set in Himachal Pradesh Films about women in India Films directed by Gulzar Films that won the Best Audiography National Film Award Doordarshan television films Films based on works by Samaresh Basu