''Balika Badhu'' (

translation Translation is the communication of the semantics, meaning of a #Source and target languages, source-language text by means of an Dynamic and formal equivalence, equivalent #Source and target languages, target-language text. The English la ...

: Child Bride) is a 1976

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

romantic

comedy-drama film Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, illness, betrayal, grief, etc. ...

produced by

Shakti Samanta Shakti Samanta (13 January 1926 – 9 April 2009) was an Indian film director and producer, who founded Shakti Films in 1957, which is most known for films such as ''Anand Ashram'' (1977), Anusandhan /''Barsaat Ki Ek Raat'' (1981), ''Anyay Abhi ...

and directed by

Tarun Majumdar Tarun Majumdar (or Mazumdar, 8 January 1931 – 4 July 2022) was an Indian film director, documentary filmmaker, author, illustrator and screenwriter who is known for his work in Bengali cinema. He received five National Awards, seven BFJA Aw ...

. The film is based on the

Bengali Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to: *something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia * Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region * Bengali language, the language they speak ** Bengali alphabet, the w ...

novel of the same name by

Bimal Kar Bimal Kar (19 September 1921 — 26 August 2003) was an Indian writer and novelist who wrote in Bengali. He received the 1975 Sahitya Akademi Award presented by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, for his novel ''Asamay''. ...

, about a young girl who is married before she is old enough to understand what marriage is all about, against the backdrop of the

Indian freedom struggle The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events in South Asia with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British colonial rule. It lasted until 1947, when the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed. The first nationalistic ...

. Gradually she and her school-going husband grow as a couple and begin to love one another. The film was previously made into a Bengali film, '' Balika Badhu'' (1967), which was also directed by Majumdar. This romantic

comedy drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

stars Sachin with Rajni Sharma,

Asrani Govardhan Asrani (born 1 January 1941), known popularly by mononym Asrani, is an Indian actor and director whose Bollywood career has spanned over five decades. He has acted in over 350 Hindi films. Asrani has played the lead roles, character ...

A. K. Hangal Avtar Kishan Hangal (1 February 1914 – 26 August 2012) was an Indian freedom fighter and actor. His most notable roles are as Ram Shastri in '' Aaina'' (1977), as the Inder Sen in '' Shaukeen'', as Bipinlal Pandey in '' Namak Haraam'', as I ...

, Asit Sen,

Paintal Paintal is an Indian surname. "Paintal" (Gotra) is a surname of Ahluwalias amongst Sikhs. This surname is native to Punjab. Persons having this surname include: Notable people * Paintal (comedian) (born 1948), Indian comedian * Autar Singh Paint ...

and

Om Shivpuri Om Shivpuri (14 July 1938 – 15 October 1990) was an Indian theatre actor-director and character actor in Hindi films. A National School of Drama, New Delhi alumnus, Shivpuri became the first chief of the National School of Drama Repertory C ...

. Initially

Debashree Roy Debashree Roy (born 8 August 1962) also known as Debasree Roy, is an Indian actress, dancer, choreographer, politician and animal rights activist. She was a bankable star of Bengali cinema during 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. She received mo ...

was offered to play the title role but Majumdar later considered her to be imperfect to play the role and she got replaced by Rajni Sharma. The music is by R. D. Burman and lyrics by

Anand Bakshi Anand Bakshi (21 July 1930 – 30 March 2002) was an Indian poet and lyricist. He won Filmfare Award for Best Lyricist 4 times during his career. He wrote over 6000 film songs in more than 300 films. Early life Anand Bakshi (Bakshi Anand Pr ...

, who penned several hits in the film including "Bade Achchhe Lagte Hain...", which was singer

Amit Kumar Amit Kumar (born 3 July 1952) is an Indian playback singer, actor, music composer. Kumar launched his own music production company, named Kumar Brothers Music. He predominantly worked in Bollywood and regional film songs since the 1970s, ...

's first hit, and featured on the

Binaca Geetmala annual list 1977 ''Binaca Geetmala'' () was a weekly countdown show of top filmi songs from Hindi cinema. It was broadcast on Radio Ceylon from 1952 to 1988 and then shifted to the Vividh Bharati Service of All India Radio network in 1989 where it ran until 199 ...

at # 26. It was the second film of Mrityunjay Sil.

Cast

* Sachin as Amal *Mrityunjay Sil as Rahul *Rajni Sharma as Rajni *

as Sharat *

as Masterji *

Prema Narayan Prema Narayan (born 4 April 1955) is an Indian former actress, model, dancer and beauty pageant titleholder. She has acted in Hindi and Bengali cinema. She was the Femina Miss India World 1971, and represented India at Miss World 1971. Early l ...

as Radhiya *

as Amal's father *

Urmila Bhatt Urmila Bhatt (1 November 1933 – 22 February 1997) was an actress of Hindi cinema. She started acting in Drama Theatre. She joined Sangeet Kala Academy in Rajkot as a folk dancer and singer. It was during that time that her famous Gujarati dram ...

as Amal's mother *Kajri as Chandra, Amal's sister *

as Shambhu * Asit Sen as Udasu *

Preeti Ganguli Preeti Ganguly (17 May 1953 – 2 December 2012) was an Indian actress who played several comic roles in Bollywood in the 1970s and 1980s. She was the daughter of veteran Indian actor Ashok Kumar and part of the Ganguly family. She was best know ...

as Nandini *S. N. Banerjee as Pandit *Birbal as Imported bangle seller *Polson as School teacher *

Ashok Kumar Ashok Kumar (born Kumudlal Ganguly; 13 October 1911 – 10 December 2001), was an Indian actor who attained iconic status in Indian cinema. He is regarded as one of the greatest actors of Indian cinema. He is considered to be the first Super-st ...

as Aged Amal's voice *

Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is often considered one of the greatest, most accomplished and commercially successful actors in the history of Indian cinema.* * * * * With a cinemati ...

as Adult Amal's voice *

Zeenat Aman Zeenat Amanullah Khan (born 19 November 1951), known professionally as Zeenat Aman, is an Indian actress and model who mainly works in Hindi films. One of the leading actresses of Hindi cinema, she established herself as one of the highest paid ...

as Adult Rajni's voice *

Leela Mishra Leela Mishra (1 January 1908 – 17 January 1988) was an Indian actress. She worked as a character actor in over 200 Hindi films for five decades, and is best remembered for playing stock characters such as aunts (''Chachi'' or ''Mausi''). She ...

as grannie

Music

*Song "Bade Achhe Lagte Hain" was Amit Kumar's first hit song and listed at #26 on the

Awards

;

24th Filmfare Awards The 24th Filmfare Awards were held in June 20, 1977. ''Kabhi Kabhie (1976 film), Kabhi Kabhie'' led the ceremony with 13 nominations, followed by ''Mausam (1975 film), Mausam'' with 8 nominations and ''Chhoti Si Baat'' with 6 nominations. ''K ...

: Won * Best Supporting Actress –

Kajari Kajari is a folk song and dance form from Bhojpuri region of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It is of the Hindustani classical music genre, performed during the rainy season usually late June to September when lush greenery reappears and agricultural l ...

* Best Comedian –

* Best Editing – Bijoy Chowdhury

References

External links

* {{Tarun Majumdar Films scored by R. D. Burman 1976 films 1970s Hindi-language films 1970s Indian films Films directed by Tarun Majumdar Films based on Indian novels Child marriage in India Hindi remakes of Bengali films Films based on works by Bimal Kar