- Nishant (film)
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Nishant 
Directed by Shyam Benegal Written by Satyadev Dubey (Dialogue)
Vijay Tendulkar (Screenplay)Starring Shabana Azmi
Naseeruddin Shah
Girish Karnad
Smita Patil
Amrish PuriMusic by Vanraj Bhatia Cinematography Govind Nihalani Editing by Bhanudas Divakar Distributed by Blaze Entertainment Release date(s) 6 September 1975 Running time 140 min Country India Language Hindi Nishant (translation: "Night's End") is a 1975 Hindi crime drama film directed by Shyam Benegal, and written by noted playwright Vijay Tendulkar. The film stars Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Smita Patil. This film focuses on the power of the rural elite and the sexual exploitation of women.
The film won the 1977 National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi, was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival,[1] and was invited to the London Film Festival 1976, Melbourne International Film Festival 1977, and the Chicago International Film Festival 1977, where it was awarded Golden Plaque.[2]
Contents
Plot
Vishwam (Naseeruddin Shah) is the youngest brother of the powerful and influential village Zamindar (Amrish Puri). The Zamindar will not hesitate to do anything for the welfare and protection of his family, which also includes bending the law to his own advantage. The shy and quiet Vishwam is married to Rukmani (Smita Patil) and, unlike his brothers, does not indulge in alcohol or women, nor does he have any bad habits. Then the village gets a new schoolmaster (Girish Karnad), who has a wife, Sushila (Shabana Azmi). When Vishwam sees her for the first time, he is unable to take his eyes off her, and unable to get her out of his mind. Sushila does not reciprocate his attentions. Then one night, while the schoolmaster is enjoying a quiet dinner with his family, the bell rings and the two older brothers of Vishwam grab Sushila and take her forcibly when she goes to answer the door. Several people are present, but no one dares to raise a hand nor even a voice to stop this abduction. The distraught schoolteacher, who is denied justice by everyone from the local police officer to the district collector, is helped by the old priest (Satyadev Dubey) and finally they succeed in mobilizing the villagers and they slaughter their oppressors. In the end the frenzied villagers also kill the innocent Rukmani as well as Sushila whom her husband tried to rescue with the help of the rebellious villagers.[3]
Cast
- Girish Karnad ... Schoolmaster
- Shabana Azmi ... Sushila
- Anant Nag ... Anjaiya
- Amrish Puri ... Eldest Zamindar
- Satyadev Dubey ... Priest (Pujari)
- Smita Patil ... Rukmani (as Smita)
- Mohan Agashe ... Prasad
- Kulbhushan Kharbanda ... Policeman Patel
- Naseeruddin Shah ... Vishwam
- Sadhu Meher ... Special Appearance
- Savita Bajaj
- Suresh Bedi (as Soresh Bedi)
- Rukmini Menon
- Sesham Raju
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Alternate poster
Awards
- 1976: Golden Palm: Cannes Film Festival: Nominated [5]
- 1977: Best Feature Film in Hindi: National Film Award
References
- ^ "Festival de Cannes: Nishaant". festival-cannes.com. http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/2103/year/1976.html. Retrieved 2009-05-08.
- ^ Shyam Benegal Awards
- ^ Plot summary
- ^ Cast at IMDB
- ^ Nishant - Awards Internet Movie Database.
External links
Awards Preceded by
DharmputraNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
1976Succeeded by
ManthanFilms directed by Shyam Benegal Ankur (1974) • Charandas Chor (1975) • Nishant (1975) • Manthan (1976) • Bhumika (1977) • Kondura (1978) • Junoon (1978) • Anugraham (1978) • Kalyug (1980) • Arohan (1982) • Mandi (1983) • Trikal (1985) • Susman (1987) • Antarnaad (1991) • Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda (1993) • Mammo (1994) • Sardari Begum (1996) • The Making of the Mahatma (1996) • Samar (1999) • Hari-Bhari (2000) • Zubeidaa (2001) • Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005) • Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008) Well Done Abba (2010)
Bollywood (Hindi cinema) Directors · Actors · Playback singers · Music Directors · Songs · Bibliography 
Hindi films A–Z — Highest-grossing
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- 1975 films
- Indian films
- Indian art films
- Films directed by Shyam Benegal
- 1970s crime films
- 1970s drama films
- 1970s Hindi-language film stubs
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