Banhishikha (English: Flame of Banhi) is a 1976 Indian Bengali language science fiction action thriller film co-written and directed by Pijush Bose. Based on a novel by Nihar Ranjan Gupta and produced by Jaidev Mishra under the banner of Shree R.S Productions, it stars Uttam kumar, Ranjit Mallick, Supriya Devi and Olivia (in the titular role) in lead roles;[1] while Tarun Kumar, Rabin Banerjee, Swapan Kumar, Montu Banerjee, Shambhu Bhattacharya and Ashim Kumar in supporting roles[2]. It marks the debut of the Bangladeshi actress Alivia in an Indian film. The soundtrack of the film was composed by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. It plots the story of a man with two different identities- the first one of a respected advocate who is also popular for his contributions to various child-related organizations; while the second of a vigilante gangster who forms up a group of anti socials, in which each and everyone is reared by himself since their childhood and he indulges them into crimes when they grows up as they were thrown out of the society for being whoresons.
| Banhishikha | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Pijush Bose |
| Written by | Nihar Ranjan Gupta |
| Screenplay by | Pijush Bose |
| Produced by | Jaidev Mishra |
| Starring | Uttam Kumar Ranjit Mallick Supriya Devi Olivia Tarun Kumar |
| Cinematography | Bijoy Ghosh |
| Edited by | Baidyanath Chatterjee |
| Music by | Hemanta Mukhopadhyay |
Production | Shree R.S Productions |
| Distributed by | Chandimata Films Pvt. Ltd. |
Release date | 26 November 1976 |
Running time | 133 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Bengali |
Banhishikha marked the 7th collaboration[3] between Uttam Kumar and Pijush Bose and the second film of Uttam Kumar and Ranjit Mallick together after Mouchak (1974). Critics appreciated the performances of Uttam Kumar in dual roles and Ranjit Mallick; direction skill of Pijush Bose, who intelligently showed the bravery of presenting Uttam Kumar in a negative role once again after Bagh Bondi Khela (1975), as well as portraying Ranjit Mallick's action hero image. It was a super hit at the box office and considered to be the solo hit for Uttam Kumar in 1976, which later was broken by Ananda Ashram in 1977.
In 2007, Banhishikha was felicitated by director Swapan Saha, in the Mithun Chakraborty starrer film Tiger, where the protagonist forms up an organization to do away with corruption taking place in West Bengal. Till Banhishikha is considered to be one of the greatest mass films in the history of Bengali cinema, where the protagonist is characterised through gray shades and in a negative manner.
