Brief On Mithun Chakraborty's First Movie Mrigayaa by Actor Hemu Shetty

Actor Hemu Shetty
Mrigayaa
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Released in 1976, Mrigayaa (The Royal Hunt) is an Indian period drama film directed by Mrinal Sen and
produced by K. Rajeshwara Rao. It is based on a short story by Bhagbati Charan Panigrahi, called "Inaam".
The film portrayed the relationship between the British colonialists and native villagers, and their
exploitation by Indian landlords in 1920s India. It also depicts the friendship between a British
administrator, who has a flair for game hunting, and a native tribal, who is an expert archer. The lead
actors, Mithun Chakraborty and Mamata Shankar, both made their cinematic debuts through the film.
Movie Poster of the Movie Mrigayaa

released in the Year 1976
The underlying story is set in the 1930s and the film is about a group of tribal who live in a small village
in Odisha amidst wild animals like tigers and boars. Apart from the problems faced by the animals that
ruin the harvest, they also suffer at the hands of the greedy moneylenders and police informers. Around
this time, a newly posted British administrator (essayed by Robert Wright) arrives at the village who
happens to be passionate on hunting. He befriends Ghinua (essayed by Mithun Chakraborty), a native
tribal who is also an exceptional archer. The two get into a deal where Ghinua will be rewarded if he
brings down a "big game".
The story begins with Sholpu (essayed by Samit Bhanja), a young revolutionary who surreptitiously comes
into the village to meet his mother. Knowing this, the police informer chases him down till he reaches
his house but returns after seeing the whole village turn against him. However, he waits for his turn to
punish Sholpu. Suddenly there is a robbery in the village and one policeman is killed. The blame falls on
Sholpu and the administrator declares a reward for his head. The informer takes the opportunity and
kills Sholpu, thereby claiming the reward. Sholpu's death creates a tension between the tribal and non-
tribal. During this time, Dungri (essayed by beautiful Mamata Shankar), Ghinua's wife is abducted by a
moneylender. Ghinua kills the moneylender to bring his wife back. Thinking that the time has come for
the "big game", he goes happily to meet the Sahab, the administrator. The Sahab, however, hangs him
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December 31, 2019
Actor Hemu Shetty
for committing a murder. Till his death, Ghinua fails to understand why for the same action one is
rewarded while the other is punished.
With compelling storyline, as usual in his arthouse style, Mrinal’s direction through his narrative moves
at a slow pace resulting in making prominent scenes impactful to some of the highly dramatic scenes.
Salil Chowdhury’s music is a truly soul stirring — the use of Santhali incongruous music is done
excellently , especially in the prolonged dance-drama sequence; the long-drawn identification parade;
the endless walk through the corridor as Sardar walks followed by cops; the highly symbolic scene of
Ghinua aiming an arrow at a bottle swaying in the air while the scene shifts to an earlier uprising; the
court room sequence; the pre-climax tribal rising shots; the love-making sequence between Ghinua and
Dhungri. Implying the craft of Mrinal's filmmaking style class apart.
Mahajan’s cinematography is in keeping with the restricted possibilities as most of the film is shot in the
same outdoors, especially in the sequence where Ghinua is on hunt and Dhungri follows him through the
forest cover, or little village vignettes. The story, understandably, had the makings of a great socio-
political, and had Mrinal stuck to the straight narrative method, it would have worked both with the
audience and the discerning.
The film score was provided by Salil Chowdhury, while K. K. Mahajan handled the cinematography. At
the 24th National Film Awards, Mrigayaa won two awards—Best Feature Film and Best Actor. It also won
the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Movie apart from being nominated for the Golden Prize at the 10th
Moscow International Film Festival in 1977.
Release date 6th June 1976, India

Directed by Mrinal Sen
Produced by K. Rajeshwara Rao
Written by Mohit Chattopadhyay, Arun Kaul
Based on Shikar, by Bhagbati Charan Panigrahi
Starring Mithun Chakraborty, Mamta Shankar, Robert Wright, Sadhu Meher
Music Salil Chowdhury
Cinematography K. K. Mahajan
Edited by Gangadhar Naskar, Raju Naik, Dinker Shetye
Country India
Language Bengali and Hindi
Apart from Mrinal's other works, Mrigayaa movie is an outstanding piece of art where each aspect of the
movie is a masterpiece by itself. No doubt the movie was an average grosser at the box office, but it
has been etched in every moviegoer’s heart who likes the works of Mrinal and Mithun. It received mixed
responses from the critics and audience, who did not like the idea of mixing "story with history". Today
the era is different, now most of the blockbusters has the linings of history mixed with fictions to boost
commercials. In the current times the movie is viewed as an iconic piece, because it is noted by various
critics and his loyalist that Mithun's portrayal as a tribal is the best performance till now and has fetched
him unanimous acclaim including a National Award for Best Actor in the year 1977, this is truly a great
feat for a newcomer on his maiden release. Mamta Shankar's performance was noted as being tense.
The performances of rest of the cast that includes Sadhu Meher, Samit Bhanja and Sajal Roy Chowdhury
were well received and is still remembered
For more info on this movie, please read

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Release date 6th June 1976, India

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