It’s Raksha bandhan this week which celebrates the bond between a brother and sister. So it was time to cover a film which focuses on this relationship. Today’s Marathi film Dhakti Bahin (meaning younger sister) actually begins and ends with the theme of Raksha Bandhan. Based on the novel Agnidivya by Chandrakant Kakodkar, the story is quite predictable. We have seen the plot in many movies. But the performances, direction and music leave an impression.

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The Plot

The film begins with a domestic scene in the Deshmukh household. It’s morning time. Meena (Surekha) is cooking. Her sister in law (Gulab Korgaonkar) asks her to move faster and pack the tiffins. Apparently, she doesn’t treat Meena too well. Meena’s father Appa Deshmukh (Ramchandra Warde) works in the mill. He will be retiring in a few months. Meena’s brother Ganesh is the typical henpecked husband. He has a school going son.

It is Raksha Bandhan that weekend. Ganesh and his wife will be travelling to Pune to visit his sister. Ganesh wants to buy new sarees for Meena and the other sister. But his wife warns him not to purchase anything for Meena. We come to know that Meena is the step daughter of the family. Further, Appa will be retiring in a few months and will be entitled to a hefty provident fund amount. Ganesh’s wife plans to utilise the money for herself and their son’s future. Ganesh reminds her that Meena’s marriage is being arranged in a good family and they will be expected to pay dowry. But she is insistent to have her way. Ganesh agrees meekly. He and his wife leave for work, while their son goes to school.

Meena is alone in the house when an old man comes visiting. He is Athalye guruji, a school teacher. He wants to meet Meena’s brother. She informs that Ganesh has gone to office. He says he wants to meet Madhav, who is her real brother. Meena is puzzled at this revelation as she is only aware of her one (step) brother.

It is further revealed that Meena’s father had disowned Madhav and thrown him out of the house when he was a boy. At that time, Meena was a toddler. Meena’s father had been caught in a fraud when Madhav was born and had to lose his job. Madhav was accused of stealing the school teacher’s watch. This led to his removal from the Deshmukh family’s house (and life). Athalye guruji tells that it was the school peon who had stolen the watch. He came to know the truth recently and hence came to share the news with Madhav. Meena is surprised but happy to hear all this. She has a real brother and coincidentally, Raksha Bandhan is around the corner. She looks forward to meet Madhav.

But what happened to Madhav? The school authorities were going to hand him to the police but he managed to run away. As he grew up, he entered the world of crime. He is now involved in gambling, smuggling and other vices. The grown up Madhav is played by Arun Sarnaik.

After completing an assignment, he arrives in style at a hotel/ club, where he is welcomed by the dancer. We see Helen in one of her few Marathi performances. She sings…Ooi sajan aala ha. After the song, he settles down to gamble with cards.

Through his actions we come to know that he is a bad man but with a golden heart. He has suffered a lot due to his father but doesn’t want the same fate to fall upon others. He purposely loses at gambling because the other person (about to lose) is in dire need of the money. He also bashes the hotel manager when he abuses the waiter Narayan. After a filmy fight involving the manager and his goons, Madhav asks Narayan (an orphan) to come with him.

He arrives at the basti (slum) where he lives. Apparently, he is famous as Madhav dada who takes care of the basti’s residents and ensures there is no injustice. They treat him with respect. Staying with him are Abdul (Raja Mayekar) and D’Souza, who seem to have no family like Narayan. Their profession is black marketing of cinema tickets.

Next day, Meena comes to meet Madhav. He recognizes her. He refuses to have anything to do with her or his so called family. She tells him that tomorrow is Raksha Bandhan and invites him to her house. But he asks her to leave. On the next day, there is a festive atmosphere in the basti. Narayan, Abdul and D’souza casually mention they wish they had a sister who would tie rakhis on their wrists. This leads Madhav to rethink his decision and behavior towards Meena. After all, she is his real sister.

Meena is waiting expectantly as she sings Dhaaga julala, jeev phulala, vedya bahinila bhau milala. But things don’t happen as expected. Madhav arrives but is insulted by Appa. Appa admonishes him that he better stay away from Meena. She is going to get married. What will happen if her in-laws come to know about Madhav and his reputation? Madhav silently agrees. He cannot be an obstacle in his sister’s well being.

To drown his sadness, Madhav goes to a mujra performance (Hataa madhye mogryacha gajra bandhte) but his mind is still on Meena and the insult thrown at him by Appa. He goes home, drinks and collapses in sorrow. It’s quite late but Meena comes to his house and is shocked to see his drunken state. She ties the rakhi on a barely conscious Madhav and is about to leave. Narayan, Abdul and D’souza request her to be their sister too. Meena is moved and tears her saree border and willingly ties the pieces on the wrists of her new “brothers.” In the morning, Madhav wakes up and realises what has happened.

Later, a young man called Vasant comes to meet him. He will be becoming a lawyer soon. Madhav has been helping him financially since his school days. Madhav could not complete his own education but is happy he was able to support Vasant and ensure his progress.

The relationship between the brother and sister improve as the days go by. Meena comes to meet Madhav regularly. She informs him that her marriage has been fixed. He offers support in any way possible. The only hurdle being he cannot attend the marriage in person and bless her openly. She promises she will explain everything to her husband after marriage and her brother will be invited with respect.

Madhav is sent on a smuggling mission. He joins a group of college students going for a picnic on a launch in the sea. His mission is to collect the bag of smuggled goods and return. He collects the bag but sees a college student being abducted and carried off in a boat. He chases the boat and manages to rescue the girl. Unfortunately, the police see the boat chase and reach the spot. Madhav cannot risk being caught with the bag. He is forced to fling the bag in to the water to evade arrest.

The girl he saves is Lalita Prabhudesai (Anupama). She is impressed by his humanity and bravery displayed. She wants to get acquainted with him but he would rather stay away due to his reputation. But she is insistent. She tracks his address, comes to meet him and eventually falls in love.

Under the influence of the two women in his life, Madhav decides to leave the world of crime and be a decent man. But it is easier said than done. There are twists in the tale including a murder in which Madhav is the prime accused. Will there be a happy ending for all concerned?

The Music

Jagdish Khebudkar (lyricist) teams with Sudhir Phadke. Dhundi kalyanna (set in raag Yaman) is one of the classic romantic duets (sung by Sudhir Phadke and Asha Bhosle). Suman Kalyanpur sings Dhaaga julala in her trademark style.

The Helen song by Asha Bhosle is probably one of its kind in Marathi cinema. Sudhir Phadke gives this cabaret number a distinctive touch which showcases his mastery. Unfortunately, the mujra number (also by Asha Bhosle) doesn’t work that way. It has a bit of a lavani feel. 

There is also a koli geet (fisherman song), by Manna Dey and Asha Bhosle. And finally a hilarious parody song by Jaywant Kulkarni which revisits three of Sudhir Phadke’s famous songs – Mazha hoshil kaa (as Bhaji gheshil kaa), Zaalaa mahaar Pandharinath (Aala aala ho ganderiwala) and Dehachi tijori (Mast bhel kha ho).

My Thoughts

While the story line is predictable, the director Rajdutt manages to mix the right amount of drama, melodrama, romantic and thriller elements to make an engaging film. Overall, the brother-sister plot is presented satisfactorily without following the weepy, sacrificing pattern normally depicted.

The part of step parents and children is not explained properly. The fact that Meena is a grown up girl of marriageable age but doesn’t know about her real brother is not convincing. Arun Sarnaik’s dashing personality suits the character. Surekha is also good. Anupama looks like a doll and talks in a soft voice.