The Hindi Classic film, ‘Saheb, Biwi Aur Ghulam’, starring Guru Dutt, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman and Rehman in the main leads, was released in the year 1962. The film’s director and writer was Abrar Alvi and the producer was Guru Dutt. The music director was Hemant Kumar and the lyricist was Shakeel Badayuni. The other star cast included D.K. Sapru, Nasir Hussain and Minoo Mumtaz. The film was a major critical and commercial success mainly contributed by Meena Kumari’s role as Chhoti Bahu. It won four Filmfare Awards, including Best Movie award, was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 13th Berlin International Film Festival, and was chosen as India's official entry to the Oscars.
The film is about ‘Bhootnath’ or Atulya Chakraborty (Guru Dutt), a middle-aged architect and the plot is set in Calcutta. The film opens showing Bhootnath wandering the ruins of an old Haveli. Immediately, the film goes into 19th Century flashback. A low-class educated Bhootnath comes to Calcutta looking for work. He lives in the magnum haveli of the Choudhary’s, who are Zamindars. He works in the Mohini Sindoor Factory run by Subinay Babu (Nasir Hussain), a dedicated member of the Brahmo Samaj. Subinay Babu’s daughter is Jaba (Waheeda Rehman) who finds Bhootnath an amusing, dumb person. Bhootnath in his spare time enjoys watching the activities of the people of haveli. The two Choudhary brothers are Chhote Sarkar (Rehman-younger) and Majhle Sarkar (D.K. Sapru-elder), who are addicted to bad habits and full of ego. They believe in exploiting their Zamindari for their own pleasures and controlling the lower class.
Chhote Sarkar is not a loyal husband to his wife, Chhoti Bahu (Meena Kumari) and enjoys with other dancers and drinks. Chhoti Bahu tries a lot to keep him at home with herself but fails. One day Bhootnath gets attracted towards the beauty of Chhoti Bahu and becomes his confidante. She starts making him run for her errands. He devotedly keeps her happy. Trying to win over her husband, she becomes an addict to drinks but that also does not work for her. Bhootnath also gets the Mohini Sindoor to help her win her husband. Tragically, over a fight between freedom fighters and British soldiers, a bomb explodes in the haveli and many die. Bhootnath is injured. Jaba treats him. Later, Bhootnath gets the job of a trainee architect and leaves the haveli.
Returning to the haveli after many years, Bhoothnath sees Chhote Zamindar paralysed and his wife a drunkard. She requests him one day to take her to a nearby shrine to pray for the recovery of her husband. Majhle Sarkar sees the two of them in a chariot. Bhootnath is attacked. When he gains consciousness, he is in a hospital and is informed that Chhote Sarkar is dead while Chhoti bahu has disappeared. The flashback ends.
The present scene shows Jaba as Bhootnath’s wife and both returning home.
The film had commendable music and songs. Some popular numbers which are good to watch and hear even today are, ‘Bhavra Bada Naadan Hai’, ‘Na Jao Saaiyan Chuda Ke Baiyaan’, ‘Saakiya aaj mujhe need nahi aayeegi’, ‘Piya Aiso Jiya Mein Samaaye Gayo Re’ and many more. This film is a legend for filmmakers and viewers to watch.
