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{{Short description|1981 Indian Bengali sports drama film by Bijoy Bose}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Saheb
| director = Bijoy Bose
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Based on
| data1 = ''Saheb'' ([[radio play]]) by Ranjan Roy
}}
| screenplay = Bijoy Bose
{{Infobox | decat = yes | child = yes
| label1= Dialogues by
| data1 = Bijoy Bose
}}
| story = Ranjan Roy
| producer = Shyamal Chatterjee
| starring = [[Tapas Paul]] [[Utpal Dutt]] [[Madhabi Mukherjee]] [[Mahua Roy Chowdhury]] [[Anil Chatterjee]] [[Shambhu Bhattacharya]]
| cinematography = Gour Karmakar
| editing = Pranab Ghosh
| music = Abhijit Bandyopadhyay
| studio = Basanta Pictures
| distributor = Piyali Pictures Basanta Pictures
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1981|10|02}}
| runtime = 122 minutes
| country = India
| language = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
}}
'''''Saheb''''' is a 1981 Indian [[Bengali language|Bengali]]-language [[Sports film|sports drama film]] co-written and directed by Bijoy Bose. Produced by Shyamal Chatterjee under the banner of Basanta Pictures in their first venture, the film is based on a [[Radio drama|radio play]] of the same name written by Ranjan Roy. It stars [[Tapas Paul]] in the [[Title character|titular role]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-31 |title=Tapas Pal and his not so significant journey in Bengali cinema |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/regional/tapas-pal-and-his-not-so-significant-journey-in-bengali-cinema-4453388/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> alongside [[Utpal Dutt]], [[Madhabi Mukherjee]] and [[Mahua Roy Choudhury|Mahua Roy Chowdhury]] in lead roles, while [[Shambhu Bhattacharya]], [[N. Viswanathan|N. Vishwanathan]], [[Nimu Bhowmik]], [[Kaushik Banerjee]], [[Shakuntala Barua]], [[Ratna Ghoshal]] and Rekha Chatterjee play supporting roles, with [[Anil Chatterjee]] in a special appearance. It plots a promising football player Saheb, the youngest son of his father, who stands like a saviour at the time of financial crisis during his sister’s marriage, by giving his kidney up without informing his family members.

The film marks Bijoy Bose's first collaboration with Tapas Paul. Music of the film was composed by Abhijit Bandyopadhyay, with lyrics penned by [[Rabindranath Tagore]] and [[Gauriprasanna Mazumder]]. The cinematography and editing of the film were handled by Gour Karmakar and Pranab Ghosh respectively. It released theatrically on 2 October 1981, coinciding with [[Durga Puja]], opening to huge positive response. The film was a box office hit and also became a breakthrough for Paul to be established as a leading star in [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali cinema]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=আশির দশকে পর্দায় প্রথম আত্মপ্রকাশ, ফিরে দেখা তাপস পালের সেরা ছবির তালিকা |url=https://bangla.asianetnews.com/gallery/bengali-cinema/top-movies-of-tapas-paul-q5wag9/photoshow-quppci |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd |language=bn}}</ref>

''Saheb'' has been an inspiration for a number of remakes including ''[[Saaheb]]'' (1985) in [[Hindi]], ''[[Vijetha (1985 film)|Vijetha]]'' (1985) in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], ''[[Karna (1986 film)|Karna]]'' (1986) in [[Kannada]] and ''[[Chekkeranoru Chilla]]'' (1986) in [[Malayalam]]. The film was also felicitated in another Bengali films like ''[[Champion (2003 film)|Champion]]'' in 2003 and ''[[Chaamp]]'' in 2017. Tapas Paul won a [[Filmfare Awards|Filmfare Award]] for his performance in the film in 1981<ref>{{Cite web |title=Life History - In loving memory |url=https://lifehist.com/details/details/261 |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=lifehist.com}}</ref> and is considered to be one of the best films in his career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=At a glance: Some of Tapas Pal's famous movies |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/showtime/201703/at-a-glance-some-of-tapas-pal-s-famous-movies |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

== Plot ==
Saheb, a jovial, friendly, and kind-hearted boy loves to play [[soccer]]. He is neglected by his selfish brothers. Only his sister-in-law and his only sister Bulti appreciates and takes care of him. Saheb has the potential to become a good goalkeeper, but a lack of support and care from his family hinders his growth. Suddenly Bulti's marriage is fixed with a well-educated family. The budget of the event makes Saheb's family helpless. At that time, Saheb sells one of his kidneys and spoils his football career. No one was aware of his decision. On the day of his sister's marriage when everyone was enjoying themselves, Saheb fights for his life. Suddenly his sister-in-law realises everything and becomes upset. All his brothers then impose allegations against him for that unaccounted money, his sister-in-law exposes everything and makes them quiet. At last, Saheb's incompetent father goes to hospital and mourns for his neglected child.

== Cast ==

{{cast listing|
* [[Tapas Paul]] as Saheb
* [[Utpal Dutt]] as Biprodas Banerjee, Saheb's father
* [[Madhabi Mukherjee]] as Saheb's sister-in-law
* [[Mahua Roy Choudhury|Mahua Roy Chowdhury]] as Bulti, Saheb's sister
* [[Shambhu Bhattacharya]] as Saheb's coach
* Ajoy Ganguly as Saheb's elder brother
* [[Kaushik Banerjee]] as Bulti's husband
* [[Nimu Bhowmik]] as Saheb's second elder brother
* [[Shakuntala Barua]] as Saheb's second elder sister-in-law
* [[Ratna Ghoshal]]
* Rekha Chatterjee as Saheb's elder sister
* [[N. Viswanathan|N. Vishwanathan]]

=== Special appearance ===

* [[Anil Chatterjee]] as Dr. Ghoshal
}}

== Soundtrack ==
The score and soundtrack of the film was composed by Abhijit Bandyopadhyay. The soundtrack album includes a [[Rabindra Sangeet]], while other songs are penned by [[Gauriprasanna Mazumder]].
{{Soundtrack
| headline = Track listing
| extra_column = Singer(s)
| total_length = 11:20
| title1 = Hare Re Re Re
| length1 = 1:50
| lyrics1 = [[Rabindranath Tagore]]
| extra1 = [[Dwijen Mukherjee]], [[Arundhati Holme Chowdhury]]
| title2 = Kawto Swapno
| length2 = 3:22
| lyrics2 = Gauriprasanna Mazumder
| extra2 = Dwijen Mukherjee
| title3 = Ekta Cup Ekta Shield
| length3 = 3:05
| lyrics3 = Gauriprasanna Mazumder
| extra3 = Tarun Bandyopadhyay
| title4 = O Mukhapadme
| length4 = 3:03
| lyrics4 = Gauriprasanna Mazumder
| extra4 = [[Manna Dey]]
}}

== Reception ==
The film addresses the topic of football in the Bengali society in what has been considered a distinctive way through its social and economic focus.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Majumdar |first1=Boria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UUXdAAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Saheb%22+1981+film+-wikipedia+bengali&pg=PT253 |title=Modern Sport - The Global Obsession |last2=Hong |first2=Fan |date=2013-09-13 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-99794-8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Bandyopadhyay |first=Kausik |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uuYJEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Saheb%22+1981+film+-wikipedia+bengali&pg=PT229 |title=Scoring Off the Field: Football Culture in Bengal, 1911–80 |date=2020-11-29 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-08405-4 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=6 football-themed Bengali films to watch while the FIFA World Cup is on |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/6-football-themed-bengali-films-to-watch-while-the-fifa-world-cup-is-on/cid/1899562 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204120101/https://www.telegraphindia.com/entertainment/6-football-themed-bengali-films-to-watch-while-the-fifa-world-cup-is-on/cid/1899562 |archive-date=4 February 2023 |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=www.telegraphindia.com |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-06-20 |title=These Bengali films will surely reignite your love for football |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bengali/movies/news/these-bengali-films-will-surely-reignite-your-love-for-football/photostory/69875020.cms |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Remakes ==
In 1982, [[Allu Aravind]] wanted to buy the [[Telugu language|Telugu]] remake rights of ''Saheb'', under his own production house, [[Geetha Arts]]''.'' Since the initial development of the film, [[Chiranjeevi]] was supposed to play the protagonist in the film. When the rights were proved to be too expensive, the makers dropped the idea.

[[Anil Ganguly]] planned to remake the film in [[Hindi]] in 1984, after Raj Valia of Shri R. F. Films signed him up with a contract of directing at least seven films for their banner. The film ultimately got remade as ''[[Saaheb]]'' in 1985, with [[Anil Kapoor]] in the main lead and also had [[Utpal Dutt]] reprising his role from the original film. The same year, immediately after its release, Allu Aravind decided to obtain the rights of the film again, determining to spend any amount of money, as he was so engrossed in the film's story. Finally it was remade into Telugu as ''[[Vijetha (1985 film)|Vijetha]]'' in the same year, starring Chiranjeevi. Following its success, the film was later remade into [[Kannada]] as ''[[Karna (1986 film)|Karna]]'' in 1986, starring [[Vishnuvardhan (actor)|Vishnuvardhan]], and [[Malayalam]] as ''[[Chekkeranoru Chilla]]'' (1986) starring [[Shankar Panicker]].

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* {{imdb title|4242438|Saheb}}
[[Category:1981 films]]
[[Category:1981 Bengali-language films]]
[[Category:Bengali-language Indian films]]
[[Category:Indian sports films]]
[[Category:1980s sports drama films]]
[[Category:1981 drama films]]
[[Category:Films based on radio series]]
[[Category:Films set in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Films shot in Kolkata]]
[[Category:Bengali films remade in other languages]]
[[Category:Films about social issues in India]]
[[Category:Indian association football films]]

Saheb (1981 film) - Revision history

Gnfcmussorie: Added First Post First Draft.