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| 'Lavanya Preeti' movie artwork |
Produced by: Prativa Bir, Apurba Kishore Bir
Production Co: Children's Film Society of India
Sound: Manoj Sikka
Editing: Dilip Panda
Music: Bhavdeep Jaipurwalle
Cast: Tarashankar Mishra, Lalatendu Rath, Saumysri Rath, Aditi Bir, Bibhuti Bhushan Prusti, Jagatlakshmi Banerjee and others
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Note: Unavailable
Plot: To interest "children and young people" and to hold their attention, A. K. Bir, the screenplay writer who has shot and directed the film, has used the traditional device of a story within a story. One is a love story with a tragic ending, so popular with jatras as the core story and the other story with not so sad ending.
The legendary story is that of Kedar and Gouri, childhood friends, who matured into intense lovers. But the adults in the village representing the "villain" are against their marriage and consummation. So they run away venturing into the wild world. While passing through a forest, Gouri feels tired and thirsty and Kedar goes by himself to fetch water. As things would happen, a tiger roaming nearby frightens Gouri, who runs away, leaving traces of blood (due to thorns on the way) and bits and pieces of her sari on the bushes. Kedar returns, but is dismayed by the absence of Gouri and tell-tale evidence. His world collapses and he commits suicide by stabbing himself. Later, Gouri returns to the spot and decides to die likewise of her own hand to unite with her lover in the other world.
The legendary story haunts the two adolescent lovers of the present time, Gopal and Vidyulata, as also Gopal's friend, Mayadhar. They all study in the same class. Gopal is talented, imaginative, even poetic. Mayadhar is his confidante and mentor. Vidyulata is the local compounder's daughter, who after meeting Gopal and Mayadhar finds a new world revealed to her by two classmates. They all grow up, separately and together, but always interacting. Incidents, big and small happen, including one in which a temple with a wish granting God (according to the priest), a well, a man who desires a golden ring are all involved. To save the priest from public humiliation, Gopal "steals" a ring from home and enables the priest to save his face. But the missing ring creates problems in Gopal's family.
All these leads to the separation of the two lovers. Gopal tries to run away from home, but his father thwarts him by catching him in night. The next day Vidyulata disappears. When Gopal goes to her mother, he is given a letter. Vidyulata's letter tells Gopal that she is going back to her native home as her pet cat is sick! Gopal reads and runs. A boy of fantasies and whims, he is absolutely lost. But Vidyulata is no Gouri and Gopal is no Kedar.
- The Silver Plaque for Best Film – 8th International Film Festival for Children and Young People – 1993
- Best Child Artist – 8th International Film Festival for Children and Young People – 1993
- Best Children’s Film & Best Child Artist Awards – 41st National Film Awards – India – 1994
- Best Child Artist – 41st National Film Awards – India – 1994
- Best Asian Film award at the Osaka International Film Festival
Songs: Unavailable
Reference: Children's Film Society of India, 42nd National Film Awards
