Grama Penn

<p>Ashok hails from a wealthy family and has a job as a postmaster, but it is clear that his job requires little hard labor, aside from sending an occasional telegram, leaving him time to enjoy his comforts – , and song writing. A girl named Bela, the poor and simple daughter of the former postmaster strives for his affections and is supported by her poor father who wants her married. Bela prepares Ashok’s meals, teases and amuses him, and imagines a happy marriage with Ashok, who likes her but is not in love with her. Bela has competition from the wealthy Jamnadas’s daughter Usha, who lives a lavish lifestyle in a hilltop . Usha, drives a foreign car and seems more suitable for Ashok, the young postmaster. Bela, heartbroken, in a fit of jealousy lies to Usha that Ashok has confessed his love for her and is playing a double game. Bela witnesses Usha’s wedding while sitting in a tree, believing that shortly afterwards she would be married off to Ashok. But the tree branch that she is sitting on breaks and she falls to the ground, severely injured. As she is brought back to her father’s home in this condition, Ashok arrives and promises her father he would marry Bela. As Ashok sits on Bela’s bedside to comfort her, Bela dreams again that the black-veiled rider has come to get her and dies. The score and a soundtrack of fifteen songs was composed by and the lyrics were penned by . The songs were mostly about the joys and pains of love, and the film is closely connected to the lyrics. The best known song in the film (literally meaning ), is performed when a newly married girl departs from her maternal home and village. The love song ( ) is performed by Ashok and Usha and a group of boatmen. The film takes a theatrical form, largely attributed to the set of the film and script. Cinematographer Fali Mistry contributes much to the film with atmospheric lighting, especially during night scenes and is able to create an essence of darkness in the hilltop mansion which adds an element of suspense.</p>