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Chhotto Jigyasa (transl. Small Question) is a 1968 Indian Bengali-language drama film written and directed by Hrisikesh Mukherjee. Produced by Biswajit Chatterjee, the film is based on a story by Gauriprasanna Mazumder. It stars Chatterjee himself alongside Madhabi Mukherjee and Prosenjit Chatterjee in lead roles, whereas the latter marks his cinematic debut as a child artist in the film. It also stars Anup Kumar, Haradhan Banerjee, Gyanesh Mukherjee and Gita Dey in other supporting roles. The film follows Bumba, a crestfallen child, after losing his mother who is unable to cope with the fact that she will never return. One day, he visits a temple and assumes another woman to be his mother.

Chhotto Jigyasa theatrically released on 2 February 1968 and was a box office success. The soundtrack of the film was composed by Nachiketa Ghosh, with lyrics penned by Gauriprasanna Mazumder. Dilip Ranjan Mukherjee handled the cinematography and Hrishikesh Mukherjee himself edited the film.

In 1969, Chotto Jigyasa received the for Prosenjit Chatterjee at the BFJA Awards.

Plot

Bumba (Prosenjit Chatterjee), a 6 years old child, loses his mother, who has endured cancer for years. His father, Subimal (Biswajit Chatterjee), struggles grieving his wife's death and trying to explain the concept of death to a kindergartener.

Bumba, unable to come to terms with life without his mother finds ways to reach his mother like writing a letter and tying it to a balloon so it would reach heaven, asking to buy tickets to heaven. Bumba overhears his nanny talking about going to the temple to pray to "Maa" (goddess Durga) and goes with her thinking his mother now lives there.

In Dakshineswar Kali temple, he sees (Madhabi Mukherjee), a woman being referred to as Maa by children begging for alms, he believes her to be his mother, and follows her around. After being referred to as "maa" multiple times she softens up and decides to take her home for his safety. Over the course of few hours they develop a mother-son attachment until Subimal's "Missing Son" is announced in the All India Radio and her family responds.

Eventually the woman's sorrowful life is revealed: her husband and two-year-old son died in a tragic accident. With time, Subimal falls deeply in love with her and expresses it. She confesses how she was afraid of revealing her feelings too, considering how her past would always remain a part of her. Subimal expresses how the past should not be forgotten and thus they decide to give their feelings a chance. Giving a wholesome ending.

Cast

• Prosenjit Chatterjee as Bumba
• Biswajit Chatterjee as Subimal, Bumba's father
• Madhabi Mukherjee
• Haradhan Bandopadhyay
• Gita Dey
• Anup Kumar (actor)
• Gyanesh Mukherjee
• Suruchi Sengupta
• Prasad Mukherjee
• Shamita Biswas

Awards

References

1. TelegraphIndia.com
2. "Chotto Jigyasa (1958) - Review, Star Cast, News, Photos". Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
3. "When he was Gublu to everyone". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
4. "Prosenjit Chatterjee: Rare childhood pictures of the Bengali superstar you shouldn't miss". The Times of India. 29 October 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
5. "Did you know Prosenjit Chatterjee started out as a child artiste in Chhotto Jigyasha?". The Times of India. 22 March 2018. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 28 November 2024.

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