**** (out 0f 5)
Seven Steps was dir. By Ajay Kar, was released on 20 October, 1961, was a Bengali Romantic Drama Film under the banner of Alochhaya Productions Pvt. Ltd.
It is regarded as one of the best Bengali Romantic film, also a romantic blockbuster of the evergreen romantic pair of Bengali Cinema, "Uttam-Suchitra". The film has an euphonious & a mesmerizing music score given by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. "Ei Poth Jodi Na Sesh Hoy", one of the most famous & celebrated song of our Bengali Culture, written by the versatile lyricist Gauriprasanna Mazumdar & sung by Hemanta himself & Sandhya Mukherjee, is in this film.
The film is set in World War II, Krishnendu Mukherjee (Uttam Kumar) has become a doctor, who runs a military hospital in Bankura. A drunken Anglo-Indian woman soldier is brought to him for her treatment by a man. While trying to wake her, he recognized her. She was his former love Rina Brown (Suchitra Sen).
Most of the film is presented in flashbacks as Krishnendu ponders over his past after unexpectedly encountering to Rina. The film depicts how people separates each other on the basis of Religion. Rina sacrifices her love even as Krishnendu converts himself to Christianity because of Krishnendu's orthodox Father (Chhabi Biswas). But, later in the film his mindset changes & he allows Krishnendu & Rina to get married. The story of the film is totally relatable & still relevant today.
Both Uttam Kumar & Suchitra Sen were fabulous & phenomenal. Their characters were layered, electric, universal & beautiful. Their performance as lovers was very passionate & realistic. Uttam Kumar again showed us why he was, is & will always be called "Mahanayak". Suchitra Sen won the Best Actress Award at MIFF (Moscow International Film Festival) in 1963 for her performance. Chhabi Biswas, Chhaya Devi & Tarun Kumar had a small screen time but the did their job effectively.
A big shoutout to Utpal Dutt & Jennifer Kapoor as they gave their voice to Uttam Kumar & Suchitra Sen respectively for the "Othello" Scene. It still gives me goosebumps whenever I think of that scene. It was so dark & beautiful, in total perfect. The expressions of Uttam Kumar & Suchitra Sen & the voice modulations of Utpal Dutt & Jennifer Kapoor created a magical moment, that will linger in my head forever. Most of the part of the film was serious but the comedy scene were very funny. The last scene was alluring. The whole film was visually stunning. All because of the smooth cinematography & unbeatable direction of Ajay Kar. The song sequence was just awesome.
It's very sad that Saptapadi didn't win the Best Film Award at MIFF 1963. But, it doesn't matter. The film will remain as the most memorable film of our Bengali Cinema. I wish, some organization restore & preserve this masterpiece. It's an important piece of our Indian & World Cinema.
You can checkout this film on YouTube.
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