Chameli Memsaab

{{short description|1975 film}} {{distinguish|text=1981 Bengali film, Chameli Memsaab by Ajit Lahiri, with Mithun Chakraborty and Abha Dhulia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}} {{Infobox film | name = Chameli Memsaab | image = | alt = | caption = | native_name = | director = Abdul Majid | producer = Seuj Bolchhabi Santha | writer = | screenplay = | story = Nirode Choudhury | based_on =  | narrator = | starring = George Baker <br> Binita Borgohain | music = Bhupen Hazarika | cinematography = | editing = | studio = | distributor = | released = {{Film date|1975}} | runtime = 144 min | country = India | language = Assamese | budget = | gross =

}} '''''Chameli Memsaab''''' (English: Madame Chameli) is a 1975 Indian Assamese romantic drama film directed by Abdul Majid. A love story set in a tea estate in Assam, between a British tea estate owner and local tea garden worker. It starred George Baker and Binita Borgohain as leads.<ref>{{cite web| title = 'Chameli Memsaab a memorable experience'| publisher = The Assam Tribune| url = http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec0910/city07| date = 9 December 2010| access-date = 2014-04-21| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140423042436/http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec0910%2Fcity07| archive-date = 23 April 2014| df = dmy-all}}</ref> The film is based on a short story by journalist and writer, Nirode Choudhury.<ref>{{cite book|title=Asomiya: Handpicked Fictions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K31jAAAAMAAJ|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Katha|page=196|isbn=978-81-87649-42-7}}</ref>

The film was both a critical and commercial success, lead actor Baker turned into a matinee idol.<ref>{{cite web | title =Chameli's Saab returns to inaugurate film festival: Show organised at George Baker's request|publisher= The Telegraph| url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070905/asp/guwahati/story_8272863.asp | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120422183404/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070905/asp/guwahati/story_8272863.asp | url-status = dead | archive-date = 22 April 2012 |date=5 September 2007| access-date = 2014-04-21 }}</ref> At the 1975 National Film Awards, the film won the award for Best Music Direction for Bhupen Hazarika, as well as Best Feature Film in Assamese.<ref name="23rdawardPDF">{{cite web|url=http://dff.nic.in/2011/23rd_nff_1975.pdf|title=23rd National Film Awards |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals|access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref> In 2013, at the 44th International Film Festival of India, in Goa the film was shown as a part of "Focus: North East" section.<ref>{{cite web | title = Chameli Memsaab at 44th International Film Festival of India in Goa | publisher = India Tea | url = http://www.indiatea.co.in/chameli-memsaab-at-44th-international-film-festival-of-india-in-goa/ | date = 10 November 2013 | access-date = 2014-04-21 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140423054502/http://www.indiatea.co.in/chameli-memsaab-at-44th-international-film-festival-of-india-in-goa/ | archive-date = 23 April 2014 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

==Plot== The film is set in a tea garden in Assam, where Berkeley (George Baker) is a British owner, he falls in love with Chameli (Binita Borgohain), is local girl who works in the tea estate. Subsequently, they marry, however later he is blamed of her suicide.

==Cast== * George Baker as Berkeley * Binita Borgohain as Chameli * Abdul Majid as Monglu * Anil Chatterjee * Tarun Kumar

==Soundtrack== Music of the film was given by Dr. Bhupen Hazarika.<ref name="gaana">{{cite web | url=http://gaana.com/album/chameli-memsaheb | title=Chameli Memsaheb | publisher=Gaana | accessdate=30 May 2021}}</ref>

{{tracklist | headline = Title | extra_column = Singer(s) | total_length = | title1 = Asom Deshor Bagisare | extra1 = Usha Mangeshkar, Bhupen Hazarika | lyrics1 = Bhupen Hazarika | length1 = | title2 = Hawa Nai Batash Nai | extra2 = Usha Mangeshkar | lyrics2 = Bhupen Hazarika | length2 = | title3 = Jigija Gijao | extra3 = Bhupen Hazarika, Usha Mangeshkar | lyrics3 = Bhupen Hazarika | length3 = | title4 = Hyre Praner Basa Mor | extra4 = Usha Mangeshkar | lyrics4 = Bhupen Hazarika | length4 = | title5 = O Bideshi Bandhu | extra5 = Bhupen Hazarika | lyrics5 = Bhupen Hazarika | length5 = }}

== Remake== This film was remade in Bangla and Hindi languages. The Bangla edition 'Chameli Memsaheb', directed by Indar Sen was released in 1978. The two main roles of this film were played by George Bekar and Rakhee Gulzar.<ref name="bangla">{{cite web | url=https://indiancine.ma/SXA/info | title=1978 Bangla Cinema Chameli Memsaheb | access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref> In other hand, the Hindi 'Chameli Memsaab', directed by Ajit Lahiri was released in 1981. The main roles were played by Mithun Chakraborty and Abha dhulia.<ref name="hindi">{{cite web | url=https://rateyourmusic.com/film/%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AC/ | title=1981 Hindi Film Chamelee Memsaab | access-date=1 February 2020}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb title|0235274}}

Category:1975 Indian films Category:Indian drama films Category:Films set in Assam Category:Films based on Indian short stories Category:Films set in the British Raj Category:Tea industry in Assam Category:Best Assamese Feature Film National Film Award winners Category:1970s Assamese-language films Category:1975 drama films Category:Films about women in India