Banhishikha (English: Flame of Banhi) is a 1976 Indian Bengali language science fiction action thriller film co-written and directed by Pijush Bose. Based on a novel by Nihar Ranjan Gupta and produced by Jaidev Mishra under the banner of Shree R.S Productions, it stars Uttam kumar, Ranjit Mallick, Supriya Devi and Olivia (in the titular role) in lead roles; while Tarun Kumar, Rabin Banerjee, Swapan Kumar, Montu Banerjee, Shambhu Bhattacharya and Ashim Kumar in supporting roles. It marks the debut of the Bangladeshi actress Alivia in an Indian film. The soundtrack of the film was composed by Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. It plots the story of a man with two different identities- the first one of a respected advocate who is also popular for his contributions to various child-related organizations; while the second of a vigilante gangster who forms up a group of anti socials, in which each and everyone is reared by himself since their childhood and he indulges them into crimes when they grows up as they were thrown out of the society for being whoresons.

Banhishikha
Theatrical poster
Directed byPijush Bose
Written byNihar Ranjan Gupta
Screenplay byPijush Bose
Produced byJaidev Mishra
StarringUttam Kumar
Ranjit Mallick
Supriya Devi
Olivia
Tarun Kumar
CinematographyBijoy Ghosh
Edited byBaidyanath Chatterjee
Music byHemanta Mukhopadhyay
Production
company
Shree R.S Productions
Distributed byChandimata Films Pvt. Ltd.
Release date
26 November 1976
Running time
133 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageBengali

Banhishikha marked the 7th collaboration between Uttam Kumar and Pijush Bose and the second film of Uttam Kumar and Ranjit Mallick together after Mouchak (1974). Critics appreciated the performances of Uttam Kumar in dual roles and Ranjit Mallick; direction skill of Pijush Bose, who intelligently showed the bravery of presenting Uttam Kumar in a negative role once again after Bagh Bondi Khela (1975), as well as portraying Ranjit Mallick's action hero image. It was a super hit at the box office and considered to be the solo hit for Uttam Kumar in 1976, which later was broken by Ananda Ashram in 1977.

In 2007, Banhishikha was felicitated by director Swapan Saha, in the Mithun Chakraborty starrer film Tiger, where the protagonist forms up an organization to do away with corruption taking place in West Bengal. Till Banhishikha is considered to be one of the greatest mass films in the history of Bengali cinema, where the protagonist is characterised through gray shades and in a negative manner.

Cast

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