Ankur (film)
- Shabana Azmi: Lakshmi
- Anant Nag: Surya
- Sadhu Meher: Kishtaya
- Priya Tendulkar: Saru
- Kader Ali Beg: Surya's father
Ankur (Hindi: अंकुर; translated: seedling ) is a Hindi film directed by Shyam Benegal in 1974.
Action
Surya, who is close to graduating from college and comes from a landowner family has to give up his studies in order to take care of the family can. He is a girl named Saru promised against his will, is going to draw him when she reaches puberty.
Lonely and bored in his little house Surya interested in the maid Lakshmi. Lakshmi is the wife of a poor deaf-mute potter Kishtaya. This is an alcoholic, but still keeps Lakshmi to him. When he disappears after a theft and the subsequent humiliation of the village, Surya promises to take care of him on Lakshmi. The two approach each other and sleep together.
As Saru now attracts about Surya, Lakshmi dismisses them because they belong to a lower caste and they had picked up rumors of a relationship between her and Surya.
Lakshmi is pregnant. One morning is Kishtaya next to her and gives her the money he had earned in his absence. Then Lakshmi gets a bad conscience because she betrayed her husband. Nevertheless, she leaves him in the belief that the child was of him.
Kishtaya now wants to start working and trying to drive a bullock cart. He tells Surya from his wife's pregnancy. When he picks up a stick, Surya believes that Kishtaya wants revenge on him. Surya can hold him by three men and flog him. Instant Lakshmi comes to the rescue. She curses Surya and his feudal attitude and goes together with Kishtaya slowly home.
In the last shot, a boy throws a stone at Surya's house and the screen turns red.
Background
The film is set in rural Andhra Pradesh and is the film debut of both director Shyam Benegal, Shabana Azmi as well. For lead actor Anant Nag is the first role in a Hindi film. Ankur is one of the important works of the New Indian Cinema, an art film movement of the early 1970s. Azmi and Nag introduced a new style of naturalistic acting and took advantage of Hindi with a regional accent - here those Haidarabads - as was customary for later works Benegals. The story the director had long been in my head and could finally persuade an advertising film producers, for whom he had previously worked, to finance the project.
The role of Lakshmi was among other things, Waheeda Rehman offered, but declined.
Awards
National Film Award (1975 )
- National Film Award / Best Actress at Shabana Azmi
- National Film Award / second best film of Shyam Benegal
- National Film Award / Best Actor at Sadhu Meher
International Film Festival Berlin 1974
- Nominated for the Golden Bear ( Shyam Benegal )