The Role
(Bhumika)

by Shyam Benegal

India

Director: Shyam Benegal

Script: Girish Karnad, Satyadev Dubey, Shyam Benegal d’après Hansa Wadkar

Cinematographer: Govind Nihalani

Editing: Bhanudas

Music: Vanraj Bhatia

Cast: Smita Patil, Amol Palekar, Anant Nag, Naseeruddin Shah, Amrish Puri, K. Kharbanda, S. Deshpande

Production: Blaze Films

Distribution:
CQFD
69 rue Jules Watteeux
59100 Roubaix
France
Tel: 0033 3.20.81.02.14
Fax: 0033 3.20.45.18.11
Mail: [email protected]

Year 1977

35 mm, Colour, 142 min, 
OV Hindi with French Subtitles

Usha had a dreary childhood between her alcoholic father and her crabby mother. Her grandmother was the only one to take care of her. Once a courtesan, she taught her how to sing. When her father dies, Keshaw, her mother’s lover, takes them to Bombay. Young Usha is engaged for a film and soon becomes a famous actress. She is now called Urvashi. She marries Keshaw who despicably lives off her. Soon after, their daughter Susham is born. After a short-lived affair with a young director, she becomes Vinayak’s mistress, a rich man who traps her in a gold cage. She escapes and goes back to Bombay where her daughter offers her to live with her. She refuses and decides to confront the situation alone and free at last…

The Role is a beautiful description of a woman struggling for her dignity played by the unforgettable Smita Patil in one of her most remarkable roles of her too short career.