Dadar Kirti (1980)

Hit melodrama about a simple-minded youth’s growth into adulthood. Kedar (Paul) is sent to study with his smarter cousin Santu in the hope of improving his university results. Kedar falls in love with next-door neighbour Saraswati, but also comes under the nefarious influence of the local bully Bhombhal, who also estranges Kedar from Saraswati. The problems are resolved only at the end. Paul, whose debut this was, went on to become a major Bengali star in the 80s playing the naive, sacrificing hero almost to the point of masochism (cf. Guru Dakshina, 1987). His ‘loveable’ image is often pointedly in contrast to the 80s Hindi cinema’s emphasis on machismo.