5 Hindi Films That Captured Tagore’s Magic — Which Ones Do You Remember?

By Vivan Singh | May 7, 2025 | Categories: ENTERTAINMENT, INDIA

From spooky ghost tales to touching dramas, these five Hindi versions brought Rabindranath Tagore’s literary brilliance to the big screen.

Rabindranath Tagore’s writing has long influenced filmmakers all over India, particularly in Bengal. From Satyajit Ray to Rituparno Ghosh, Tagore’s tales have been given countless cinematic twists. But Hindi cinema has also found his rich stories to its liking, presenting audiences with memorable translations throughout the years.

Here’s a glance at five classic Hindi movies that brought Tagore’s tales to the screen:

Ghunghat (1960)

Adapted from Tagore’s novel Nouka Dubi, this film tells the tale of mistaken identities and emotional awakenings after a boat accident. Though heavy on melodrama, Ghunghat champions a woman’s right to choose love. Bina Rai’s acclaimed performance even won her the Filmfare Award over Madhubala’s turn in Mughal-e-Azam. The film also featured a standout soundtrack by Ravi, with Lata Mangeshkar’s “Lage Na Mora Jiya” becoming a chart-topper. The same story was recounted in Milan (1946) and most recently in Bengali by Rituparno Ghosh.

Kabuliwala (1962)

Directed by Hemen Gupta, this adaptation of Tagore’s 1892 short story is a moving portrait of friendship between an Afghan dry-fruit seller and a young girl in Kolkata. The film’s emotional weight was provided by Balraj Sahni’s sympathetic portrayal of the title character and Manna Dey’s haunting “Ae Mere Pyare Watan”. Decades later, Danny Denzongpa paid tribute to the character in Bioscopewala.

Uphaar (1971)

This movie, which was based on Tagore’s Samapti, features Jaya Bhaduri as Mrinmayee, a lively child bride. Her lively performance was arguably one of her finest, portraying a girl who matures emotionally through marriage. Although Guddi gained more popularity, many believe Bhaduri’s portrayal in Uphaar was more nuanced. Aparna Sen had previously portrayed the same character in Teen Kanya, directed by Satyajit Ray.

Geet Gaata Chal (1975)

Based on Tagore’s lesser-known tale Atithee, this Rajshri Production boasted a scarce male lead, Shyam, played by youthful Sachin Pilgaonkar. With music composed by Ravindra Jain, the film became a musical hit, marrying folk charm to sentimental storytelling.

Lekin (1990)

The most recent significant Hindi retelling of Tagore’s work, Lekin, was drawn from his short story Kshudhit Pashaan. Gulzar-directed, the film featured Dimple Kapadia playing a hauntingly lovely ghost by the name of Rewa. Her enthusiasm for the role was so great that she went personally after both producer Lata Mangeshkar and director Gulzar to get it. The haunting melodies of the film, particularly “Yaara Seeli Seeli,” created by Hridaynath Mangeshkar, contributed to its ethereal nature.

As we celebrate Rabindranath Tagore’s birthday, these movies bring to mind how his immortal stories continue to connect — in all languages, across all generations.

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