The Heartbreaking Saga of Teesri Kasam - Indian Cinema

1. The Heartbreaking Saga of Teesri Kasam - Indian Cinema If alive, Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' would be living in his centenary year. Best known for promoting the voice of the contemporary rural India through the genre of 'Aanchalik Katha' (Regional Stories), Renu is considered amongst the pioneering Hindi writers who brought regional voices into the mainstream Hindi literature. Born on 4 March, 1921 in village Aurahi Hingna (near Forbesganj) in Araria district (then, district Purnia), Bihar, Renu has authored many masterpieces that depict the life of rural Bihar and its people, especially the marginalised and the deprived. He is known to have an exceptional ability to create visuals through words. The cult film, Teesri Kasam (1966), considered amongst the finest human document written on celluloid, was based on his short story, Maare Gaye Gulfam. Set in rural Bihar, Maare Gaye Gulfam is a simple yet powerful story by Renu. The language he employs in the story has a liberal infusion of the Bhojpuri and Maithili dialect making it full of the flavours of rural life. Renu’s 43rd death anniversary fell earlier this month on 11 April (he passed away on 11 April, 1977). What could be a better way to remember the revered author at this time, than by recalling his story, its cinematic version and the filmmaker, Shailendra, whose life unfortunately, ended as tragically as Renu’s heart-breaking story. Best known for promoting the voice of the contemporary rural India through the genre of 'Aanchalik Katha' (Regional Stories), Renu is considered amongst the pioneering Hindi writers who brought regional voices into the mainstream Hindi literature. A collaboration of great minds and talent, Teesri Kasam (Third Vow) was expected to be one of the biggest hits of the year when it released in 1966. But, the film sank without a trace at the box office leaving the industry aghast, and Shailendra, the film’s producer, crest fallen and in a financial mess. The prodigious lyricist could not bear the setback and died on 14 December, 1966, incidentally the birthday of his good friend Raj Kapoor, who was also the actor who played the role of one of the two main protagonists of the film. Shailendra was only 43-year-old.

2. In his speech at an event held by Lokbharati (an association of admirers of Hindi literature) in Bombay to honour Renu, apparently, a few days before the release of the film, taking a dig at those who doubted his wisdom, Shailendra declared confidently, “I know I am considered foolish by most film producers but I am confident that the Hindi film audience has come a long way and they will welcome Teesri Kasam with an open heart.” “A few days earlier, when Shailendra screened the completed film for his friends, he meticulously noted down the comments of all those present. While Trade Guide had ranked it as ‘Average’ and Bunny Reuben had written ‘Press report excellent but audience conflicting’, Hrishikesh Mukherjee had predicted, ‘Award film.’ The optimist that he was, Shailendra had jotted down in his diary, ‘It will be a hit.’ Obviously, he was shattered when his dream faltered at the box office.”, writes Sengupta. As fortune would have it, Shailendra’s prophecy did came true, eventually, but tragically, a bit too late as he did not live to witness it. The film earned what it truly deserved - the status of a classic. Teesri Kasam, however, rose like a phoenix from its ashes to reclaim its deserving place in the history of the Indian cinema. It is, in many ways, the finest human document written on celluloid. Teesri Kasam, however, rose like a phoenix from its ashes to reclaim its deserving place in the history of the Indian cinema. It is, in many ways, the finest human document written on celluloid. The film far exceeds in its impact, whether artistic, aesthetic or emotive, its source text, Mare Gaye Gulfam. Renu is on record to have confessed that the film was better than the story. “The thrill I experienced after watching the film was 100 times more than what I felt in writing the story” and expressed hope that that Teesri Kasam will pave way for a formidable collaboration between Hindi literary writers and the Bombay film industry,” he said. He even appealed to Hindi story writers to stop treating cinema as untouchable.