Pinjra (film)

Pinjra
VCD cover
Directed by	V. Shantaram
Produced by	V. Shantaram
Written by	Shankar Babaji Patil
Starring	Shriram Lagoo Sandhya Nilu Phule
Music by	Ram Kadam Jagdish Khebudkar (lyrics)
Cinematography	Shivaji Sawant
Production company	Rajkamal Kalamandir
Release date	31 March 1972
Running time	175 min.
Country	India
Language	Marathi/Hindi

Pinjra (Marathi: पिंजरा; Cage), is a 1972 Marathi film, directed by V. Shantaram, starring Shriram Lagoo and Sandhya in lead roles. In 1972, the film was also released in Hindi with the same title. Set in Tamasha folk musical theatre of Maharashtra, the film is about a morally righteousness school teacher, Lagoo, who wants to reform a Tamasha performer, played Sandhya, but ends up falling in love with her. It was an adaptation of Josef von Sternberg's German film, The Blue Angel (Der Blaue Engel, 1930) starring Marlene Dietrich, which itself was based on Heinrich Mann's novel Professor Unrat ("Professor Garbage", 1905). The film is known for its music and dance numbers with music by Ram Kadam, and picturised on the lead actress Sandhya, known for her dancing prowess. It was also the film debut of noted theatre actor, Shriram Lagoo. The film was also remade by Shantaram in Hindi with same cast and title, even the songs like "Mala lagali kunachi uchaki", which were a big hit in Marathi version, were re-recorded in Hindi version.

The film was one was last major film by veteran director, who had made classics like Duniya Na Mane (1937), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957) and Navrang (1959). Produced in colour and replete with catchy dance numbers sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Usha Mangeshkar. Prior to its release, one reel of the film was test-screened in the theatres, to check colour reproduction. It went on to become one of biggest commercial successes of its time and ran for 134 weeks in Pune at the time. This also lead to the introduction of colour films in Marathi cinema. In 1973, it won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi for the year 1972.