Aparichita (1969)

Bizarre and spectacular psychodrama based on Samaresh Bose’s novel with overtones of Dostoevsky’s The Idiot. Sunita (Sen), forced into prostitution by her ‘respectable’ politician- employer Priyanath, is abducted by the gangster Ranjan (Kumar) from a nightclub. She travels with Ranjan as though in a dream, and when she is rescued meets a similarly disoriented and unbelievably naive Sujit (Chatterjee) who has just recovered from a mental breakdown. When Sunita’s marriage is arranged, mainly to avoid scandal, she tries to elope with Sujit but Ranjan prevents it. Eventually, Ranjan, unable to subdue her, kills Sunita and lands in jail, while Sujit has a second breakdown. The film is known mainly for Chatterjee’s remarkable performance.