This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Bandini is a masterpiece for its cinematography and shrewd plot. While most of us YOLO generation teens would have thought of a rather cheeky climax, Bimal Roy brings us the genuine ending based on 40s' & 50s' India.It talks about the life of a woman which enters bedlam after she meets a freedom fighter. It talks about how she braves all those hard things life puts in front of her. As the second half starts, the plot increases in pace and the story reaches crescendo revealing shocking points. The last fifteen-minute-part is pure classic which also manages a song.Performance given out by Nutan & Ashok Kumar is exceptional. Supporting cast and the characters involved are truly magnetic. They will stay with you years.BOTTOM LINE: A classic not to be missed. 8.1/10.Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

Vintage Bollywood films are a new source of wonder for me. With less than ten titles under my belt, I still enjoy the big-eyed optimism of a neophyte, and being something of a film buff in other genres, the critical demands of a cranky old art-house fop. That being my background, I approached Bimal Roy's film, Bandini, with few expectations and was pleasantly surprised, so pleasantly. The intelligently-handled scenes by director Bimal Roy took me back to a few of the great American and French directors of the 1930's, when realism was eschewed for style, and drama was willing to risk sentimentality if it meant giving strength to the ultimate story. The type of film-making I'm thinking of was a breeding ground for humanism's values, complete with conflict, tears, and heroic resolution. In Hollywood, Frank Borzage would be one example, early Capra was another, even the uber-stylist, Von Sternberg. And in France, similarities can be identified with the work of between-the-wars Renoir and a slightly later Yves Allegret. But, of course, what these forerunners to the Bandini movie didn't utilize, and which so many Hindi films demand, is the placement of musical numbers. The musical numbers in Bandini were excellent, not an easy accomplishment given that the dramatic story-line takes place in a woman's prison during the Raj's last dark chapter before Indian independence. Not exactly Ethel Merman territory. The musical compositions and lyrics in Indian movies during 1963, the year of Bandini's release, were still in it's golden era, and playback singers were being revered as national treasures. Listening to the voices of Asha Bosle and Lata Mangeshkar delivering S.D. Burman compositions is a treat to remember for a long time. And though I only know the lyrics through subtitles, their poignancy seemed a very high mark in the marriage of lyric, music and story.Which brings me to the real revelation of this film, the extraordinary actress Nutan, as she developed our lead prisoner's character into the embodiment of a strong-willed yet tender heroine of considerable depth and spirit. She captures the screen like very few actresses I've ever watched; as the saying goes, "the camera loves her." But, I'm not here to try more than a thumbnail review of this wonderful film. The production value; the acting, which also included Ashok Kumar in his sincere portrayal as a multi-faceted "freedom fighter; the exacting and accomplished black and white camera work of Kamal Bose; all these found just the right tone to create an unexpected masterwork of romantic drama. Glory to Bollywood. Oh, and if you liked this movie, I recommend Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool, both by the incomparable Guru Dutt. High art indeed.

I finally got the DVD of Bimal Roy's classic masterpiece 'Bandini'. 'Bandini' revolves around Kalyani, played beautifully by the one and only Nutan. We see most of the movie through Kalyani's point of view. During a time when women's rights were much more limited (compared to today), Roy tells us a woman-oriented story, part of which is set during the British Raj.Kalyani is a strong-willed, vivacious, educated, caring and happy-going young lady who lives with her father and cousin in a small village. She then meets a much older Bikash, who's a freedom fighter and is intrigued by his ideals. They gradually fall in love but as fate would have it, Bikash has to leave and he promises to return and marry Kalyani. Time rushes through as Kalyani and her father wait to hear from Bikash. Soon Kalyani hears that Bikash has already married and settled down with someone else. Kalyani is devastated but she has to be strong and prevent her father from finding out. The villagers raise questions and harass Kalyani's father. Kalyani, not being able to bear her father's humiliation, leaves for the city and manages to find a job. Yet, she commits the most unexpected deed and ends up in prison.The movie is at it's simplest form of film-making. It could have been high on melodrama but hardly anything about it is exaggerated. Even the background sound especially in the scene where we hear the banging iron (when Kalyani is about to commit the crime) is used very effectively. Songs are beautiful and flow with the narration instead of hindering it.Dharmendra gives a charming performance in a brief role while Ashok Kumar brilliantly plays Bikash but Bandini clearly belongs to Nutan. Her facial expressions (especially her eyes) reminds us what true acting really is (such expressions are hardly seen in movies of today) especially in the climax where she has to make a choice, her expressions are unforgettable. She portrays her character's inner conflict (the guilt and rejection of her second chance in life, the belief that she deserves the worst of punishment, the temptation she feels to live a life with Deven) and complex emotions with near perfection (if not perfection) and is flawless in terms of acting.Thanks to Bimal Roy for telling us a beautiful story about a strong minded brave young lady, in a time when hardly much attention was given to women.

A perfect commercial film made in the 'art film' genre. One of Bimal Roy's best films. Cinematography by Kamal Bose is superb. And performance by Nutan in the role of Kalyani is one of the best ever performances by any heroine on the Indian screen. Musical score by S. D. Burman is unforgettable and shall always remain so. Two songs by Asha Bhosle viz., "Ab ke baras bhej, Bhaiya ko Babul" and "O' panchhi pyare, sanjh sakale" are among her best. Again both the songs sung by Lata Mangeshkar, viz., 'Mera gora ang laile, mohe shaam rang daide' and 'Jogi jab se too aya mere dware" are again superb. And a song each by Mukesh (O' jaane wale ho sake to laut ke aana), and Burman dada himself (O' re maanjhi) are again among their best ever. Manna Dey's (Mat ro Maata), a patriotic song, is also a soul stirring number.In short, a classic of Indian Cinema.