Pita (1991 film)

1991 Indian film

Pita

Directed by| Govind Nihalani
Written by| Govind Nihalani (screenplay)
August Strindberg (play)
Starring| Vimal Bhagat, Satyadev Dubey, Dina Pathak, Irrfan and Shikha Rai
Cinematography| Govind Nihalani

Release date

* 1991 (1991)

Running time

| 150 minutes
Country| India
Language| Hindi

Pita is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language film based on Swedish playwright August Strindberg's 1887 play The Father.[1][2][3] Directed by Govind Nihalani, the film stars Vimal Bhagat, Satyadev Dubey, Dina Pathak, Irrfan and Shikha Rai.[4]

## Plot

[edit]

In disagreement with her husband on how her daughter should be raised and what she should become, the central character of a woman thinks that if she declares her husband insane she would be able to decide for her daughter. Acting on this she sows seeds of confusion in the mind of his husband that he might not be the father of their daughter. The husband starts to believe and actually goes insane and his wife gets the custody of their daughter.

## Cast

[edit]

* Vimal Bhagat
* Satyadev Dubey
* Dina Pathak
* Irrfan
* Shikha Rai

## Background and themes

[edit]

"Nihalani’s penchant for exploring the works of Western playwrights like Ibsen and Strindberg is reflected in his work for television, particularly the telefilms that he adapted to suit an Indian context.", recalled OutlookIndia in 2024.[5] According to Gajra Kottary and ‎Ridhi Sarda, the film addresses "the largely ignored problem" of "the mental and emotional abuse of men at the hands of women".[6] "Vital to the play's psychological exposition , and given very careful treatment by Nihalani , is the central character's gradual loss of his sense of perspective", wrote John W. Hood.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Arunachalam, Param. BollySwar: 1991 - 2000. Mavrix Infotech Private Limited. ISBN 978-81-938482-1-0.
2. ^ Govind Nihalani. Celluloid Chapter. 1992.
3. ^ Indian Panorama. Directorate of Film Festivals, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 2001.
4. ^ "Pitah". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
5. ^ "Through The Looking Glass". Outlook India. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
6. ^ Kottary, Gajra; Sarda, Ridhi (19 May 2021). Healing at the Movies: How Indian Films Can Educate and Sensitise Us. Hay House, Inc. ISBN 978-93-91067-11-3.
7. ^ Hood, John W. (2000). The Essential Mystery: The Major Filmmakers of Indian Art Cinema. Orient BlackSwan. ISBN 978-81-250-1870-4.

## External links

[edit]

* Pita at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

Films directed by Govind Nihalani

* Aakrosh (1980)
* Vijeta (1982)
* Ardh Satya (1983)
* Party (1984)
* Aghaat (1985)
* Tamas (1987)
* Drishti (1990)
* Pita (1991)
* Rukmavati Ki Haveli (1991)
* Drohkaal (1994)
* Sanshodhan (1996)
* Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1997)
* Thakshak (1999)
* Deham (2001)
* Dev (2004)

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