Wild Horse (Pagla Ghora)

The film, Pagla Ghora (Wild Horse)-

‘Life as a reflection, life as a dream’.

In my region of India, as in many other parts of the country, the Mother Goddess is venerated in numerous forms. Nevertheless, persistent reports of women being assaulted and humiliated by men reveal a troubling societal contradiction.

I have attended several of Badal Sircar’s renowned proscenium stage plays. Among them, 'Pagla Ghora' (Wild Horse) left a significant impression due to its compelling moments, evocative imagery, and seamless transitions. When approached by ‘Swabhumi Entertainment’ to create a film, I considered basing my project on memories of ‘Pagla Ghora,’ in the centenary of the esteemed Badal Sircar, thereby reversing the process Sircar occasionally used when adapting plays from his film memories.

Over time, vivid visuals emerged for me: moonlight filtering through tall trees, funeral pyre flames, dancing fireflies, and the forest in a quiet whisper. These images became encapsulated in dialogue that conveyed pain, agony, and moments of despair within a confined space. As the screenplay evolved and I shared it with collaborators, production commenced.

DR. PRABIR BHAUMIK

Dr. Prabir Bhaumik is an eminent Pediatrician and having an experience of over 30 years of practicing. In spite of practicing as physician he was very keen to have knowledge about film and TV series and which make into the industry and after exploring over 10 years he is now one of the known Producers of both Television and Film industry of Bengal.

Based on the play

Pagla Ghora (Wild Horse), A film by Sekhar Das. 'Pagla Ghoda' (Wild Horse) is a post-realist play infused with surrealist symbolism. It explores the theme of intense, often problematic energies of love and desire that can become destructive. However, in the absence of such energy, life is depicted as stagnant and devoid of meaning. The enduring significance of these themes is evident in the continued relevance of 'Pagla Ghoda' today. Written by Badal Sircar in 1967, the play explores human values, guilt, emotional repression, and the dynamics of power in relationships. It is considered a modern classic and is included in academic syllabi in various universities and theatre studies programs, particularly in courses on Indian literature and drama. The plot unfolds at night in a cremation ground in a remote village in West Bengal. Four men from different professional backgrounds wait for the last rites of a young woman who died by suicide. They play cards and drink as her body burns on the pyre. As the night goes on, the spirit of the nameless deceased woman joins their discussion though they cannot see or hear her. Her spectral presence prompts them to reveal their own stories about the women in their lives. Their conversations produce four different accounts. Each reveals patriarchal cruelty, social hypocrisy, male dominance and moral cowardice. All four women meet tragic ends. During the conversations, the nameless woman regrets never experiencing passion or love. The emptiness in her life led her to suicide.