Pinjara (film)

Cage) is a 1972 Indian Marathi-language film directed and produced by V. Shantaram, starring Shriram Lagoo and Sandhya in the lead roles.

[6] This was the last major film by the veteran director, who had made classics like Duniya Na Mane (1937), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957) and Navrang (1959).

Prior to its release, one reel of the film was test-screened in the theatres, to check colour reproduction.

Shridhar Pant (widely known as Guruji) is an upright school teacher, a man of high morals and ideals.

Unfortunately, a group of notorious people headed by the son of the Sarpanch, does not value and respect these moral qualities.

The lead dancer of the group, Chandrakala steals the heart of every man in the village by her dance and style.

Her ego is so hurt that she decides to take revenge by staying and performing at a place on the outskirts of the village.

On the way, she stops everyone and asks them to settle there, set the tents and establish a stage where she can perform.

The adult students all hear the loud music and bunk class to see her perform.

One evening, he calls his father and all the villagers to see Guruji with Chandrakala, but they don't find him.

On that stormy night, when the villagers come to know through a local clown that a murder has taken place, they gather near the dead body lying in the school.

The villagers, on the other side, unveils a Statue of Guruji in the school compound itself, as a tribute to his noble deeds and his ideals.

After realizing that she has brought a noble man like Guruji to her level, and is solely responsible for his downfall, Chandrakala decides to mend her ways.

Guruji tells her how people love his thoughts, his deeds and how in his memory they have built his statue.

He confesses to the crime and pleads that it is a ghastly act done by him and requests the court to give him the harshest punishment.

On the announcement of a death sentence, Chandrakala, in deep shock, loses consciousness and dies on the spot.

The teacher chooses to die under mistaken identity, to keep the morals and values of Guruji in the minds of the villagers intact, rather than living as a man who has lost respect in his own eyes.