Ekti Raat (transl. One Night) is a 1956 Indian Bengali-language comedy film[1] directed by Chitta Basu and produced by Harendranath Chattopadhyay[2] based on, Bhimpalashree, a story of Bengali novelist Balai Chand Mukhopadhyay. The film stars Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen in the lead roles with Tulsi Chakraborty and Bhanu Banerjee. This film was released on 26 April 1956 in the banner of H.N.C. Productions.[3][4] In the 1990s, a television series Manush, based on the same plot, aired. This film became successful at the box office.
This film revolves around the miscommunication and misunderstanding of two couples and their family leading to comic situations. Sushavan Dutta and his wife, Anita, were invited at their relative Digbijay Babu's house. While on a journey Anita misses the train and Sushavan has to journey with another lady Santana. Santana is the wife of famous political leader Brojesh. At night they take shelter as husband and wife in Gosaiji's hotel, Harimatar Panthashala because Gosaiji allows married couples only. Santana carries a puppy with her, which runs away from the garden of the hotel and Sushovan has to chase it at night. When Anita's mother is angered upon learning that Sushavan is untraced.[5]
All lyrics are written by Gauriprasanna Mazumder
The film is remembered as one of the best films of the Uttam Suchitra pair. It became a hit at the box office and ran for 50 days in the theaters. When it re-released in the 1970s it again became successful.
In 1990s a Bengali television series is made as name Manush which is based on the same plot and story.