'27 Down' Clapboard

The film 27 Down is directed by Awtar Kaul and is based on Ramesh Bakshi's 1966 novel, Athara Sooraj Ke Paudhe. A black and white movie in Hindi, it stars MK Raina as Sanjay (a railway ticket checker), and Rakhee as Shalini (an employee in the Life Insurance Corporation). The title refers to a train that takes the former to Varanasi. All events in his life are seen to be influenced by or to occur because of this particular train.

According to his brother Pradhuman Kaul, Awtar was born in either 1936 or 1937 in Kashmir, and had always been intrigued by cinema and storytelling. The movie was shot on real locations, which was taking on a herculean challenge, to say the least. It was the only work directed by Awtar Kaul.

The movie was completed in 1973 and released in 1974. It is heartbreaking that while on 20th July 1974, the National Film Awards selection committee awarded 27 Down for best Hindi feature and AK Bir's cinematography, the same day also witnessed the tragic demise of Awtar Kaul in a drowning accident. A year later, it was also screened at the Locarno Film Festival, receiving an award by one of the juries.

The clapboard has belonged to the contributor for about 6 years.

Contributed By :

Pia Kaul