Since Samrat Prithvi Raj is making headlines these days, we look back at one of the classic Bengali films having a cult following. Thread on Shriman Prithviraj and a long-lost street food of Bengali origin. 1/15

In 1967, Tarun Majumder came out with Balika Badhu. The film depicts the Swadeshi movement as well as social issues such as child marriage. Majumder decided to make another topical film in 1973, this time with a comic undertone. 2/15

The film, Shriman Prithviraj, narrates the exploits of a young village boy Rashik, son of a rich landlord, his grandmother’s beloved, and a hero among his friends, fondly called Prithviraj alluding to the famous king. 3/15

Rashik’s father irritated and fed up with his son's notoriety, decides to get him married. The story takes an interesting turn, as the child bride Amalabala enters the scene. She was the daughter of a certain Rey Saheb who was hell-bent on getting the Raibahadur title. 4/15

As Akhil, a swadeshi and husband of Saraswati, Amalabala’s sister gets introduced, the plot thickens. His life and dedication to the freedom movement moved our mischievous hero and he started to embrace the finer things of life. 5/15

Rasik went from being an irresponsible brat to realizing his responsibilities towards Amalabala and eventually falling in love with her. When his father fixes his marriage once again, he resists and plans to elope with his bride. The variant Prithviraj was reborn. 6/15

The pre-Independence political context is expertly interwoven with the simple love life of the newlyweds, aided by a sharply contrasting characterization of a Babu culture and freedom fighters. If you’re still wondering about the street-food, read on. 7/15

The film also celebrates the song “Haridaser Bulbul Bhaja” by Tarun Banerjee/Hemanta Mukhopadhyay that became a cult hit. It was an ode to Ritwik Ghatak’s Bari Theke Paliye (1958) where it was previously mentioned. 8/15

The song, fascinatingly, tells a story of a forgotten street food. Bengal does not have a long history with street food culture. From the turn of the century through the 1950s, many 'bhajas' (fried snacks) started gaining popularity. 9/15

Bulbul-bhaja, sarebotrish-bhaja, sarechar-bhaja and haridaser bulbul-bhaja started ruling the streets of Calcutta and suburbs during this time, essentially as a predecessor of today’s Jhalmuri, Chanachur or Ghotigaram. 10/15

Bulbul Bhaja has been sold by different street hawkers in different forms and shapes, but the most memorable one was in a large conical paper container, filled with chanachur mixture. 11/15

In the evening, the hawkers would enter a neighbourhood in a colourful dress, ghungroo on one leg, and a bag of Bulbul Bhaja on his side/front with an enchanting tune on their lips, to allure the kids, just as is portrayed by Rabi Ghosh in Shriman Prithviraj. 12/15

The Bulbul Bhaja would be sold a packet for an annah, or 3 packets for 10 paisa, popularly to moviegoers. As the urban legend goes, it was even a favourite of Queen Victoria, though we couldn’t validate the claim. 13/15

Many locals believe the origin of Bulbul Bhaja is in a factory situated in Ranaghat, a town in Nadia district, which still has many factories of contemporary Chanachur mixes. 14/15

Shriman Prithviraj is a fascinating social commentary that has enthralled moviegoers for decades, and the song "Haridaser Bulbul Bhaja" has been ingrained in Bengali culture, encouraging numerous street vendors to peddle their wares. 15/15

Source: Between Elite Hysteria and Subaltern Carnivalesque: The Politics of Street-Food in the City of Calcutta/ Bhaskar Mukhopadhyay. Bartaman Patrika. Angel Digital, http://oldfilmsgoingthreadbare.blogspot.com/2011/02/our-childhood-hero-shriman-prithviraj.html….