Diksha(1991)
Diksha is a 1991 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Arun Kaul. It stars Nana Patekar, Sulabha Arya, Vijay Kashyap, and Anubhav Mishra. The story follows a father who vows to make his only surviving son a celibate student after losing five children. Set in a traditional Brahmin village, the film explores the conflict between religious duty and human emotion. It is based on the Kannada novel Ghatashraddha by U.R. Ananthamurthy. The film received critical acclaim for its honest storytelling and strong performances. It was released in India in 1991 and is available on MUBI for streaming.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- Prime Video, EpicOn, Airtel Xstream Play
- Theatrical Release
- 1 January 1991
- Director
- Arun Kaul
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 2h 13m
- Rating
- 3.8/10
Storyline
After losing five children, a desperate father vows to make his eight-year-old son Nani a Brahmachari. Nani is sent to live with a strict Vedic scholar. While the scholar is away, his widowed daughter begins a secret affair. Nani witnesses everything and is torn between loyalty and truth.
“A vow that costs a childhood”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Reunion Meter
Frequent partnerships reunited for Diksha
Cast reunions in this film: Manohar Singh & K.K. Raina (2 films together).
Trivia
- The film was based on a Kannada novel 'Diksha' by renowned author S.L. Bhyrappa, who also wrote the screenplay.
- It was shot on location in a remote village in Karnataka to capture authentic rural landscapes and architecture.
- The film's music was composed by the acclaimed classical vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, marking one of his rare forays into film scoring.
- Despite its serious themes, the movie was a low-budget art house project and had a very limited theatrical release.
- Actor Mithun Chakraborty, known for commercial roles, played a supporting part as Shrikar Upadhyay, showcasing his versatility.
- The story critiques orthodox Brahminical traditions, a theme that aligned with the director's focus on social issues in his other works.
- It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada in 1991, though it was produced as a Hindi-language film.