Gejje Pooje ( transl. Mock marriage) is a 1969 Indian Kannada-language film directed by Puttanna Kanagal and produced by Rashi Brothers. The film stars Kalpana, Gangadhar and Leelavathi. Actress Aarathi made her first screen appearance in this film. It is based on the novel of the same name by M. K. Indira. The film was remade in Telugu as Kalyana Mandapam (1971), in Tamil as Thaaliya Salangaiya (1977), and in Hindi as Ahista Ahista (1981).
Contents
Plot
This film explores the problem of prostitutes. The heroine Chandramukhi (played by Kalpana) is the daughter of a devadasi who falls in love with a young man who is her neighbour, as they grew up together. The young girl understands the value of education and with the support of her mother intends to reject the life of prostitution. Circumstances and the young man's suspicions lead him to abandon the heroine. The girl he then goes on to marry is actually her half-sister, the daughter of the heroine's father from his marriage with another woman. He had abandoned both Chandra and her mother. Chandra agrees to perform 'gejje pooje' (literally marrying ankle bracelets) as part of initiation into a life of prostitution, but in the end, she kills herself by crushing and swallowing the diamond (from the ring that was gifted to her by her biological father in his memory).
Awards
17th National Film Awards
Best Kannada Film
Best Screenplay — Puttanna Kanagal
1969–70 Karnataka State Film Awards
First Best Film
Best Supporting Actress – Leelavathi
Best Screenplay — Puttanna Kanagal
Best Dialogue — Navarathna Ram Rao
Best Cinematographer — S. V. Srikanth
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Vijaya Bhaskar.