Kayahiner Kahini

Kayahiner Kahini (English: The Tale of an Incorporeal) is a 1974 Indian Bengali-language supernatural psychological horror film. Ajoy Kar co-wrote and directed it, and Mukul Roy produced it under his Mukul Roy Productions banner. The film features Uttam Kumar in two roles, with a supporting cast that includes Aparna Sen, Bikash Roy, Pahari Sanyal, Tarun Kumar, and Basabi Nandi. The story, based on Nabendu Ghosh’s short story *Ashariri*, follows a writer who becomes caught in a series of supernatural events after he is mistaken for a wealthy businessman due to their resemblance.

This was the eighth time Kar and Kumar worked together, and also the eighth pairing of Kumar and Sen. Mukul Roy composed the music, with lyrics by Gauriprasanna Mazumder. Bishu Chakraborty handled cinematography, and Dulal Dutta edited the film. Released in theaters on 13 April 1974, to coincide with Pohela Baishakh, the film received positive reviews but performed poorly at the box office. Kumar’s character was deliberately slow-paced and ordinary, a departure from his typical energetic style that was seen as the main reason for the film’s commercial failure, as audiences were not receptive to the change. Over time, however, *Kayahiner Kahini* gained a cult following and has been reassessed for its stylized direction, intense performances, and cinematography. It is now considered one of Kar’s best works.

The plot follows writer Santanu Roy, who becomes involved in a tangle of psychological and supernatural events after meeting Mallika, a mysterious woman with a tragic past. As Santanu investigates her story, his grip on reality weakens, forcing him to confront questions about identity, memory, and the nature of the incorporeal.

The cast includes Uttam Kumar as Santanu Roy (a writer) and as Prabir Majumder; Aparna Sen as Mallika; Tarun Kumar as Nibaran, Santanu’s friend; Bikash Roy as Dr. B. K.