Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has shared a nostalgic memory about the reception of a now-iconic poster from her 1974 debut film 'Ankur', directed by Shyam Benegal. In a post on social media on Sunday, Azmi recalled how the poster displayed at Mumbai's Kemps Corner was initially ridiculed by passersby before the film went on to win three National Film Awards.

The Poster That Drew Mockery

The poster in question depicted Shabana Azmi lying beside lead actor Sadhu Meher with her eyes closed — a stark departure from the flamboyant, action-heavy film posters typical of 1974 Bollywood. The understated, almost documentary aesthetic puzzled onlookers, who reportedly jeered at it. Azmi quoted a common reaction at the time: 'What is this? An advert for earache?'

In her own words, Azmi wrote on the photo-sharing platform: 'I remember when this poster was put at Kemps Corner it was so different from the other posters of the day that it was met with scoff !! What is this ? An advert for earache ? And when Ankur was released it was said by the same people yeh tto poster hi pata chal Gaya tha ke film bahut achchi hogi !!!'

A Landmark Debut and Directorial First

'Ankur' was not only Shabana Azmi's acting debut but also the first feature directorial venture of celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who went on to define a generation of parallel Indian cinema. The film is believed to have been inspired by a real incident from Hyderabad in the 1950s, lending it a raw, grounded texture that set it apart from mainstream productions of its era.

Backed by Lalit M. Bijlani, Freni Variava, and Blaze Film Enterprises, 'Ankur' was released in theatres on 24 September 1974.

Critical Recognition and Awards

The film ultimately silenced its early detractors in emphatic fashion. 'Ankur' won three National Film Awards — for Second Best Feature Film, Best Actress for Shabana Azmi, and Best Actor for Sadhu Meher. It was also nominated for the Golden Bear at the 24th Berlin International Film Festival, placing it among a select group of Indian films to receive that recognition.

Why the Story Still Resonates

Azmi's recollection is a reminder of how radically 'Ankur' disrupted the visual and thematic grammar of Hindi cinema in the early 1970s. The parallel cinema movement, of which the film was an early flag-bearer, challenged both aesthetic conventions and social hierarchies — themes that remain relevant decades later. The irony that the same audiences who mocked the poster later claimed to have seen the film's greatness in it speaks to how taste and memory are reshaped by success. As Shabana Azmi continues to reflect on her five-decade career, such memories keep the legacy of India's new-wave cinema alive for younger audiences.