A personal  compliment to Bimal Roy Sahab on his 115 birth anniversary by Biman Baruah

Legendary filmmaker Bimal Roy’s films were paramount branded for pragmatic value of socialism and romanticism with poignant music. His films confined some attractive and unforgettable songs of golden era of Hindi Cinema which were harmonic by all leading playback singers of his time. The music of his films mainly composed by Salil Chowdhury and Sachin Dev Burman. Mohammed Rafi Sahab sung in his films like DO BIGHA ZAMEEN (1953), BIRAJ BAHU (1954), DEVDAS (1955), MADHUMATI (1958), YAHUDI (1958), SUJATA (1959) USNE KAHA THA (1960), KABULIWALA (1961), BENAZIR (1964) etc.

Bimal Roy was born on 12 July, 1909 into a landowner family in Suapur in East Bengal, now in Bangladesh. At the young age, he lost his father when he was a student in Jagannath College of Dhaka. He moved to Calcutta with his widowed mother and infant brothers. From childhood had a gusto for photography which paid off, so his struggle period in Calcutta did not last very long. Actor-Director, Pramathesh Chandra Baruah hails from Guaripur, Dhuburi, Assam appointed him as a still photographer for publicity of his films. After recognising his frame and overwhelmed by his keenness, Baruah took more risk by making young Bimal Roy an independent cinematographer in New Theatres Pvt. Ltd. Later on Roy also assisted director P.C. Baruah during making of bengali DEVDAS (1935)  starring Baruah himself and Hindi DEVDAS (1936) starring K.L. Saigal. All films of director P. C. Baruah (Manzil, Mukti, Adhikar, Rajat Jayanti, Zindagi at New Theatres were cinematographed by Bimal Roy. Baruah left New Theatres in 1939 and Roy made his first documentary film BENGAL FAMINE in 1943. He debuted as director with bengali film UDAYER PATHEY (1944) which was also made in Hindi as HAMRAHI (1944) produced by New Theatres. Till 1949, Roy directed several films at New Theatres and in the meantime there was a decline in Calcutta based film Industry. In 1950, Roy shifted to Bombay along with his team of editor Hrishikesh Mukherjee, screenplay writer Nabendu Ghosh, cinematographer Kamal Bose, assistant director Asit Sen and later music director Salil Chaudhury.

In Bombay, Roy became affable with Actor-Producer Ashok Kumar and on his verdict Roy directed MAA (1952) for Bombay Talkies. Then there was a downhill curve for Bombay Talkies, Ashok Kumar requested Roy to direct his own production PARINEETA (1953) starring himself and Meena Kumari based on a story of Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. In the mean time, Roy was inspired by Italian neo-realist cinema and he determined to make a real sensitive film with social root. After receiving resistance from friends, he take a challenge of film production and started his own production company, BIMAL ROY PRODUCTIONS with DO BIGHA ZAMEEN (1953).       Though he started his own production house from Do Bigha Zameen (1953), he continued directing outside films like BIRAJ BAHU (1954),  BAAP BETI (1954) and YAHUDI (1958).

A brief description of Bimal Roy Films, where our beloved Rafi Sahab sung:

1. DO BIGHA ZAMIN (1953): It was the first film produced by Bimal Roy starring Balraj Sahani and Nirupa Roy in lead role which was based on a story named “Rickshawala” penned by Salil Choudhary. The film got the title from a famous bengali poem, “Dui Bigha Jomi” by Vishwakabi Rabindranath Tagore and it was inspired by the Italian film Bicycle Thieves (1948). The film was based on a social theme that how real farmers were suffered from rapid industrialisation after independence and became an vital film of Indian parallel cinema. Though the film got judicious commercial success, music of the film penned by Salil Choudhary became very popular. Out of the four songs from the film, “Ajab Tori Duniya Ho Mere Rama” sung by Rafi Sahab with chorus was bacame a song of every common man. The other solo, “Aaja Ri Aa Nindiya Tu Aa” sung by Lata Mangeshkar and two duets “Dharti Kahe Pukaar Ke” & “Hariyaala Saawan Dhol Bajaata Aaya” sung by Manna Dey, Lata Mangeshkar & Chorus.

It was the first film to win the Filmfare Best Movie & Best Director Award in 1954 and the first Indian film to win the International Prize at Cannes Film Festival after NEECHA NAGAR (1946) by Chetan Anand. Bimal Roy Sahab also distributed the film abroad with the title “Calcutta – The Cruel City”.

2. BIRAJ BAHU (1954): It was a social drama of childless couple played by Kamini Kaushal and Abhi Bhattacharya whose poor economic condition’s undue benefit taken by rich man played by Pran. The story was based on Bengali novel penned by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, produced by Hiten Choudhury and directed by Bimal Roy. This Salil Choudhury musical’s songs were sung by Hemant Kumar, Mohd. Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar and Shyamal Mitra. Rafi Sahab’s devotional number, “Suno Seeta Ki Kahani Ke Woh Mehaloon Ki Rani, Chod Ghar Baar Gayee Banbaas Kisi Ne Kadar Na Jani” gesticulate the theme and climax of the film. The film was nominated for Cannes Film Festival and won National Award for Best Feature Film. It also won the Filmfare Best Director for Bimal Roy and Best Actress for Kamini Kaushal.

3. DEVDAS (1955): It was third film directed by Bimal Roy Sahab based on a novel penned by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. The film was Hindi debut of Suchitra Sen with high level star cast of Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Motilal, Nazir Hussain, Murad, Pratima Devi, Iftekhar, Jhoney Walker and Pran. The music of the film composed by S.D. Burman, lyrics written by Sahir Ludhianvi for nine songs sung by Mubarak Begum, Geeta Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar, Talat Mehmood, Manna Dey and Mohammed Rafi. Rafi Sahab sung “Raahi O Raahi Manzil Ki Chah Mein” with Chorus the most emotional song of the film. The song was played in the background when Suchitra Sen and Vyjayanthimala passing each other in the village lane.The film was best known for Dilip Kumar’s facial expression of depression, film’s cinematography and lighting by Kamal Bose.

Bimal Roy Sahab’s adaptation of Devdas in celluloid is one of the best out of several Devdas portrayed on screen and Indiatimes Movies ranked the film amongst the “Top 25 Must See Hindi Films” in even 2005. The film won the 3^rd National Award in 1955 for Best Feature Film in Hindi. It also won the 4^th Filmfare Award for Best Actor to Dilip Kumar, Best Supporting Actor to Motillal and Best Supporting Actress to Vyjayanthimala. But Vyjayanthimala refused to accept the award claiming that her role was not a supporting one in the film.

4.MADHUMATI (1958): It was the most flourishing and high-ranking film produced and directed by Bimal Roy Sahab. It was earliest film based on re-embodiment innovatively written by Ritwik Ghatak and Rajinder Singh Bedi starring Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Jayant, Johnny Walker, Tarun Bose and Pran. The film was memorable for two characters played by Vyjayanthimala and Pran. Vyjayanthimala was playing double role of  “Madhumati” as a tribal girl and “Radha” as a wife of Dilip Kumar in two different lifes. Pran Sahab played the role of “Ugranarayan”, a rich Timber Estate owner who is very cruel, egotistic and un-human in nature. It was also a musical hit with one dozen songs composed by Salil Choudhury in the lyrics of Shailendra. The songs were sung by Mohammed Rafi, Ghulam Mohammad, Manna Dey, Mukesh, Dwijen Mukherjee, Mubarak Begum, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle and Sabita Chowdhury. As a most versatile singer of generation, Rafi Sahab sung two different songs in the film for two different actor. The tragic number, “Toote Huye Khwabon Ne Humko Ye Shikhaaya Hai Dil Ne Jise Paayaa Thaa Aakhon Ne Gawaayan Hain” fortragedy kingDilip Kumar and the comic number, “Jungle Mein Mor Naacha Kisi Ne Na Dekha, Humne Thodi Si Peke Jhooma Sabne Dekha” for comedy king Jhonny Walker.

Bimal Roy Sahab got the National Award for Madhumati as Best Feature Film in Hindi. It also succeed nine Filmfare Awards for Best Director (Bimal Roy), Best Actor (Dilip Kumar), Best Supporting Actor (Jhonny Walker), Best Music Director (Salil Choudhury), Best Female Playback Singer (Lata Mangeshkar), Best Dialogue (Rajender Singh Bedi), Best Art Direction (Sudhendu Roy), Best Cinematography (Dilip Gupta) and Best Editing (Hrishikesh Mukherjee) which was a record for almost three decades. The film was inspiration for many films on the topic of reincarnation in Indian as well as in world cinema.

5. YAHUDI (1958): By means of title, story of the film set in the era of Roman Empire more than 2000 years ago at the time of maltreatment to Jews in Rome. The film was produced by Savak B. Vacha and directed by Bimal Roy starring Sohrab Modi, Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari, Nazir Hussain, Nigar Sultana, Helen, Murad and Anwar Hussain. It was a Shanker-Jaikishan musical with seven songs sung by Mohammed Rafi, Mukesh, Lata Mangeshkar and Geeta Dutt. The film start with high pitch Mohammed Rafi song,“Ye Duniya Hay Hamari Ye Duniya, Shaitanoon Ki Basti Hai Yeha Zindegi Sasti Hai” showingin the surroundings about punishment by Roman Empire gaurds to Jews. In this film, Shailendra Sahab won the Best lyricist Award for the song, “Yeh Mera Diwanapan Hai Ya Mohabbat Ka Surror, Tu Na Pehchane Tu Hai Yeh Teri Nazaron Ka Qusur” sung by Mukesh Sahab.

6. SUJATA (1959): The film is about Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s fight against untouchbility in India based on a Bengali short story penned by Subodh Ghosh. The film was produced and directed by Bimal Roy exploring the state of castisim in India starring Sunil Dutt, Nutan, Shashikala, Lalita Pawar, Tarun Bose, Asit Sen. It was a dashing love story between a Brahmin simple young man Adheer played by Sunil Dutt and an untouchable woman Sujata played by Nutan. Film’s music was composed by S.D. Burman, seven popular songs were written by Majrooh Sultanpuri and sung by Geeta Dutt, Asha Bhosle, S.D. Burman, Talat Mehmood and Mohammed Rafi. Rafi Sahab sung the theme song, “Andhe Ne Bhi Sapne Dekha Kya Hai Zamaana……… Waah Bhai Waah” which was played at theclimax of the film. The film was nominated for International Cannes Film Festival in 1960. It also won National Award for Third Best Feature Film and four Filmfare Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Story.

7. USENE KAHA THA (1960): Thefilm was based on a well-known Hindi short story of same name penned by Chandradhar Sharma Guleri. It was produced by Bimal Roy which was debut of director Moni Bhattacharjee and actress Indrani Mukherjee. Film starring Sunil Dutt, Nanda, Rajendra Nath, Durga Khote, Tarun Bose, Asit Sen, Leela Mishra which music was composed by Salil Choudhury and lyrics written by Shailendra. It had five different songs sung by Talat Mehmood, Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey, Sabita Choudhury and Mohammed Rafi. Rafi Sahab sung two assorted duets in the film. The male duet, “Chalte Hi Jana Ho, Jaha Tak Yeh Raah Chale” sung by Rafi-Manna Dey for Sunil Dutt and Rajendra Nath set in a bullock cart competition. The romantic duet, “Balkhaati Sharmati Aa Ja” sung by Rafi and Sabita Choudhury for Sunil Dutt and Nanda which was set in a exotic outdoor gathering.       

Though the film did not do well in the box office, it will be memorable for rebel hero Sunil Dutt was playing a role of simple Army Officer, Nandu. At the end of the film, Nandu sacrified his life in the war for saving his superier who is husband of his ex-lover Kamli played by Nanda and breathe his last saying “Usne Kaha Tha”.

8. KABULIWALA (1961): It was the most affluent version of Rabindranath Tagore’s story of same name outsie Bengal produced by Bimal Roy and directed by Hemen Gupta who was private secretary to Subhas Chandra Bose went on to direct several films like Taksaal (1956) and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (1966). It was a simple story of natural love and affection between an Afgani migrant dry-fruit seller in Calcutta played by Balraj Sahni and a young Bengali girl Mini played by Baby Farida whom he visualizes as his child in remembrance of his daughter Amina left in Kabul. Film’s four songs composed by Salil Choudhury in the lyrics of Prem Dhawan and Gulzar. The songs were sung by Hemant Kumar, Usha Mangeshkar, Manna Dey and Mohammed Rafi. Rafi Sahab sung the Afgani essence song, “O Ya Qurbaan” for Balraj Sahani who played the title role.

9. BENAZIR (1964): It was a gorgeous Muslim family drama starring Ashok Kumar, Meena Kumari, Shashi Kapoor, Tanuja, Nirupa Roy, Durga Khote, Asit Sen and Tarun Bose. It was produced by Bimal Roy and directed by S. Khalil. The title role of Benazir played by Meena Kumari who is a mistress of Nawab played by Ashok Kumar. The story clutch a twist when young Anwar played by Shashi Kapoor who is going to marry Sahida played by Tanuja started recurrent visit to Benazir to make end the affair of his elder brother. S.D. Burman composed nine songs in the lyrics of Shakeel Badayuni for the film. The songs were sung by Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. Rafi Sahab sung a stunning romantic solo, “Dil Mein Ek Jane Tamanna Ne Jagah Paayee Hai” for Shashi Kapoor. He also sung a duet with Lata, “Aa Mere Paas Aa Ke Ji Sahta Hai Tere Gale Lag Jaon” for  other artist. Benazir is memorable for commendable musical score by S.D. Burman as well as Shashi Kapoor and Tanuja playing a jovial handsome young pair for first and last time.

List of Films Produced by Bimal Roy under his own banner Bimal Roy Productions:

Bimal Roy Sahab also produced two documentary films under his own banner, first is LIFE AND MESSAGE OF SWAMI VEVEKANANDA (1964) directed by himself and second is GAUTAMA THE BUDDHA (1967) directed by Rajbans Khanna.

After Indepandence of India, there were only few filmmakers who introduced Indian Cinema to World Cinema. Within a very short span of time, filmmaker Bimal Roy pioneered among them like V. Shantaram, Mehboob Khan, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, etc. Bimal Roy Sahab’s win over in Indian as well as in world cinema is across-the-board. He was the first Indian filmmaker who mitigated gap between emerging Parallel Cinema and mainstream Commercial Hindi Cinema. His first production DO BIGHA ZAMEEN overlap the art as well as commercial cinema since it was a critical and commercial success. His great commercial success film MADHUMATI conceivably first film based on subject of reincarnation which became inspiration for many future commercial filmmakers. For instance, Subash Ghai’s KARZ (1980), Chetan Anand’s KUDRAT(1981), Rakesh Roshan’s KARAN ARJUN (1995) based on same subject of reincarnation. More recent film, OM SHANTI OM (2007) directed by Farah Khan starring producer Shahrukh Khan directly inspired by Madhumati and they replicated some plots in the film without giving recognition to Bimal Roy. In 1959, Bimal Roy Sahab was a jury member at the 1^st Moscow International Film Festival. But he did get right recognition as a filmmaker at his time since his fine art was outshined by showmanship of other filmmakers. Presently, his films are screened at major national and international film festivals of India, Europe and North America.

As a filmmaker, he had given break to new directors in his films like AMAANAT (1955), PARIVAR (1956), APRADHI KAUN ? (1957), USNE KAHA THA (1960), BENAZIR (1964) and new artists like Sadhana (Parakh, Prem Patra), Shashi Kapoor (Prem Patra, Benazir), Dharmendra (Bandini). He also known for approving unconventional roles for Nutan (Sujata, Bandini) and Sunil Dutt (Sujata, Usne Kaha Tha). After his death in 1966, his type of filmmaking continued by his assistant directors like Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Basu Bhattacharjee and Gulzar as a tradition.  

 An account of 12 popular songs from Bimal Roy films sung by other singers: –   

Both Bimal Roy and Mohammed Rafi were great human beings in their personal life and genius in professional life. Bimal Roy Sahab won six National Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi and Rafi Sahab won three National Awards for Best Playback Singer. Bimal Roy Sahab won four Filmfare Best Film Awards and seven Filmfare Best Director Awards. Similarly, Rafi Sahab won six Filmfare Best Male Singer Awards with sixteen nominations. Both the legands departed at the early age of life at 57 and 55 respectively and we are very unlucky to get benefited from their professional geniusness for more time.

Biman Baruah, the author of this article

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 14th, 2014 at 5:03 pm and is filed under Meri Awaaz Suno. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.