Bimal Roy

Bimal Roy was born on July 12 in the year 1909 was a very famous film director of Bollywood. He died on January 7, 1966. Bimal Roy hailed from a Bengali Baidya family in Suapur, Dhaka, an area that was part of East Bengal and Assam during British India and is now in Bangladesh. His roots go back to this ethnically rich environment.

Bimal Roy made significant strides in both Bengali and Hindi films, leaving a lasting mark on the film industry. He has been recognized for his powerful contribution to cinema, especially his portrayal of reality and social issues in films like Do Bigha Zamin, Parineeta, Biraj Bahu, Devdas, Madhumati, Sujata, Parakh and Bandini, making him an important figure in Hindi Movie.

Roy was inspired by Italian neorealist cinema and specifically created Do Bigha Zam after being inspired by Vittorio De Sica's movie Bicycle Thieves (1948). His knowledge of film production was evident in his careful use of mise en scène, the stage method applied to show reality in his films.

In his long career, Bimal Roy has won many awards including eleven Filmfare Awards, two National Film Awards and the prestigious International Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Released in 1958, Madhumati won an amazing nine Filmfare Awards, holding the record for 37 years. Roy's reputation is testament to his unparalleled influence in Indian cinema.

Career

Bimal Roy's journey into the world of cinema began when he moved to Calcutta and joined New Theatres Pvt. Ltd. who initially worked as a camera assistant. His introduction to the world of cinema came from a collaboration with director P.C. Barua as a publicity photographer for the famous 1935 film "Devdas," staring the legendary K.L. Saigal. That experience marked the beginning of Roy's cinematic journey. During the 1940s and 1950s, Bimal Roy played a key part in the rival film movement in post-war India.

His role included adding to "Anjangarh" (1948), one of the last big shows of New Theatres. However, as the film industry in Kolkata witnessed a decline, Roy made a strategic move to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1950, accompanied by his talented team, including Hrishikesh Mukherjee (editor), Nabendu Ghosh (screenwriter), Asit Sen (assistant director), Kamal Bose (cinematographer), and later, Salil Chaudhury (music director). By 1952, he kickstarted the second part of his career with "Maa" (1952) under the name of Bombay Talkies.

Renowned for his romantic-realist melodramas, Bimal Roy's films successfully handled important social problems while ensuring entertainment value. His filmmaking method showed a deep knowledge of human strengths and flaws, making him a notable director of his age. In 1959, Roy was honored as a member of the jury at the 1st Moscow International Film Festival, further solidifying his international reputation.

Tragically, Bimal Roy died of cancer on January 7, 1966, at the age of 56. He left behind a legacy survived by his four children: girls Rinki Bhattacharya, Yashodhara Roy, and Aparajita Sinha, as well as his only son, Joy Roy. Despite family difficulties, his elder daughter, Rinki Bhattacharya, married director Basu Bhattacharya, resulting in the birth of the actress and script writer Aditya Bhattacharya. Today, Rinki Bhattacharya heads the Bimal Roy Memorial Committee, continuing to protect and enjoy the lasting memory of this film master. Additionally, his great-granddaughter Drisha Acharya has made her own ties by marrying Karan Deol.

Awards

Bimal Roy's excellent efforts to film have been widely recognized through a variety of awards.

Filmfare Awards:

• 1953: He got Best Film for "Do Bigha Zamin"
• 1953: He got Best Director for "Do Bigha Zamin"
• 1954: He got Best Director for "Parineeta"
• 1955: He got Best Director for "Biraj Bahu"
• 1958: He got Best Film for "Madhumati"
• 1958: He got Best Director for "Madhumati"
• 1959: He got Best Film for "Sujata"
• 1959: He got Best Director for "Sujata"
• 1960: He got Best Director for "Parakh"
• 1963: He got Best Film for "Bandini"
• 1963: He got Best Director for "Bandini"

National Film Awards:

• 1953: For his film -"Do Bigha Zamin", He received All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film
• 1954: For his film -"Biraj Bahu", He received All India Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film
• 1955: For his film- "Devdas", He received Certificate of Merit for Best Feature Film in Hindi
• 1958: He got President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi - "Madhumati"
• 1959: He received All India Certificate of Merit for the Third Best Feature Film - "Sujata"
• 1963: for his film -"Bandini", He also received Best Feature Film in Hindi

Cannes Film Festival:

• for "Do Bigha Zamin", He received International Prize in 1953
• for "Do Bigha Zamin" he was Nominated for Grand Prize of the Festival in 1953
• in 1955 for "Biraj Bahu" and in 1960 for "Sujata" he was Nominated for Palme d'Or

These awards are a testament to Bimal Roy's ability and the lasting effect of his film works on the world stage.

Music

Bimal Roy was known for his discerning musical decisions and often worked with famous music directors such as Salil Chowdhury and S.D. Burman. His films held a collection of charming and unforgettable songs, performed by the top backup singers of that era. Some famous tunes from Roy's movie collection include:

• Talat Mahmood's song "Jalte Hain Jiske Liye" from "Sujata" (1959).
• "Chali Radhe Rani" from "Parineeta" (1953).
• Lata Mangeshkar's "Aa Ri Aa Nindiya" from "Do Bigha Zamin" (1953).
• song sung by Lata Mangeshkar, "Ab Aage Teri Marzi" from "Devdas" (1955).
• "Aan Milo Aan Milo Shyam Sabere" from "Devdas" (1955), a joint classic by S.D. Burman, featuring singing by Manna Dey and Geeta Dutt.
• "Dil Tadap Tadap Ke Keh Raha" from "Madhumati" (1958), written by Salil Chowdhury and sung by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar.
• "Suhana Safar Aur Yeh Mausam Haseen" from "Madhumati" (1958), an emotional performance by Mukesh, set to music by Salil Chowdhury.
• "Aaja Re Pardesi" from "Madhumati" (1958).
• "Ghadi Ghadi Mora Dil Dhadake" from "Madhumati" (1958).
• "Zulmi Sang Aankh Ladi" from "Madhumati" (1958), a Lata Mangeshkar song made by Salil Chowdhury.
• "O Sajana Barkha Bahaar" from "Parakh" (1960)
• "Mora Gora Ang Lai Le" from "Bandini" (1963), a classic by S.D. Burman with Lata Mangeshkar offering her engaging singing.

These classic songs showcase Bimal Roy's keen musical senses and add to the lasting charm of his film works.

Influence

Bimal Roy's influence echoed deeply, leaving a lasting mark on both Indian and worldwide film. Within the world of Indian cinema, his impact spread across popular commercial Hindi pictures and the emerging Parallel Cinema movement. His film "Do Bigha Zamin" (1953) achieved a rare success by smoothly mixing artistic and business elements, marking an important moment in the history of Indian cinema. The film earned both financial success and critical praise, winning the International Prize at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival. This success opened the way for the Indian New Wave, changing the film environment.

In the world of commercial film, perhaps Bimal Roy's most important directing effort was "Madhumati" (1958), a partnership with Ritwik Ghatak, who added to the script. This film, one of the earliest to explore the theme of rebirth, is thought to have inspired numerous later works in Indian and possibly world cinema. Its effect is obvious in films like the American movie "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud" (1975) and the Hindi film "Karz" (1980), both digging into the theme of reincarnation and leaving a lasting influence on their respective cultures. "Karz" was remade multiple times, and its effect even stretched to the American film "Chances Are" (1989).

The Bollywood hit "Om Shanti Om" (2007) drew direct inspiration from "Madhumati," leading to legal worries made by Bimal Roy's daughter, Rinki Bhattacharya, who accused the film of copying. Bimal Roy's impact goes beyond his directorial skills; he played a crucial role in developing talent, giving breaks to rising stars like Asha Parekh, Sona Mastan Mirza, Baby Farida, and Baby Sonu (Bablani), who went on to achieve fame in the industry.

The timeless attraction of Bimal Roy's films continues, as they continue to be presented at big national and foreign film events in India, Europe, and North America. The National Film Archive of India (NFAI) in Pune is actively involved in repairing and scanning his pictures, protecting his filmmaking accomplishments. In recognition of his enduring impact, the Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai, hosted an exhibition in July 2014 titled "Bimal Roy: Life & Times," featuring screenings of iconic films like "Madhumati," "Sujata," and "Bandini," along with film posters, costumes, and memorabilia, including the Arriflex camera used to shoot "Devdas" and "Sujata."

Furthermore, the Bimal Roy Memorial Trophy, established in 1997 by the Bimal Roy Memorial & Film Society, is a yearly tribute celebrating both seasoned artists and other participants from the Indian film industry, as well as awarding great young directors who show promise and ability. This ongoing praise demonstrates Bimal Roy's lasting impact on the film environment of India.

A postage stamp, showing his face, was released by India Post to celebrate him on 8 January 2007.

Films

As a Director:

Bimal Roy's directing journey is marked by a varied array of pictures, showing his flexibility and skill.

• He directed "Bengal Famine," an English-language picture in 1943.
• In 1944, he directed, wrote, and served as the photographer for the Bengali film "Udayer Pathey."
• In 1945, he worked on "Hamrahi" for New Theatres, serving as a writer and photographer.
• "Anjangarh" (1948), "Mantramugdhu" (1949), and "Pehla Aadmi" (1950) were also part of his early directing efforts.
• The year 1952 saw the release of "Maa."
• "Parineeta" (1953) won him the Filmfare Award for Best Director.
• "Do Bigha Zamin" (1953).
• "Biraj Bahu" (1954), directed by Hiten Choudhury, brought him another Filmfare Award for Best Director.
• "Naukari" (1955), created by Bimal Roy Productions, and "Baap Beti" (1954) were part of his directing efforts.
• In 1955, he directed "Devdas," a self-produced picture.
• "Madhumati" (1958), created by Bimal Roy Productions, emerged as the highest-grossing film of 1958, winning nine Filmfare Awards, a record unchanged for 37 years. The story was created by Rwitwick Ghatak.
• "Yahudi" (1958), created by Savak B. Vacha, was another important addition.
• "Sujata" (1959), directed by Bimal Roy, won him the Filmfare Award for Best Director.
• In 1960, he directed "Parakh."
• "Bandini" (1963), created by Bimal Roy, won six Filmfare Awards, including Best Film and Best Director.
• In 1964, he directed "Life and Message of Swami Vivekananda."

Additionally, his early work includes the 1941 documentary "Tins for India." Bimal Roy's addition to filmmaking covers multiple languages and genres, making him an important figure in the Indian film business.

As a Producer:

• In 1955, he created "Amanat" directed by Aravind Sen.
• The following year, in 1956, "Parivar," directed by Asit Sen, was one of his works.
• "Apradhi Kaun" was made in 1957.
• In 1960, Bimal Roy created "Usne Kaha Tha," directed by Moni Bhattacharjee.
• The year 1961 saw two of his works, "Kabuliwala" directed by Hemen Gupta and "Benazir" directed by S. Khalil.
• In 1967, he helped with the creation of "Gautama the Buddha," directed by Rajbans Khanna, under the Films Division of India.

As an Editor:

• In 1949, he worked as an editor on "Mahal," directed by Kamal Amrohi.
• The year 1960 saw his editing part in "Kalpana," directed by R.K. Rakhan.
• In 1951, he served as the director for "Deedar," directed by Nitin Bose.
• In 1962, "Umeed" highlighted his editing skills.
• "Nartaki" and "Meri Surat Teri Ankhen" in 1963 were among his editing projects, with the latter directed by R.K. Rakhan.

As a Cameraman:

• In his early years as a junior cameraman, Bimal Roy worked on "Chandidas" in 1934, directed by Nitin Bose.
• In the same year, he worked as an assistant photographer for "Daku Mansoor."
• The famous film "Devdas" (1935), directed by Pramathesh Barua, starred Bimal Roy as a cinematographer.
• Throughout the late 1930s and 1940s, he worked on different films as a cameraman, including "Grihadah," "Maya," "Mukti," "Abhagin," "Bardidi," "Abhinetri," and "Meenakshi."

Bimal Roy's varied jobs in film Direction, production, editing, and photography highlight his multiple services to the Indian film business.

Bimal Roy, a star in Indian film, left a lasting mark as a director, producer, editor, and photographer. His directorial ability produced famous films such as "Do Bigha Zamin" and "Madhumati," bridging art and mainstream cinema. As a director, he directed various films, including "Kabuliwala" and "Gautama the Buddha." Roy's editing skill graced classics like "Mahal" and "Deedar," while his early cinematographic work showed his ability in films like "Devdas." A trendsetter, his impact stretches beyond awards and honours, changing the world of Indian film and winning him lasting respect.