Latest news with #Kabuliwala
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Bimal Roy's restored 'Do Bigha Zamin' to premiere in Venice
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 12 (ANI): The restored 4K version of Do Bigha Zamin (1953), directed by Bimal Roy, will have its world premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. The announcement was made on what would have been Bimal Roy's 116th birth anniversary. This restoration was led by Film Heritage Foundation in partnership with The Criterion Collection and Janus Films. Members of the Roy family--including daughters Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Aparajita Roy Sinha, and son Joy Bimal Roy--will be present at the festival along with Film Heritage Foundation director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of Film Heritage. Do Bigha Zamin is widely regarded as a landmark in Indian cinema. It was the first Indian film to win the Prix International at the Cannes Film Festival in 1954. The film also earned recognition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and won Best Film and Best Director at the first Filmfare Awards in India. The restoration process began in 2022 and took over three years to complete. Original negatives held by the National Film Archive of India and the British Film Institute were used to restore the film. Gulzar, who started his career in films by assisting Bimal Roy during the production of the 1961 Kabuliwala film in a press note said, 'The most important element is that all his films right from the Bengali ones which he made and the Hindi films which he made, all these films were based on literature. Not many people know that 'Do Bigha Zamin' is from a poem by Rabindranath Tagore, which was also called 'Do Bigha Zamin'. The script was done by Salil Choudhury. I started working with Bimal-da, who we used to call Dada, from the film 'Kabuliwala' when I was his chief assistant.' The film, inspired by Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves, tells the story of a poor farmer who moves to the city with his son in a desperate attempt to save his land. It is known for its realistic portrayal of urban poverty and rural displacement, and for Balraj Sahni's critically acclaimed performance. Bimal Roy, considered one of India's most important filmmakers, was known for combining strong social themes with poetic storytelling. His work helped shape the Golden Age of Indian cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. He passed away in 1966 at the age of 56. (ANI)
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Bimal Roys restored Do Bigha Zamin to premiere in Venice
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 12 (ANI): The restored 4K version of Do Bigha Zamin (1953), directed by Bimal Roy, will have its world premiere at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. The announcement was made on what would have been Bimal Roy's 116th birth anniversary. This restoration was led by Film Heritage Foundation in partnership with The Criterion Collection and Janus Films. Members of the Roy family--including daughters Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Aparajita Roy Sinha, and son Joy Bimal Roy--will be present at the festival along with Film Heritage Foundation director Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of Film Heritage. Do Bigha Zamin is widely regarded as a landmark in Indian cinema. It was the first Indian film to win the Prix International at the Cannes Film Festival in 1954. The film also earned recognition at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and won Best Film and Best Director at the first Filmfare Awards in India. The restoration process began in 2022 and took over three years to complete. Original negatives held by the National Film Archive of India and the British Film Institute were used to restore the film. Gulzar, who started his career in films by assisting Bimal Roy during the production of the 1961 Kabuliwala film in a press note said, "The most important element is that all his films right from the Bengali ones which he made and the Hindi films which he made, all these films were based on literature. Not many people know that 'Do Bigha Zamin' is from a poem by Rabindranath Tagore, which was also called 'Do Bigha Zamin'. The script was done by Salil Choudhury. I started working with Bimal-da, who we used to call Dada, from the film 'Kabuliwala' when I was his chief assistant." The film, inspired by Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves, tells the story of a poor farmer who moves to the city with his son in a desperate attempt to save his land. It is known for its realistic portrayal of urban poverty and rural displacement, and for Balraj Sahni's critically acclaimed performance. Bimal Roy, considered one of India's most important filmmakers, was known for combining strong social themes with poetic storytelling. His work helped shape the Golden Age of Indian cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. He passed away in 1966 at the age of 56. (ANI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Restored Do Bigha Zamin to premiere at Venice
Do Bigha Zamin (1953) marked a turning point in . While most films of that era were shot within the confines of a studio, director broke the mould and took the camera to the streets, paving the way for realism in Indian filmmaking. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Now the film, restored by the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), the Criterion Collection and Janus Films, will be screened at the Venice Film Festival's Classics section. Gulzar, who worked with Roy, spoke to us about the film's legacy. 'It's amazing that Do Bigha Zamin is restored and will be shown in Venice. The most important element is that all of his films were based on literature. Not many people know that Do Bigha Zamin is based on a poem by Rabindranath Tagore, with the same title.' How was the film restored Do Bigha Zamin was restored in 4K by the Criterion Collection and Janus Films, in collaboration with Film Heritage Foundation, at L'Immagine Ritrovata and Resillion, and in association with the Bimal Roy family. The restoration process took over three years. It began in 2022, when the Criterion Collection/Janus Films and Film Heritage Foundation initiated the project. The FHF accessed the original camera negative and sound negative, which had been deposited by the Bimal Roy family at the NFDC–National Film Archive of India (NFAI) for preservation. However, the sound negative presented several issues, including poor audio quality, interrupted dialogues, and missing sections. The original camera negative was also incomplete. A combined dupe negative - on Dupont/Kodak stock from 1954–55 was found at the British Film Institute (BFI) which was also used for the restoration The restoration drew from the best surviving elements the 35 mm picture and sound negatives preserved at NFAI and the 35 mm combined dupe negative from the BFI. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bimal da was the coolest director I have ever seen: Gulzar I started working with Bimalda, who we used to call Dada, from the film 'Kabuliwala' when I was his chief assistant. I have very fond memories of that time. People would say that Bimal-da was like a married print. In those days, the picture and sound negatives were separate and when they were brought together optically to make the release print, it would be called a married print. Bimal-da would shoot two shifts in a day – 7 am to 2 pm and 2 pm to 10 pm and would then sit in the editing room working till late night at Mohan Studios. People would say that he is married to films. Bimal da was the coolest director I have ever seen. I learnt not only filmmaking from him, but the art of patience and stamina. I am sharing a poetic portrait that I wrote on Bimal-da. "The softly flowing river face shrouded in the evening mists Eyes burning in the mistiness of a tawny visage The spiral of smoke from the endlessly burning cigarette The faraway voice heavy with sleep. Shadowed below unknown thoughts that flew above A face that seemed etched out of molten wax The sound of every new dream transforms him Making it seem he would neither sleep, nor wake, nor speak A silent flowing river shrouded in evening mists." (From the book 'Caged . . .Memories Have Names') Do Bigha Zamin changed the face of Indian cinema 'Do Bigha Zamin changed the face of Indian cinema: Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of Film Heritage Foundation Do Bigha Zamin changed the face of Indian cinema that brought filmmakers out of the studio to begin shooting on the streets. I am so happy that we were able to collaborate with The Criterion Collection / Janus Films to restore not only Do Bigha Zamin, but other classics of Bimal Roy like Devdas, Madhumati and Bandini, which are in the process of being restored.' Do Bigha Zamin, is an unspoken autobiography of Bimal Roy: Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Aparajita Roy Sinha, Joy Bimal Roy After watching Vittorio De Sica's film Bicycle Thieves, our father hoped Indian films would follow its deeply moving humanist vision. Do Bigha Zamin, is an unspoken autobiography of Bimal Roy who was cast off from his home in East Bengal in a similar episode like the hero, peasant, Sambhu Mahato. He never recovered from this cruel separation from his beloved birthplace. Satyajit Ray on 'Do Bigha Zamin' 'With his very first film Udayer Pathe (Humrahi in Hindi), Bimal Roy was able to sweep aside the cobwebs of the old tradition and introduce a realism and subtlety that was wholly suited to the cinema. He was undoubtedly a pioneer. He reached his peak with a film that still reverberates in the minds of those who saw it when it was first made. I refer to Do Bigha Zamin, which remains one of the landmarks of Indian cinema.' Raj Kapoor on 'Do Bigha Zamin' Perhaps the best compliment came from Raj Kapoor, who upon watching the film, reportedly said, 'I wish I had made this film.'
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
‘It's not just a story; it's an emotion': Bimal Roy's ‘Kabuliwala' returns on stage
MUMBAI: There are some stories that slip through the cracks of time and still stay with us, like the scent of old books or the sound of a lullaby. Rabindranath Tagore's 'Kabuliwala' is one such tale—quietly profound, heartbreakingly human. First published in 1892, this tender short story explores the unlikely bond between a little Bengali girl named Mini and an Afghan door-to-door dry-fruit seller, Rahmat. Set in colonial Calcutta, the narrative delicately weaves themes of longing, fatherhood, and the universality of human emotion. Through the Kabuliwala's affection for Mini—reminiscent of the daughter he left behind in Kabul—Tagore crafts a poignant meditation on love, loss and the invisible threads that connect cultures and continents. Bimal Roy's namesake cinematic gem that brought Tagore's work to life in 1961, starring Balraj Sahni in one of his most poignant roles, also stood out for Salil Chowdhury's haunting score, including the immortal 'Aye mere pyaare watan', and Roy's understated yet evocative direction, transcending its period setting to offer a timeless reflection on love, exile and the ties that bind. This cornerstone of Indian parallel cinema now finds its own unique tribute in a stage adaptation which is opening Prithvi Theatre's Summertime – the vibrant annual celebration of children's theatre, workshops and storytelling, transforming the iconic space into a lively hub of creativity, curiosity and youthful imagination through the summer holidays. Befittingly this official stage adaptation of 'Kabuliwala' brings together legacies -- Parikshit Sahni, son of Balraj Sahni, and Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, daughter of Bimal Roy, conceived this production as a tribute not just to their legendary fathers, but to the enduring power of storytelling itself. The play was first staged in 2011, when Gurudev's sesquicentennial was being observed. It ran for a few shows between 2011 and 2012, but the production was aborted as the artiste who played young Mini, Twisha Baunthiyal, grew up and the actor who played Rahmat, Aasif Shaikh, became busy with television. 'Our fathers worked together, believed in socially conscious art through IPTA (Indian People's Theatre Organisation),' says Bhattacharya. 'This felt like a natural way to honour that legacy. But more than that, it was about bringing this story back to the stage, for children and adults alike, with all its emotional beauty intact.' The play is directed by veteran theatre director Ramesh Talwar, whose own IPTA roots run deep. 'When Rinki approached me with Parikshit, it didn't take long to say yes,' he says. ''Kabuliwala' is not just a story—it's an emotion. And the way audiences still respond to it proves how timeless Tagore's writing is.' Reminiscing about the first stage production, Talwar says, 'We had a great run till 2012 when Twisha grew up and could no longer play Mini. Since we couldn't find a perfect replacement, we had to stop.' In the present adaptation for Prithvi's Summertime, Vikas Rawat ('Runaway Brides', 'Bansuri Jab Gaane Lage') steps into the shoes of Rahmat. 'There's a stillness to Rahmat, a quiet dignity that makes him unforgettable,' says Rawat. 'I didn't want to copy Sahni sahab, but I let his spirit guide me. It's humbling to carry this role.' Through the rehearsals, young Anam Pandey, who plays Mini, lit up the stage garnering applause from the cast and crew. 'I didn't know the story before the rehearsals,' she admits shyly. 'But now I love it. I call Vikas uncle 'Kabuliwala' even offstage!' Niraj and Ankita Pandey, who play Mini's parents, speak of the emotional charge of getting under the skin of their characters. 'There's something about this story that brings a lump to your throat,' says Niraj. 'When Rahmat meets Mini after years the audience goes silent.' Set to the haunting melodies from the original film — 'Aye mere pyaare watan', 'Ganga aaye kahan se', and 'Kabuliwala'— the play is as much about sound and sentiment as it is about spoken word. 'We didn't want to modernise it just for the sake of it,' says Talwar. 'The music is soul. Without it, the play would be half-empty.' Twisha Baunthiyal, who appears in a bit role at the end as the adult Mini, offers the thread of memory that ties the past to the present. 'When I entered in the final scene at the dress rehearsal, I saw people wiping tears,' she shares. 'It's beautiful—how this story still moves people, no matter how many times they've heard it.' For Bhattacharya, the real success will lie in the reaction of young audiences. 'As schoolchildren we watched this film wide-eyed. We are hoping to elicit the same reaction as it's this could be their first brush with Tagore. If this play becomes their doorway into Indian literature, I think we're doing something right,' she says. Kabuliwala will be staged at Prithvi Theatre on May 1 and 2, 2025.
