Do Bigha Zamin - A Bimal Roy Classic (1953)

One must have to be a die hard movie fan or just have enough patience to be able to put oneself in the seat of 50's audience in order to enjoy this path breaking - black and white classic as it unfolds the story of a farmer family to save the piece of land - "Do Bigha Zamin" (Two acres of Land) from Land lord of the village who wants to built upon a factory on large piece of land including the farmer's property.

The farmer named Shambhu Mehto played by none other than one of the most revered actor of Hindi cinema - Balraj Sahni has mortgaged his land to Landlord to run his house in the time of drought for two consecutive years.

Movie opens up with the scene where everyone is celebrating the arrival of monsoon after two years. Shambu Mehto has been dreaming of the moment, hoping to get rid of all debt but his all hopes get a jolt when Land Lord sued him in a court to claim Shambu Mehto's land in return of his failure to pay the debt.

The court grants period of three months to Shambhu to pay his debt. The rest of the movie is the struggle depicting the importance of land to the family and their efforts to save it ; in a way that one can easily be the part of each moment of Shambhu and its entire family's journey.

Balraj Sahni proved himself in one of the most challanging role of his career. Master Rattankumar delivered unarguably the most convincing performance by the child artist in a role of Shabhu's son - Kanaiyo Mehto. Nirupa roy didn't bargain in her performance as Paro Mehto - wife of Shambu mehto. Other than that Nana Palsikar, Murad ( father of actor Raza Murad) portraying Gangu Mehto (father of Shambu), Land lord respectively are equally realistic in their performances.

Earlier, I referred the movie as path breaking because when you observe the minute details of direction, camera work, editing and screenplay - the movie stood out as exemplary work for the following movie makers for decades.

Bimal Roy grabbed the Best Director award in first ever Filmfare award* in 1954 for his incontrovertibly commendable work on celluloid. Definitely among his three best movies.

The movie also grabbed the filmfare award for Best Film and national certificate for the best film in the year 1954.

Music score by Salil Choudhury is enjoyable in particular lullaby by Lata Mangeshkar - Aaja ri aa Nindiya aa is still considered as one of the most beautifully composed lullaby. Download songs from the following link.

http://www.salilda.com/filmsongs/hindi/dobigha.asp

Hrishikesh Mukerjee who later on became well known movie director contributed as Editor and Screenplay writer in the movie.

A simple, poetic emotions very well captured,executed and translated to the medium of celluloid. Indeed we are indebted to Bimal Da for the classic. :)

* Fimfare Award is the oldest award granted since 1954 in the hindi film industry aka Bollywood and considered as equivalent to Academy awards (Oscar).