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India Today
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin to be screened in 4K at Venice Film Festival 2025
The 2025 Venice Film Festival will present a 4K restored version of Bimal Roy's 1953 classic, 'Do Bigha Zamin', marking its importance in global cinema. The screening coincides with Roy's 116th birth anniversary and is part of the Venice Classics section alongside other cinematic masterpieces.'Bimal Roy's children, Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Aparajita Roy Sinha, and Joy Bimal Roy, along with Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, will present the film. The restoration is a collaboration between the Film Heritage Foundation, The Criterion Collection, and Janus Films,' noted the festival organisers. This collaboration aims to preserve the legacy of Roy's work for future lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar, who worked with Roy as an assistant director, praised the initiative. He said, "It's amazing that 'Do Bigha Zamin' is restored and will be shown in Venice. This film is historic as it changed the way films were made in India. After Chetan Anand's 'Neecha Nagar' which won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, this was the second Indian film to win at the Cannes Film Festival and receive international recognition." The film, based on a poem by Rabindranath Tagore and scripted by Salil Choudhury, tells the story of a farmer's struggle with industrialisation. Gulzar highlighted, "The most important element is that all his based on literature." This literary foundation added depth and resonance to his cinematic Singh Dungarpur remarked on Bimal Roy's influence, saying, "In his films I was struck by the poetic visuals, the silences, the deep humanism and compassion... For me Do Bigha Zamin changed the face of Indian cinema." Dungarpur was introduced to Roy's work during his time with expressed excitement about collaborating on the restoration of other Roy classics, including 'Devdas', 'Madhumati', and 'Bandini'. The restoration showcases the enduring relevance of Roy's films, addressing themes like the urban-rural divide and issues surrounding migrant importance of the film extends to its production style. As Gulzar recalled, "People would say that Bimal-da was like a married print... He learnt not only filmmaking from him, but the art of patience and stamina." This dedication to craft was evident in his meticulous approach to family of Bimal Roy expressed their joy about the screening, stating it is a "dream come true for us". The event underlines the impact of 'Do Bigha Zamin' on Indian cinema and its enduring legacy, celebrating the timeless art of storytelling.- EndsYou May Also Like
India.com
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This 2 hour 11 minute blockbuster earned 7 times its budget, now making a comeback on big screen after..,film is.., lead actors are...
This 2 hour 11 minute blockbuster earned 7 times its budget, now making a comeback on big screen after..,film is.., lead actors are... In the ever-evolving world of cinema, many films come and go. But there are a few rare gems that remain etched in the hearts of the audience for years to come. One such similar tale is of a film that came 72 years ago, but its compelling storyline, emotional plot still resonate with the audience. Now this film is all geared up to return to the screen after 72 years, bringing back the nostalgia. Do Bigha Zameen The film that we are talking about is none other than Do Bigha Zamin. The film was released in 1953 and was directed and produced by the legendary Bimal Roy. The plot of the film revolved around the common man's struggle, where a poor farmer (Shambhu) was fighting against injustice to save his small piece of land. The lead role was played by Balraj Sahni, who stayed true to his character and even pulled a hand rickshaw on the streets of Kolkata during the shoot. The film was inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali poem Dui Bigha Jomi. How much did it earn? The film turned out to be a superhit, not just commercially but also critically. Made on a humble budget of Rs 10 lakhs, the film collected Rs 70 lakhs at the box office, earning almost 7 times its cost. It got a rating of 8.3 on IMDb. The film won many awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Film and Best Director, and an international prize at the Cannes Film Festival. It also received honours at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, putting Indian cinema on the global map. Where is it returning? Now this film is all set to make its comeback. This cinematic gem will be restored in 4K at the Venice Film Festival under the 'Venice Classics' section. The special screening will be presented by none other than Bimal Roy's children. Do Bigha Zamin still resonates with the audience today for its strong storyline, emotional plot and impeccable performance by not just Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy, but also talents like Meena Kumari, Murad, Jagdeep, and Nazir Hussain.
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First Post
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Venice Film Festival to screen 4K restored version of Bimal Roy's 'Do Bigha Zamin'
The presentation in Venice will be led by members of the Bimal Roy family— daughters Rinki Roy Bhattacharya and Aparajita Roy Sinha, his son Joy Bimal Roy—as well as Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director of the Film Heritage Foundation read more The Venice Film Festival has officially announced that the newly restored 4K version of Bimal Roy's iconic masterpiece, 'Do Bigha Zamin' (1953), will receive its world premiere at the 2025 edition of the festival. The announcement coincides with the 116th birth anniversary of Bimal Roy, the visionary director who was at the forefront of the Golden Age of Indian Cinema during the 1950s and 1960s. The presentation in Venice will be led by members of the Bimal Roy family—his daughters Rinki Roy Bhattacharya and Aparajita Roy Sinha, his son Joy Bimal Roy—as well as Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director of the Film Heritage Foundation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This landmark restoration is the result of a collaborative effort between not-for-profit organisation Film Heritage Foundation, The Criterion Collection and Janus Films. 'Do Bigha Zamin', celebrated as the first Indian film to win the prestigious Prix International at the Cannes Film Festival in 1954, also received honors at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and secured both Best Film and Best Director Awards at the inaugural Filmfare Awards in India. Gulzar states, 'It's amazing that 'Do Bigha Zamin' is restored and will be shown in Venice. This film is historic as it changed the way films were made in India. After Chetan Anand's 'Neecha Nagar' which won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, this was the second Indian film to win at the Cannes Film Festival and receive international recognition. 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. 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 Roy was the coolest director I have ever seen. I learnt not only filmmaking from him, but the art of patience and stamina. Shivendra Dungarpur, your work through Film Heritage Foundation is beyond filmmaking. You are the director of directors and maker of makers.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director, Film Heritage Foundation states, 'When I was working as an assistant to Gulzarsaheb, he would often speak about his guru Bimal Roy. This spurred me to watch all his films right from the time he was a cameraman on P.C. Barua's 'Devdas' to his first Bengali film as a director 'Udayer Pathey' to 'Do Bigha Zamin'. In his films I was struck by the poetic visuals, the silences, the deep humanism and compassion that he showed in the social themes of his films that highlighted the plight of the marginalized, the issues of migrant labour, and the urban-rural divide that are still so relevant today. For me '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.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Bimal Roy family comprising of Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Aparajita Roy Sinha, Joy Bimal Roy states, 'Today, on our father's 116th birthday, the announcement that the restoration of his film 'Do Bigha Zamin' has been selected for a world premiere at the Venice Film Festival is a dream come true for us. This would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of Film Heritage Foundation and Fumiko Takagi of the Criterion Collection. Our heartfelt thanks to both of them for their unwavering dedication to restoring and celebrating cinema. 'Do Bigha Zamin' is especially fitting for this prestigious platform, as it holds a unique connection with Italian cinema. After watching Vittorio De Sica's film 'Bicycle Thieves', our father hoped Indian cinema 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 as the hero, peasant, Sambhu Mahato. He never recovered from this cruel separation from his beloved birthplace. In the brief lifetime accorded to our father, he transformed the profile of Indian cinema and was able to stir collective consciousness with his cinematic parables. Our father was a silent cinema poet and a visionary of profound humanism whose work shall continue to act as a beacon whenever dark forces threaten.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Bimal Roy's ‘Do Bigha Zamin' to be showcased in the 4k glory at the Venice Film Festival
In honor of Bimal Roy 's 116th birthday, a 4K restored version of his 1953 masterpiece Do Bigha Zamin will be shown at the 2025 Venice Film Festival. The 2025 edition of the Venice Film Festival is set to showcase a 4K restored version of 'Do Bigha Zamin", the 1953 classic directed by acclaimed filmmaker Bimal Roy. Under the Venice Classics section, "Do Bigha Zamin," or "Two Acres of Land" in English, is one of a select group of restored cinematic masterpieces that also includes Pedro Almodovar's "Matador," Giuseppe De Santis' "Roma Ore 11," Krzysztof Kieślowski's "Przypadek," and Stanley Kubrick's "Lolita." The screening will be presented by Roy's children — Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Aparajita Roy Sinha, and Joy Bimal Roy — along with Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of the Film Heritage Foundation. The restoration is a collaborative effort between the Film Heritage Foundation, The Criterion Collection, and Janus Films. Acclaimed lyricist and filmmaker Gulzar welcomed the announcement, calling the film 'historic." 'It's amazing that 'Do Bigha Zamin' is restored and will be shown in Venice. This film is historic as it changed the way films were made in India. After Chetan Anand's 'Neecha Nagar' which won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, this was the second Indian film to win at the Cannes Film Festival and receive international recognition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Click Here Undo 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," Gulzar said, recalling the time when he started working with Roy's 1961 production 'Kabuliwala". The cinema icon said he has fond memories of the 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 Roy was the coolest director I have ever seen. I learnt not only filmmaking from him, but the art of patience and stamina," he added. "Do Bigha Zamin," starring Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy, is regarded as a significant film in India's early parallel cinema. The Bengali poem "Dui Bigha Jomi" by Rabindranath Tagore and the short narrative "Rickshawalla" by composer Salil Chowdhury served as the inspiration for the movie, which depicted the misery of a poor farmer battling industrialisation. Dungarpur said he was introduced to the works of Bimal Roy when he was working under Gulzar: 'When I was working as an assistant to Gulzarsaheb, he would often speak about his guru Bimal Roy. This spurred me to watch all his films right from the time he was a cameraman on P C Barua's 'Devdas' to his first Bengali film as a director 'Udayer Pathey' to 'Do Bigha Zamin'." 'In his films I was struck by the poetic visuals, the silences, the deep humanism and compassion that he showed in the social themes of his films that highlighted the plight of the marginalized, the issues of migrant labour, and the urban-rural divide that are still so relevant today. For me 'Do Bigha Zamin' changed the face of Indian cinema that brought filmmakers out of the studio to begin shooting on the streets," he said. Dungarpur said he is glad to collaborate with The Criterion Collection and Janus Films to restore other classics of Bimal Roy such as 'Devdas", 'Madhumati" and 'Bandini". The family of Bimal Roy said the premiere of 'Do Bigha Zamin" at the Venice Film Festival is a 'dream come true for us". 'This would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Shivendra Singh Dungarpur of Film Heritage Foundation and Fumiko Takagi of the Criterion Collection. Our heartfelt thanks to both of them for their unwavering dedication to restoring and celebrating cinema. 'Do Bigha Zamin' is especially fitting for this prestigious platform, as it holds a unique connection with Italian cinema," Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, Aparajita Roy Sinha, and Joy Bimal Roy said in a joint statement. They said Roy was deeply inspired after watching Italian filmmaker Vittorio De Sica's 1948 film 'Bicycle Thieves". 'Our father hoped Indian cinema 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 as the hero, peasant, Sambhu Mahato. He never recovered from this cruel separation from his beloved birthplace. " 'In the brief lifetime accorded to our father, he transformed the profile of Indian cinema and was able to stir collective consciousness with his cinematic parables. Our father was a silent cinema poet and a visionary of profound humanism whose work shall continue to act as a beacon whenever dark forces threaten," they added. The restoration process began in 2022 and took over three years. Initiated by The Criterion Collection and Janus Films, in collaboration with the Film Heritage Foundation, the process involved extensive repair of damaged negatives stored at the National Film Archive of India. 'Do Bigha Zamin" was the first Indian film to win the Prix International at the Cannes Film Festival in 1954. The 82nd Venice International Film Festival will run from August 27 to September 6.
India Gazette
12-07-2025
- 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)
