Bimal Roy Film Festival - Bandini: Events in Hyderabad

Watch one of India's finest actresses ever, create some visual poetry.

The Bimal Roy Centenary Committee, in collaboration with Moving Images and the Hyderabad Film Club, is organising a film festival of the legendary director the late Bimal Roy, from 29th to 31st January, at Prasads IMAX and Cinemax.

A total of 9 films - Devdas, Do Bigha Zameen, Parakh, Yahudi, Madhumati, Bandini, Sujata, Udayer Pathey and Parineeta, and a documentary titled Remembering Bimal Roy, will be screened during the 3-day festival. Bandini will be screened on 30th January, at Prasads IMAX.

Bandini is a 1963 Hindi film directed and produced by Bimal Roy, and stars Nutan giving one of her career's finest performances, along with Ashok Kumar and Dharmendra as leads. The movie tells the story of Kalyani (Nutan), the all-suffering, selfless, sacrificing, and strong yet weak Indian woman. She must make a choice between two very different men - Devendra (Dharmendra), the loving prison doctor; and Bikash (Ashok Kumar), a man from her past.

The story is based on a book by Jarasandha, a former jail superintendent who wrote fictional versions of his experiences in Louha-Kapat (1953), Tamasha (1958), Nyaydanda (1961). The movie is specially known for some of its memorable songs that are still popular.

Bandini was the 10th highest grosser of the year. It was declared a 'Semi Hit' at the Indian Box Office, though it received not just critical acclaim but also sweeped that year's Filmfare Awards, winning 6 awards in all including the top awards of Best Film and Best Director, as well as Best Actress. It is still considered a landmark movie of the 60s, especially being the last major outing of film director Bimal Roy, a master of realism

Bimal Roy (12 July 1909 - 7 January 1966) was one of the most acclaimed Hindi film directors of all time. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films like Do Bigha Zameen, Parineeta, Biraj Bahu, Madhumati, Sujata, and Bandini, making him a significant part of Hindi cinema.

Roy was born to a Bengali family in Dhaka, and after India's independence, moved to India. He entered cinema as a camera assistant with New Theatres Pvt. Ltd, during which time he assisted director P C Barua on the 1935 hit Devdas starring K.L. Saigal. He then went on to win a number of awards throughout his career - including 11 Filmfare Awards, a National Film Award, and the International Prize of the Cannes Film Festival.

Entry is free for everyone, and passes are available one hour before each screening. Please contact 98496-16063 / 93910-202 for further details.