Bimal Roy Film Festival - Devdas: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR BIMAL ROY FILM FESTIVAL...

Much before Sanjay Leela Bhansali set the pathos of a sozzled Deva against melodramatic shehnai strains and a medley of grandiose sets and even weightier costumes passing off as Calcutta, the story was told very, very differently.

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 screened during the 3-day festival.

Devdas will be screened on 29th January, at Cinemax. Devdas is a 1955 film directed by Bimal Roy, based on the Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay novel of the same name. In 2005, Indiatimes Movies ranked the movie amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films.

Childhood sweethearts, Devdas (Dilip Kumar) and Parvati or Paro (Suchitra Sen) grow up in a small village with a love-hate relationship which changes to love when they mature. Devdas comes from a very rich and wealthy family. His dad does not approve of his marriage or even of any friendship with Paro, and sends him away to Calcutta. Disheartened, Devdas gives up on his love, and Paro gets married to a much older man, who has a grown-up son and daughter. Devdas realises he is unable to give up his love for Paro and returns to the village, only to find that she is married.

He returns to Calcutta and falls into bad company and alcohol. He is introduced to a dancer, Chandramukhi (Vyjayantimala), who adores him and falls hopelessly in love with him. Devdas in not aware of Chandramukhi's affection and love for him, as most of his time is spent in an alcoholic stupor, and lust for Paro.

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.