Bimal Roy Film Festival - Yahudi: Events in Hyderabad

Throwing stones at people like Brutus is generally a bad idea. Even if it is done by mistake.

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. Yahudi will be screened on 30th Jnauary, at the Prasads IMAX.

Yahudi is a 1958 Bollywood film directed by Bimal Roy, and stars Dilip Kumar, Meena Kumari, Sohrab Modi, Nasir Hussain, Nigar Sultana and others. Film's lyricist, Shailendra won the Filmfare Awards award for best lyricist in 1959, for the song, Yeh Mera Deewanapan sung by Mukesh.

The story revolves around the life a foster relationship. Set in the era of the Roman Empire over 2,000 years ago, it centres around the point of persecution of Jews at the time in the empires centre - Rome. Ezra (Sohrab Modi) is a jeweller who has a son called Elijah. He also has a friendly butler / child-minder called Emmanuel. In the beginning, Ezra is due to leave. As he does, Elijah becomes upset and stands at the balcony. In the roads of the Jewish area, Brutus (Nasir Hussain), Governor of Rome, is passing, making an announcement. Watching over the balcony, is Elijah. A stone slips from his hand and hits Brutus on the head.

Brutus immediately gets Elijah arrested, and as Elijah is a Jew, sentences him to death. Hearing this, Ezra rapidly returns from his trip and arrives at the doorstep of Brutus. He begs Brutus to free Elijah but Brutus feeds Elijah to hungry lions. Ezra sadly returns to his house. In revenge, Emmanuel kidnaps Lydia, the motherless daughter of Brutus, and takes her to Ezra. Ezra declines to kill Lydia and adopts the child. Brutus' anger brews. He orders the guards to find his daughter, and calls for a punishment onto all Jews. Ezra remains hidden and raises Lydia, who grows up thinking she is Ezra's daughter and that her name is Hannah.

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.