Bimal Roy

Directing

Bimal Roy

Born — Died

1909-07-12 — 1966-01-07

Place of birth

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Known for

Directing

Credits

41 titles

Bimal Roy (Bengali: বিমল রায়) (12 July 1909 – 8 January 1965) was an Indian film director. He is particularly noted for his realistic and socialistic films like Do Bigha Zamin, Parineeta, Biraj Bahu, Madhumati, Sujata, and Bandini, making him an important director of Hindi cinema. (From Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia)

Known for

Two Acres of Land poster
7.9

After falling for a cunning landlord’s scheme, a farmer (Balraj Sahni) and his young son (Ratan Kumar) travel to Calcutta in search of work to save money and reclaim their ancestral land.

Two Acres of Land

1953

Prem Patra poster
6.7

Arun begins hating Kavita when he loses his scholarship due to a misunderstanding with her. But after his new fiancé asks Kavita to write Arun letters on her behalf, Kavita falls in love with him. An accident intertwines their futures.

Prem Patra

1962

Devdas poster
6.1

Childhood sweethearts grow up in a small village with a love-hate relationship which changes to love when they mature.

Devdas

1955

Stars Meet in Moscow poster
NR

Documentary essay about the First Moscow International Film Festival, held in August 1959, about its participants and guests - Soviet and foreign actors, directors who came to the film forum.

Stars Meet in Moscow

1959

Yahudi poster
6.2

In ancient Rome, a mourning Jewish man raises the kidnapped daughter of Roman royalty as his own - and she grows up without learning her true identity. Years later, she falls in love with a Roman prince.

Yahudi

1958

Biraj Bahu poster
6.4

Nilambhar Chakravorty belongs to a poor family, and lives in a joint family with his married brother, Pitambar, unmarried sister, Punnu, and wife, Biraj. Since his sister is of marriageable age, he arranges her marriage, and borrows some money. When Pitambar comes to know about this, he refuses to share any expense in his sister's marriage, and decides to separate, resulting in a fence being put up between their homes. Nilambher, unable to find employment, is unable to pay back the loan, and soon both he and his wife barely have enough to live on. To complicate matters further, Deodhar, a wealthy young contractor has his eye on Biraj's beauty and would like to be intimate with her, in return for money and a better life.

Biraj Bahu

1954

Film credits

Behind the camera

Two Acres of Land poster
7.9

After falling for a cunning landlord’s scheme, a farmer (Balraj Sahni) and his young son (Ratan Kumar) travel to Calcutta in search of work to save money and reclaim their ancestral land.

Two Acres of Land

1953

Two Acres of Land poster
7.9

After falling for a cunning landlord’s scheme, a farmer (Balraj Sahni) and his young son (Ratan Kumar) travel to Calcutta in search of work to save money and reclaim their ancestral land.

Two Acres of Land

1953

Prem Patra poster
6.7

Arun begins hating Kavita when he loses his scholarship due to a misunderstanding with her. But after his new fiancé asks Kavita to write Arun letters on her behalf, Kavita falls in love with him. An accident intertwines their futures.

Prem Patra

1962

Prem Patra poster
6.7

Arun begins hating Kavita when he loses his scholarship due to a misunderstanding with her. But after his new fiancé asks Kavita to write Arun letters on her behalf, Kavita falls in love with him. An accident intertwines their futures.

Prem Patra

1962

Devdas poster
6.1

Childhood sweethearts grow up in a small village with a love-hate relationship which changes to love when they mature.

Devdas

1955

Devdas poster
6.1

Childhood sweethearts grow up in a small village with a love-hate relationship which changes to love when they mature.

Devdas

1955

Yahudi poster
6.2

In ancient Rome, a mourning Jewish man raises the kidnapped daughter of Roman royalty as his own - and she grows up without learning her true identity. Years later, she falls in love with a Roman prince.

Yahudi

1958

Biraj Bahu poster
6.4

Nilambhar Chakravorty belongs to a poor family, and lives in a joint family with his married brother, Pitambar, unmarried sister, Punnu, and wife, Biraj. Since his sister is of marriageable age, he arranges her marriage, and borrows some money. When Pitambar comes to know about this, he refuses to share any expense in his sister's marriage, and decides to separate, resulting in a fence being put up between their homes. Nilambher, unable to find employment, is unable to pay back the loan, and soon both he and his wife barely have enough to live on. To complicate matters further, Deodhar, a wealthy young contractor has his eye on Biraj's beauty and would like to be intimate with her, in return for money and a better life.

Biraj Bahu

1954

Biraj Bahu poster
6.4

Nilambhar Chakravorty belongs to a poor family, and lives in a joint family with his married brother, Pitambar, unmarried sister, Punnu, and wife, Biraj. Since his sister is of marriageable age, he arranges her marriage, and borrows some money. When Pitambar comes to know about this, he refuses to share any expense in his sister's marriage, and decides to separate, resulting in a fence being put up between their homes. Nilambher, unable to find employment, is unable to pay back the loan, and soon both he and his wife barely have enough to live on. To complicate matters further, Deodhar, a wealthy young contractor has his eye on Biraj's beauty and would like to be intimate with her, in return for money and a better life.

Biraj Bahu

1954

The Test poster
6.8

The postmaster of a village receives a check for 500,000 rupees, for the purpose of bequeathing it to the village’s most upstanding citizen.

The Test

1960

The Test poster
6.8

The postmaster of a village receives a check for 500,000 rupees, for the purpose of bequeathing it to the village’s most upstanding citizen.

The Test

1960

No artwork available
NR

Documentary on the Great Stupa at Sanchi, built by the Emperor Ashoka, and adorned with some of the finest examples of Buddhist art in the world.

Immortal Stupa

1961

Parineeta poster
7.7

In Calcutta at the turn of the century, two families (one wealthier than the other but both belonging to the same caste) live in adjoining properties. Their respective patriarchs fall out over the repayment of a loan and the intervention of a member of a lower caste in the families' financial arrangements. The rift causes much heartache to the younger members of the families, two of whom have secretly plighted their troth to each other.

Parineeta

1953

Parineeta poster
7.7

In Calcutta at the turn of the century, two families (one wealthier than the other but both belonging to the same caste) live in adjoining properties. Their respective patriarchs fall out over the repayment of a loan and the intervention of a member of a lower caste in the families' financial arrangements. The rift causes much heartache to the younger members of the families, two of whom have secretly plighted their troth to each other.

Parineeta

1953

Sujata poster
6.4

An orphan adopted by an upper caste family never learns of her untouchable caste background. This proves problematic when years later, she falls in love with an upper caste man.

Sujata

1959

Sujata poster
6.4

An orphan adopted by an upper caste family never learns of her untouchable caste background. This proves problematic when years later, she falls in love with an upper caste man.

Sujata

1959

Bandini poster
6.2

In 1930s British-ruled Bengal, a prison-doctor falls in love with a convicted murderer with past connections to a freedom fighter.

Bandini

1963

Bandini poster
6.2

In 1930s British-ruled Bengal, a prison-doctor falls in love with a convicted murderer with past connections to a freedom fighter.

Bandini

1963

No artwork available
7.7

A poor Afghani leaves his family behind to earn a living as a dried fruit vendor in India. Profoundly homesick, he befriends a young girl who reminds him of his own daughter. Meanwhile, the locals are distrustful of all foreigners.

Kabuliwala

1961

Maa poster
7.0

Chanderbabu (Nazir Hussain), a retired postmaster, lives in the village with his wife and two sons, Rajan (Paul Mahendra) and Bhanu (Bharat Bhushan). He continues to live there and work for the Zamindar, while his children are getting their education. Rajan is studying for his law exam. He is married to a girl (Padma) from a wealthy family whose haughty ways alarm and frightens him. Bhanu, the younger brother is fun-loving but studious. He gets influenced by the Nationalist Movement in the campus and stops his education in the last year of college. His father is disappointed and feels that Rajan is the one they can depend upon in their old age. Bhanu meets Meena (Shyama), and the two fall in love. Meera's father, Ramnarayan, is the school Principal and is impressed by Bhanu. He decides to get Meera married to Bhanu.

Maa

1952

Maa poster
7.0

Chanderbabu (Nazir Hussain), a retired postmaster, lives in the village with his wife and two sons, Rajan (Paul Mahendra) and Bhanu (Bharat Bhushan). He continues to live there and work for the Zamindar, while his children are getting their education. Rajan is studying for his law exam. He is married to a girl (Padma) from a wealthy family whose haughty ways alarm and frightens him. Bhanu, the younger brother is fun-loving but studious. He gets influenced by the Nationalist Movement in the campus and stops his education in the last year of college. His father is disappointed and feels that Rajan is the one they can depend upon in their old age. Bhanu meets Meena (Shyama), and the two fall in love. Meera's father, Ramnarayan, is the school Principal and is impressed by Bhanu. He decides to get Meera married to Bhanu.

Maa

1952

Madhumati poster
6.9

Two men take shelter in a derelict mansion situated in the countryside during a storm. One of the men suddenly becomes aware that he once visited this mansion in a past life; he recounts a story about when he was Anand, a painter, who fell in love with a tribal girl named Madhumati.

Madhumati

1958

Madhumati poster
6.9

Two men take shelter in a derelict mansion situated in the countryside during a storm. One of the men suddenly becomes aware that he once visited this mansion in a past life; he recounts a story about when he was Anand, a painter, who fell in love with a tribal girl named Madhumati.

Madhumati

1958

Parivar poster
7.0

A joint family consisting of four brothers, their wives, and their respective children, living under one roof. Some of the brothers are professionls, one a lawyer, a doctor, and others businessmen. They are a happy family, living and sharing each other's joys and sorrows. Then one day, an arguement breaks out over a glass of milk, and the entire family is thrown into chaos, and the only resolution seems to be nothing but dividing the entire property amongst the brothers and their respective families.

Parivar

1956

Benazir poster
10.0

Sibling rivalry abounds in this film about two privileged brothers, Anwar and Nawab, and the women who come between them. Nawab, although a married man and father, engages in frequent secret rendezvous with his mistress, Benazir. Meanwhile, Anwar declares his love for a woman named Shahida, whom he desires to wed. So when Nawab witnesses Anwar in the arms of the lovely Benazir, he's outraged -- and puzzled -- by the brotherly betrayal.

Benazir

1964

Udayer Pathey poster
6.5

Anup loses his job writing speeches for a wealthy industrialist and decides to focus on finishing his novel. But when his former boss steals Anup’s unpublished book, he throws himself into socialist politics.

Udayer Pathey

1944

Udayer Pathey poster
6.5

Anup loses his job writing speeches for a wealthy industrialist and decides to focus on finishing his novel. But when his former boss steals Anup’s unpublished book, he throws himself into socialist politics.

Udayer Pathey

1944

Naukari poster
6.8

The comic, tragic and heartrending saga of Ratan Kumar Chaudhary, who leaves his village, aging mom and seriously ill sister, to obtain employment in Calcutta, only to end up in a tiny tenement apartment full of other unemployed youths.

Naukari

1954

Naukari poster
6.8

The comic, tragic and heartrending saga of Ratan Kumar Chaudhary, who leaves his village, aging mom and seriously ill sister, to obtain employment in Calcutta, only to end up in a tiny tenement apartment full of other unemployed youths.

Naukari

1954

Usne Kaha Tha poster
8.0

Nandu lives in a small town with his widowed mom, Paro. He is friendly with two young girls, Farida and Kamli. He is depressed when Kamli's dad becomes ill and she and her mom re-locate to Ambala. Years later, Farida and Nandu have grown up and continue to be friends. Then they get the news that Kamli's dad has passed away, and they are to return back. Initially they do not recognize each other, but when they do, both fall in love and want to marry. When Paro goes to meet with Kamli's maternal uncle, she is shunned, humiliated because they are poor and Nandu is unemployed, & considered a trouble-maker.

Usne Kaha Tha

1960

Gotama the Buddha poster
7.0

A lyrical Indian documentary tracing the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha. Directed by Rajbans Khanna and produced by Bimal Roy, the film blends narration with evocative imagery of India’s landscapes, art, and archaeological sites to reflect the Buddha’s search for wisdom and peace. Premiering in Paris, it went on to earn a Special Mention at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival, where its spiritual depth and visual poetry were widely praised.

Gotama the Buddha

1957

Anjangarh poster
7.0

When a local mining company dares to provide its workers a fair wage for a fair day's work, and lets its workers unionize, the kingdom's villainous potentate is less than pleased. After considerable pressure, the company agrees to blame unrest in the region on a blameless worker collective.

Anjangarh

1948

Anjangarh poster
7.0

When a local mining company dares to provide its workers a fair wage for a fair day's work, and lets its workers unionize, the kingdom's villainous potentate is less than pleased. After considerable pressure, the company agrees to blame unrest in the region on a blameless worker collective.

Anjangarh

1948

No artwork available
8.5

A wealthy man, suspected of murder, is killed before he can be arrested. Everyone in his household is under suspicion. A private investigator looks into the case and finds himself falling in love with one of the suspects.

Apradhi Kaun?

1957

Amanat poster
10.0

A dying man entrusts his lives earnings to Purshotam, a stranger he just met, and asks him to promise to take this money to his wife, and son, Pradeep, in a remote village in India, to which Purshotam agrees. The man passes away, and Purshotam goes to fulfill his promise, in vain though, as he is unable to trace the woman and her son. After sometime he experiences financial difficluties, and decides to use the money for his personal gain. Years later he comes to know of the rightful heir to these monies, but will he able to assert his honesty, or will he carry on as though nothing has happened

Amanat

1955

Tins for India poster
6.0

Documenting the production of kerosene tins and their reuse in rural India, this early short by Bimal Roy observes industrial labor and everyday life with a restrained, humanist perspective.

Tins for India

1941

Images of Kumbha Mela poster
NR

An 11 min documentary Images Of Kumbh Mela was shot by Bimal Roy just before he passed away & left untouched & forgotten, his son Joy Roy discovered the footage 33 years later & completed it to create this unique documentary which is one of the last pieces of work created by the legendary filmmaker.

Images of Kumbha Mela

1960

Nader Nimai poster
NR

Nimai of Nadia

Nader Nimai

1960

No artwork available
8.0

It was 1943. Burma was under Japanese control. In Pegu, a small place near Burma lived two Indian families. They were neighbors Kumar and Lata loved each other. Their parents were also willing to see them engaged. Suddenly one day, it came out in the news paper the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called on the people to give him blood so that he could give them freedom. Kumar was reluctant but later on he decided to join the INA.

Pehla Aadmi

1950

No artwork available
8.0

It was 1943. Burma was under Japanese control. In Pegu, a small place near Burma lived two Indian families. They were neighbors Kumar and Lata loved each other. Their parents were also willing to see them engaged. Suddenly one day, it came out in the news paper the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose had called on the people to give him blood so that he could give them freedom. Kumar was reluctant but later on he decided to join the INA.

Pehla Aadmi

1950