Do Bigha Zamin

Awards

• No award information available.

Trivia

Album

• This was Bimal Roy's first film as a producer. He launched the Bimal Roy Productions banner with this film. Inspired by Vittorio De Sica's Italian film "Bicycle Thieves" (1948) [Italian: "Ladri Di Biciclette"], which he saw in 1952 at the first International Film Festival in Bombay, Roy wanted cinematic realism in his first film production. The film was based on "Rickshawalla", a Bengali short story written by Salil Chowdhury, which in turn was inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Dui Bigha Jomi". The poem also gave the film its title. Roy also ended up signing up Salil Chowdhury to compose the film's music. This was Chowdhury's debut film as a music director. Bimal Roy initially considered Jairaj, Trilok Kapoor and Nazir Hussain for the film's lead role but finally chose Balraj Sahni after watching his performance in "Hum Log" (1951).[1][2]
• The film won the Best Film award in the inaugural edition of the Filmfare Awards. Bimal Roy additionally won the Best Director Filmfare Award for it. The film also won the International Prize at the 1954 Cannes Film Festival.

Song

• Dharti Kahe Pukaar Ke - Salil Chowdhury's tune for this song was inspired by the Russian marching song "Polyushka Polye" which he had heard during his visit to the Red Square in Moscow.[MR6]
• Dharti Kahe Pukaar Ke - This song may have inspired the title of a 1969 film directed by Dulal Guha and starring Nanda, Jeetendra, and Sanjeev Kumar. The 1969 film was dedicated to the memory of Shailendra who wrote this song and who passed away in 1966.[3]
• Aaja Ri Aa Nindiya Tu Aa - This song was picturised on Meena Kumari who made a guest appearance in the film. The actress came across the stills of this film while shooting for "Parineeta" (1953), the other film being directed by Bimal Roy at the time. Impressed by the film's visuals, she expressed her interest in working in it. Since the film's casting had already been done by then, the screenplay was modified to accommodate her. She reportedly worked in this film for free.[4][5]

1. ^ Italian film inspired Bimal Roy's 'Do Bigha Zameen'
2. ^ Hum Log (1951)
3. ^ Dharti Kahe Pukar Ke (1969)
4. ^ Meena Kumari's surprise cameo in Do Bigha Zamin
5. ^ Parineeta (1953)