Remembering Bimal Roy

He is regarded as one of the greatest masters of Indian cinema till date. And legendary filmmaker Bimal Roy’s films continue to be inspiration for many. Recently, his Bengali film Udayer Pathe was subtitled in English for film lovers.

His daughter Rinki Bhattacharya, also the founder chairperson of Bimal Roy Memorial & Film Society, however rues the fact that portions from Roy’s films are often lifted without any acknowledgement whatsoever. But she recalls how overwhelmed she was with the turnout for the screening of her father’s film Sujata, in the city last year.

Recently, on the occasion of Roy’s birth centenary on July 12, a musical tribute, hosted by documentary filmmaker Brahmanand Singh, was held in the city. Bhattacharya is now planning to hold a retrospective of Roy’s films by the end of this year and is looking for sponsors.

“We already have Smriti Sandhya and the Bimal Roy Memorial Trophy. We want to do a retrospective that would include his Bengali film as well,” says Bhattacharya.

She says that plot points from Roy’s films are often picked up by Bollywood films.

“People are repeating his films all the time. Take Kudrat or Om Shanti Om, for example. The climax was lifted from Madhumati. Ashutosh Gowariker was inspired by Do Bigha Zamin to make Lagaan. But I feel you can’t remake my father’s films easily. A Sujata or Bandini would be very difficult to remake,” says Bhattacharya.

She recalls Roy as a man of discipline. “His very presence was inspiring, but he was a calm and quiet man,” she says, adding that his film Biraj Bahu will be screened soon.