Melodies from bygone era

Come July 12 and Bimal Roy Memorial & Film Society will organise a musical tribute in the city on the legendary filmmaker Bimal Roy's birth centenary.

Come July 12 and Bimal Roy Memorial & Film Society will organise a musical tribute in the city on the legendary filmmaker’s birth centenary. Titled Enduring Image 2011, the event will celebrate the music of Roy’s films through a special session by documentary filmmaker Brahmanand Singh who will take the audience on a journey through the music of the late filmmaker’s movies. “The films of the 1950s engaged music as a compelling tool to enhance mood, characters and narrative,” says Singh, who has also made a documentary on celebrated music composer RD Burman in the past.

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One of the most acclaimed directors of Hindi cinema, Roy is best remembered for his classic films like Do Bigha Zamin (1953), Parineeta (1954), Biraj Bahu (1955) and Madhumati (1958). His style of realistic and socially relevant cinema is believed to have inspired a whole generation of filmmakers in the industry.

Most of his films had either Salil Chowdhary or SD Burman composing the music, delivering some of the most fondly remembered tunes of the era such as ‘Suhana safar aur yeh mausam haseen…’ (Madhumati) sung by Mukesh and “Dil tadap tadap ke keh raha…", also from the same film and sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The Society, which was founded in 1997, frequently conducts workshops and organises events such as music concerts to promote the filmmakers’s work. Says Roy’s daughter Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, “This event will be a nostalgic experience for all who have grown up watching my father’s movies and admiring the unforgettable songs. Besides Brahmananda Singh, musician Anu Malik will also present his expert views on the music of his films at the event.”