Golden Era of Bollywood: Bollywood Films on Farmers and their Struggle

Monday 30 November 2020

Bollywood Films on Farmers and their Struggle

The current Farmer's agitation in the capitol gave me a topic for this blog. It is unfortunate that we, living in urban areas, do not bother about the farmer's issues, so do our films. But there was a period when our filmmakers were making films on farmers and their struggle.

Recall, films like 'Do Bigha Zameen', ' Mother India' how impressively they depicted the problems of farmers and rural life. In the 50s and 60s Bollywood films reflected the nation’s conflict, difficulties and struggle of a common man in a true manner. However over the year’s Hindi cinema has changed in terms of film making, content, representation of issues and technological changes. But during the transition of modern Cinema the rural-based subjects and social issues have completely vanished. In the era of core commercialization, no filmmaker is concerned about making cinema on rural subjects.

Kisan Kanya (1937) based on a novel by Saadat Hasan Manto and focussed on the plight of poor farmers was the first on this subject. The film was directed by Moti B. Gidwani and produced by Ardeshir Irani of Imperial Pictures. It is largely remembered by the Indian public on account of it being India's first indigenously made colour film

Aurat (1940) directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Sardar Akhtar, Surendra, Yakub, Kanhaiyalal and Arun Kumar Ahuja. This film was based on the rural subject. The film's music is by Anil Biswas and dialogue is by Wajahat Mirza. Mehboob Khan later remade this film as Mother India

Dharti Ke Lal (1946), the first directorial venture of the noted film director Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. It was one of the first films in Indian cinema's social-realist movement. The film was about the 1943 Bengal famine and the plight of a farmer-family caught in this famine and tells the story of human devastation, and the loss of humanity during the struggle to survive.

Hindustan Hamara (1950) a forgotten film. In this film, a social worker comes to help the farmers who shows them new ways of farming A film about agriculture reforms and cooperative farming. The film had Prithviraj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Nalini Jaywant

Do Bigha Zameen (1953) directed by Bimal Roy. Based on Rabindranath Tagore's Bengali poem "Dui Bigha Jomi", the film stars Balraj Sahni and Nirupa Roy in lead roles. Known for its socialist theme, it is considered an important film in the early parallel cinema of India, and a trend setter. he story revolves around a farmer, Shambu Mahato (Balraj Sahni), who lives with his wife Parvati ("Paro" (Nirupa Roy)) and son Kanhaiya (Ratan Kumar) in a small village that is hit by drought. After years of drought and famine, the region finally gets rain, leading the farmers to rejoice.

Mother India (1957), directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar, and Raaj Kumar. A remake of Khan's earlier film Aurat (1940), it is the story of a poverty-stricken village woman named Radha (Nargis), who in the absence of her husband, struggles to raise her sons and survive against a cunning money-lender amidst many troubles.

Heera Moti (1959), this film was based on a novel of Munshi Premchand "Do Bailon ki Jodi'.The story is of a small farmer who owns a pair of Oxen. . He lends his oxen to Roopnandan who enters them in a race and they win much to the chagrin of the Zamindar who sends his agent, Bansilal Mehta with Rs.100/- to acquire the oxen. When Razia refuses to sell, an enraged Zamindar sets the entire community against Dhuri and his family The hero was Balraj Sahini and the heroine was Nirupa Roy.

Godaan (1963) was again based on Munshi Premchand's novel. Once again based on the farmers, villages, landlords and the socio-economic deprivation . Raaj Kumar was the hero.

Upkar 1967, directed by Manoj Kumar. He played a village man 'Bharat', who sacrifices everything to get his brother educated. His brother Puran (Prem Chopra) goes abroad and comes back a selfish man wanting his share of the property. Bharat transfers land properties to Puran's son in order to prevent Puran from selling the land.

Dharti Kahe Pukarke (1969) a film directed by Dulal Guha. Starring Jeetendra, Nanda, Sanjeev Kumar in the lead roles It is a story of three brothers; Kanhaiyalal, Moti and Shiv. Moti studies law supported by his brothers, while Shiv helps Kanhaiyalal in cultivating the piece of land they own. Kanhaiyalal borrows some amount from the local moneylender against this piece of land for Moti's law studies. Shiv is in love with this moneylender's daughter, Radha. Moti, after learning about the amount borrowed by his brother, decides to come back only after he has a sufficient amount to repay the loan. On the other hand, Shiv moves to the city as a driver to earn his livelihood.

Lagaan (2001) was an important film on farmers. Produced and acted by Aamir Khan and directed by Ashutosh Gowarikar. The story revolves around a small village in Central India, whose inhabitants, burdened by high taxes, and several years of drought, find themselves in an extraordinary situation as an arrogant British army officer challenges them to a game of cricket, as a wager to avoid paying the taxes they owe.

Peepli Live (2010), written and directed by Anusha Rizvi in her directorial debut, and produced by Aamir Khan Productions. It was a satirical comedy film that explores the topic of farmer suicides and the subsequent media and political response.