Biraj Bahu
Encyclopedia
Biraj Bahu is a 1955 Hindi film produced by Hiten Choudhury and directed by Bimal Roy
, and based on a novel by Saratchandra Chatterjee. The film stars Kamini Kaushal
, Abhi Bhattacharya
and Pran. The films music is by Salil Choudhury
Bimal Roy
Bimal Roy was one of the most acclaimed Indian film directors of all time. 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...
, and based on a novel by Saratchandra Chatterjee. The film stars Kamini Kaushal
Kamini Kaushal
Kamini Kaushal is a Hindi film and television actress, most noted for her roles in films like Neecha Nagar which won the 1946 Palme d'Or at Cannes Film Festival and Biraj Bahu which won her the Filmfare Best Actress Award in 1955.-Early life:Kaushal was born to a botanist and professor at...
, Abhi Bhattacharya
Abhi Bhattacharya
Abhi Bhattacharya was an Indian actor of Hindi and Bengali cinema, who is most remembered for his roles in films in 50s and the 60s, such as Yatrik , Jagriti , Anuradha and Subarnarekha...
and Pran. The films music is by Salil Choudhury
Plot
Biraj (Kamini Kaushal) is married off to Nilambar Chakraborty (Abhi Bhattacharya) when she was a little girl. The couple is childless. Nilambar is pious, generous and loving, but unemployed. His devious younger brother takes advantage of Nilambar's naiveté to force a partition of the home and buy off their joint land under an assumed name from the lender it was mortgaged to. Nilambar and Biraj are reduced to a wretched existence. To make matters worse, Deodhar, a wealthy young contractor who arrives in the village, sees Biraj and captivated by her beauty, tries to bribe Biraj's erstwhile maid Sundari, to lure her to his boat. After several dramatic twists and turns, Biraj is kidnapped but she jumps off the boat before he can do any harm. She runs away from the hospital in the middle of the night to see her husband one last time. He had promised that he would bless her at the time of her death and that she would die at his feet.Cast
- Kamini Kaushal ... Biraj Chakravorty
- Abhi Bhattacharya ... Nilambher Chakravorty (as Abhi Battacharjee)
- Shakuntala (actress) ... Punnu Chakravorty
- Pran ... Deodhar
- Randhir ... Pitambar Chakravorty
- Manorama ... Sundari (Maidservant)
- Kammo
- Vikram Kapoor (as Bikram Kapoor)
- NazimaNazimaNazima is a former Bollywood actress who is most famous for her roles as a sister films from the 1960s and early 1970s. She was known as the "Resident Sister" of Bollywood...
(as Baby Chand) - IftekharIftekharIftekhar was a character actor in Bollywood films, especially known for his roles as police officers in several films.-Career:...
... Kishorilal, Deodhar's assistant (as Iftikhar) - Moni Chatterjee ... Bholanath
- Sarita Devi
- Shivji Bhai (as Sheojibhai)
- Maya Dass (as Maya Das)
- Dasarathlal (as Dashrothlal)
- Sailen Bose
Awards
- 1955 Filmfare Best Director AwardFilmfare Best Director AwardThe Filmfare Best Director Award is one of the main awards presented given by the annual Filmfare Awards to recognise directors working in the Hindi film Industry. It was first presented in 1954 in the inaugural year.-Superlatives:...
for Bimal Roy - 1955 Filmfare Best Actress AwardFilmfare Best Actress AwardThe Filmfare Award for Best Actress is given by Filmfare as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films, to recognise a female actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role. The award was first given in 1954.-Superlatives:...
for Kamini Kaushal - 1955: Palme d'OrPalme d'OrThe Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
(Golden Palm): Cannes Film Festival1955 Cannes Film Festival-Jury:*Marcel Pagnol *Marcel Achard *Juan Antonio Bardem *A. Dignimont *Jacques-Pierre Frogerais *Leopold Lindtberg *Anatole Litvak *Isa Miranda *Leonard Mosley...
: Nominated. - 1955: National Film Award - All-India Certificate of Merit.