Page 38 - Seniors Today - February Issue
P. 38
Dharti Ke Lal is set during World War II, when the poor farmer was pitted against cruel zamindars, greedy moneylenders
and an apathetic urban population
including the Pradhan family-- where they He rallies other farmers to work hard and
end up begging and scavenging for scraps, aim for a bumper harvest that will rescue
while the rich feast in their mansions. them from their abject poverty. Ramu and
Communal discord rears its head in times Radhika, who have been cut off from their
of despair. Ramu loses his job as a rickshaw roots by their guilt and shame, can only
puller and turns to alcohol. Radhika is watch wistfully from afar.
forced to prostitute herself in exchange for Despite the stark realism of the narrative,
milk for her child, which is stolen by her Abbas used songs to underline the
mother-in-law, mad with hunger. A helpless emotions—Bhookha Hai Bengal, Ab Na
Niranjan can only watch his father dying Zabaan Pe Taale Dalo, Bitey Ho Sukh Ke Din
and his family disintegrating. He finds help and others—not popular numbers, but apt in
and encouragement from a relief worker, the film.
Shambhu (Mahendra Nath), which gives The film won awards, was hailed by critics
him the courage to make a plea for collective in India and abroad. It did not do well at
farming to others like himself. the box-office; sadly, communal riots broke
In the city, a desperate Ramu tries pimping out when it was released and wrecked its
and is aghast to find that the woman he is already shaky commercial prospects. But it
striking a deal for is his own wife. Niranjan remains an important film—one of the few
and some other villagers return to Aminpur. that documented a forgotten Indian tragedy.
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