Naya Daur
Encyclopedia
Naya Daur is a 1957 Indian drama film
starring Dilip Kumar
, Vyjayanthimala
, Ajit and Jeevan. Originally filmed in black and white, the film was colourized and re-released on 3 August 2007.
Dilip Kumar plays one of the tongawallahs who petitions the landlord over this injustice. Jeevan's character proposes a competition to decide which service is the best: The bus or the tonga? It is decided that there will be a race between the vehicles. If the bus wins, the tongawallahs will not complain further. If the tonga wins, the bus service will stop. This competition was a farce from the start since nobody could dream that a horse cart could beat a machine. Kumar, however, accepts the challenge to everybody's surprise. His logic is that they would be driven to starvation if the bus service continues. This race at least gives them an opportunity to try to do something.
The rest of the tongawallahs do not share his hope. They blame him for his foolishness. In the end, he is left alone with nobody's support except his sweetheart, played by Vyjayanthimala. As the movie unfolds, a hopeless situation begins to turn around because of the way the people come together. Mishap after mishap occurs, but nothing can deter the determined. The highlight of the film is definitely the heart-stopping final race where the underdog wins.
was cast as the female lead. An advance payment was given to her and shooting began and continued smoothly for 15 days. B.R. Chopra, the director, wanted the unit to travel to Bhopal for an extended outdoor shooting. Ataullah Khan, the father of Madhubala
, objected to this and claimed that the entire Bhopal schedule was a ruse to give Dilip Kumar
the opportunity to romance his daughter (Kumar and Madhubala
were in a relationship at the time). Finally, Chopra sued Madhubala
for the cash advance she received from him for a film she now had no intention of completing.
He replaced her with the South Indian actress Vyjayanthimala
who acted with Kumar in Devdas
. Madhubala
obediently supported her father despite her commitment to Dilip Kumar
. Kumar testified against Madhubala
and Ataullah Khan in favor of the director B.R. Chopra in open court. The case was lost by Madhubala
and her father amid much negative publicity. During the case, the film was released and declared a success. Chopra dropped the case and saved Madhubala
from the humiliation of a possible prison sentence.
behind the critically acclaimed Mother India
with the verdict.
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
starring Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar , is an Indian actor and a former Member of Parliament.He lives in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai, India. He is commonly known as "Tragedy King",and is described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray....
, Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala Bali is an Indian film actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, carnatic singer, dance choreographer, golfer and a Parliamentarian....
, Ajit and Jeevan. Originally filmed in black and white, the film was colourized and re-released on 3 August 2007.
Plot
The film is set in post-independence India where industrialization is slowly creeping in. The focus is on tongawallahs who earn their living transporting people on tongas (horse carts). Their livelihood is threatened when the son of a rich landlord (Jeevan) begins operating a bus service in the town, which he subsidizes heavily with the sole intention of first driving the tongawallahs out of the town and then making profits.Dilip Kumar plays one of the tongawallahs who petitions the landlord over this injustice. Jeevan's character proposes a competition to decide which service is the best: The bus or the tonga? It is decided that there will be a race between the vehicles. If the bus wins, the tongawallahs will not complain further. If the tonga wins, the bus service will stop. This competition was a farce from the start since nobody could dream that a horse cart could beat a machine. Kumar, however, accepts the challenge to everybody's surprise. His logic is that they would be driven to starvation if the bus service continues. This race at least gives them an opportunity to try to do something.
The rest of the tongawallahs do not share his hope. They blame him for his foolishness. In the end, he is left alone with nobody's support except his sweetheart, played by Vyjayanthimala. As the movie unfolds, a hopeless situation begins to turn around because of the way the people come together. Mishap after mishap occurs, but nothing can deter the determined. The highlight of the film is definitely the heart-stopping final race where the underdog wins.
Controversial court case
During filming, the Naya Daur production was involved in a highly controversial and widely publicized court case. Initially the actress MadhubalaMadhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
was cast as the female lead. An advance payment was given to her and shooting began and continued smoothly for 15 days. B.R. Chopra, the director, wanted the unit to travel to Bhopal for an extended outdoor shooting. Ataullah Khan, the father of Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
, objected to this and claimed that the entire Bhopal schedule was a ruse to give Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar , is an Indian actor and a former Member of Parliament.He lives in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai, India. He is commonly known as "Tragedy King",and is described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray....
the opportunity to romance his daughter (Kumar and Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
were in a relationship at the time). Finally, Chopra sued Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
for the cash advance she received from him for a film she now had no intention of completing.
He replaced her with the South Indian actress Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala Bali is an Indian film actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, carnatic singer, dance choreographer, golfer and a Parliamentarian....
who acted with Kumar in Devdas
Devdas (1955 film)
Devdas is a 1955 film directed by Bimal Roy, based on the Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay novel, Devdas.In 2005, Indiatimes Movies ranked the movie amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films.-Plot:...
. Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
obediently supported her father despite her commitment to Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar , is an Indian actor and a former Member of Parliament.He lives in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai, India. He is commonly known as "Tragedy King",and is described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray....
. Kumar testified against Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
and Ataullah Khan in favor of the director B.R. Chopra in open court. The case was lost by Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
and her father amid much negative publicity. During the case, the film was released and declared a success. Chopra dropped the case and saved Madhubala
Madhubala
Mumtaz Jahan Begum Dehlavi, known by her stage name Madhubala was a Hindi movie actress. She starred in several successful movies in the 1950s and early 1960s, many of which have attained a classic status...
from the humiliation of a possible prison sentence.
Box office
By the end of its theatrical run, Naya Daur collected around 5,40,00,000 thus becoming the second highest grossing film of 1957Bollywood films of 1957
A list of films produced by the Bollywood film industry based in Mumbai in 1957:-Highest grossing:The top ten grossing films at the Indian Box Office in 1957:-1957:-External links:* at the Internet Movie Database...
behind the critically acclaimed Mother India
Mother India
Mother India is a 1957 Hindi film epic, written and directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar. The film, a melodrama, is a remake of Mehboob Khan's earlier film, Aurat...
with the verdict.
Music
- "Yeh desh hai veer jawaano ka"
- "Maang ke saath tumhara"
- "Ude jab jab zulfein teri"
- "Saathi haathi
- "Main bombay ka babu"
- "Aana hai to aaa"
- "Reshmi Salwar Kurta Jali Ka" (with Mino Mumtaz and Kumkum)
External links
- Naya Daur profile and review at Upperstall.comUpperstall.comUpperstall.com is a web site on Indian cinema that focuses on classic and independent Indian cinema and its luminaries. It is owned and run by Karan Bali, Saumil Gandhi and Karan Anshuman and launched on 7 July 2000, heralding the 104th anniversary of the first ever motion picture screenings in India...
- Naya Daur profile and review at Rediff
- Naya Daur profile and review at Bollywood HungamaBollywood HungamaBollywood Hungama is a leading Bollywood entertainment website, owned by hungama.com....