Do Aankhen Barah Haath

Do Aankhen Barah Haath (transl. Two Eyes, Twelve Hands) is a 1957 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by V. Shantaram, who also starred. It is considered to be one of the classics of Hindi cinema and is based on humanistic psychology. It won a Silver Bear at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival and a Golden Globe Award in the Samuel Goldwyn International Film Award for best film produced outside of the United States category.[1][2] The film is also remembered for the song "Aye Maalik Tere Bande Hum", sung by Lata Mangeshkar and written by Bharat Vyas.

Not to be confused with the 1997 film Do Ankhen Barah Hath.

Do Ankhen Barah Haath
Theatrical release poster
Directed byV. Shantaram
Written byG. D. Madgulkar
Story byG. D. Madgulkar
Produced byV. Shantaram
StarringV. Shantaram
Sandhya
CinematographyG. Balkrishna
Edited byChintamani Borkar
Music byVasant Desai
Production
company
Distributed byRajkamal Kalamandir
Release date
  • 1957 (1957)
Running time
143 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

The inspiration for this movie was a real experiment conducted by Maurice Frydman, who refused to have his name credited at the end of the film. He went so far as to tell the movie maker, V Shantaram, that he would sue him in court if his name were to appear anywhere in the credits. This incident is related in an interview of David Godman, who talks about Maurice Frydman's extraordinary life and connection to India.[3]

The film was inspired by the story of an "open prison" experiment: Swatantrapur in the princely state of Aundh near Satara. Now, Swatantrapur is part of Atpadi tehsil in Sangli district of Maharashtra. It was recounted by screenwriter G. D. Madgulkar to V. Shantaram.[4] In 2005, Indiatimes Movies ranked the movie amongst the Top 25 Must See Bollywood Films.[5] During filming, V. Shantaram fought with a bull and injured an eye, but his eyesight survived.[6] The film was later remade in 1975 as the Tamil language film Pallandu Vazhga and in 1976 as the Telugu language film Maa Daivam.[7] The core plot line is thematically similar to the 1952 movie My Six Convicts.

Plot

The film portrays a young jail warden Adinath, who rehabilitates six dangerous prisoners released on parole to persons of virtue.

He takes these notorious, often surly murderers and makes them work hard with him on a dilapidated country farm, rehabilitating them through hard work and kind guidance as they eventually produce a great harvest.

The film ends with the death of the warden at the hands of the oxes of a corrupt enemy who wants no competition in the profitable market he controls.

The film takes the viewers through several scenes that set a strong moral lesson that through hard work, dedication and concentration a person can accomplish anything. It also explains that if people focus their energy on a worthy cause, success is guaranteed. In the final scene, all six thieves became hardworking persons and decided to live at that hut where they learn all things because they think the two eyes of Adinath are observing them whether they are doing good things or bad and they raise their hands to salute the positive energy of Adinath and film ends with the song sung by Champa and one of the favourite songs of Adinath, "Aye Maalik Tere Bande Hum".

Promotion

Noted painter G. Kamble was hired by Shantaram to paint the movie posters. Kamble produced a 350-ft banner at Bombay's Opera House in 1957.[8][9]

Cast

Soundtrack
SongSinger
"Ae Malik Tere Bande Hum" Lata Mangeshkar
"Main Gaun, Tu Chup Ho Ja" Lata Mangeshkar
"Saiyan Jhuthon Ka Bada" Lata Mangeshkar
"Tak Tak Dhum Dhum" Lata Mangeshkar
"Umad Ghumadkar Aayi Re Ghata, Kare Kare Badra Ki Chhayi Re Ghata" Lata Mangeshkar, Manna Dey

Awards
YearCategoryCast/Crew memberStatus
1957Best Feature FilmV. ShantaramWon
Best Feature Film in HindiV. ShantaramWon
1958Silver Bear Extraordinary Prize of the Jury[12]V. ShantaramWon
1959 Samuel Goldwyn International Film Award[1] V. Shantaram Won

See also

References
  1. "International Award For Indian Film". Canberra Times (ACT : 1926–1995). 14 March 1959. p. 11. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. "Foreign Press Assn. 'Globes'". Variety. 8 March 1959. p. 7. Retrieved 22 June 2019 – via Archive.org.
  3. "Maurice Frydman's close encounter with Bollywood". YouTube.
  4. Ambarish Mishra (28 September 2006). "50 years of a Shantaram classic". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  5. 25 Must See Bollywood Films Archived 15 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine indiatimes.com.
  6. Classics Revisited – Do Aankhen Barah Haath Rediff.com.
  7. "V Shantsrsm: Silver screen's shining focus". 23 March 2014.
  8. "Film Heritage Foundation Profile-A". Film Heritage Foundation. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  9. Devraj, Rajesh; Bouman, Edo; Duncan, Paul (2010). The Art of Bollywood. Taschen. ISBN 978-3-8228-3717-7. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  10. "5th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 2 September 2011.
  11. Awards Internet Movie Database.
  12. "Madhura Pandit's biography focuses more on her father and filmmaker-actor V. Shantaram's work than his personal life".
  13. "Do Ankhen Barah Haath (Two Eyes, Twelve Hands)".
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