Neecha Nagar was the first Hindi film to win an award at Cannes, still not released after 76 years

May 13, 2022
Cannes Film Festival 2022 will start from 17th May 2022 to 28th May 2022 this year. It stars Akshay Kumar, music composer AR Rahman, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, Pooja Hegde, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Nayanthara, Tamannaah Bhatia, Vani Tripathi. Vani Tripathi) and others will be seen spreading their flames on the red carpet. At the same time, Deepika Padukone will also be a part of the jury panel at the 75th Cannes Film Festival. It will have the premiere of R Madhavan starrer ‘Rocketry – The Nambi Effect’ and ‘Godavari’ directed by Nikhil Mahajan, ‘Alpha Beta Gama’ directed by Shankar Sreekumar, ‘Bomba Ride’ directed by Biswajit Bora, ‘Dhun’ directed by Aanchal Mishra. ‘ And Jayaraj’s directorial film ‘Tree Full of Parrot’ will be screened at the Olympia Theatre. Meaning a total of 6 films will make their mark. But do you know that there was a film which has not been released even after 76 years. Let’s tell you.

India entered the famous Cannes Film Festival in France in 1946. In this, the film ‘Neecha Nagar’, directed by Dev Anand’s brother Chetan Anand, was given the ‘Palm d’Or’ award. This award was also called the Grand Picture Award at that time. And this is one such Indian film that has got it. Kamini Kaushal and Ada Sehgal were seen in the lead roles in this film. Four years later, i.e. in 1950, Chetan Anand was made a member of the International Jury and he was the first Indian to receive such an honour.

India entered the famous Cannes Film Festival in France in 1946.

A film based on the play of Bhagat Singh’s favorite writer
‘Neecha Nagar’ was competing with films like Billy Wilder’s ‘The Lost Weekend’ and David Lean’s ‘Brief Encounter’. Directed by Chetan Anand, the film was based on the play ‘The Lower Depths’ by Russian writer Maxim Gorky. These writers were the ones whose novel ‘Mother’ Bhagat Singh was very much liked. Well, Chetan Anand molded and filmed his play according to India. The story of this film was about the difference between rich and poor. There were high and low differences.

neecha nagar

There was a struggle in the story of ‘Neecha Nagar’
The story of a poor area has been shown in the film. The supply of clean water coming to this area is stopped by a dabang there, which increases the problems of the people. They then have to drink dirty water, which endangers the lives of many. At the same time, the capitalists try to grab the land of the villagers. How villagers fight for their rights due to lack of resources, this film tells the story of the same struggle. Well, on 29 September 1946, it was shown for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival and this date was considered as its release date. But it has not been released in India yet.

neecha nagar

Directed by Chetan Anand, the film was based on the play ‘The Lower Depths’ by Russian writer Maxim Gorky.

When the lead role of the film was done, the government was upset
The film, shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 1946, won the highest award for Best Film. So far no Indian film has achieved such an honor. Yet when cinema completed 100 years, it was not included in the celebration. After this Kamini Kaushal got angry. He had told the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting very well. He had said, ‘This was my debut film. It won the Best Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival. And was also the first Indian film to get the award. But the central government celebrated the completion of 100 years of cinema in the country but there was no mention of it. I am very sad to see this. I can understand that I have grown old and lost the memory of the people.