Bimal Roy's Madhumati

Book excerpt: A cinematic masterpiece, Bimal Roy's Madhumati is an enduring classic, and one of the most enduring legacies bequeathed to the Indian film industry by the black-and-white era. Starring the legendary thespians Dilip Kimar, Vyjayanthimala and Pran, Madhumati combined a heartbreaking saga of love with a convincing, spine-chilling ghost story to create an award-winning hit movie which continues to inspire Bollywood even today. In Bimal Roy's Madhumati: Untold Stories from Behind the Scenes, his daughter, Rinki Roy Bhattacharya, explores how Roy's biggest commercial success was made; revisiting shoot locations, meeting people who were involved in its making, building on reminiscences, media reports, interviews and, most importantly, the memories of the three stars-Dilip Kumar, Vyjayantimala and Pran. With a tribute by Amitabh Bachchan, a foreword by Vyjayanthimala and exclusive on-location photographs, this book is a must-have, both for fans of this iconic film and for those interested in the history of the Indian film industry.