1954: Year that was

October 23: Zhou Enlai visits India and Nehru goes to Beijing where he signs the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence' with Mao Zedo...

October 23: Zhou Enlai visits India and Nehru goes to Beijing where he signs the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence8217; with Mao Zedong.

The National Gallery of Modern Art opens in New Delhi. The Lalit Kala Fine Arts Akademi and Sahitya Literature Akademi open.

Aawara is a major hit in the USSR.

Abba8217;s Munna is the second songless film8217;. It is shown at the Edinburgh Film Festival in 1955.

Talks between the Film Federation of India and the government fail over All-India Radio8217;s policy of broadcasting film songs without crediting sources, driving producers to use Radio Ceylon.

The compulsory exhibition of approved films8217; ie government propaganda films in Madras is declared unlawful by the Supreme Court.

The Premier Studio, Mysore8217;s second studio premises, is started by M N Basavarajaiah.

The first State Awards for films of 1953 are given away at a special function on October 10, at the National Physical Laboratory Auditorium, New Delhi. Shyamchi Aai, directed by P K Atre gets the President8217;s Gold Medal for being the Best Feature Film of 1953. In the field of documentary films the President8217;s Gold Medal goes to Films Division8217;s Mahabalipuram.

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A festival of Indian Films is held in USSR. A film delegation visits USSR on the occasion of this festival under the leadership of K A Abbas.

Do Bigha Zamin, produced and directed by Bimal Roy receives one of the 10 International Awards at the VII International Film Festival, Cannes.

Mirza Galib, directed by Sohrab Modi, wins the National Award for Best Film.

Filmistan8217;s Nagin, directed by Nandlal Jaswant, has the box-office registers ringing. Pradeep Kumar as a snake charmer and Vyjayantimala in the title role draw huge audiences. Hemant Kumar8217;s composition Man dole mera tan dole8217; becomes a national craze.

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Raj Kapoor makes Boot Polish to cover the losses he incurred with Aah. Shanker Jaikishen8217;s music and the film8217;s social subject appeals to the audiences. The song Nanhe munne bachche teri mutthi mein kya hai8217; becomes very popular.

O P Nayyar begins his career with Guru Dutt8217;s Aar Paar and changes the style of film music. Lata Mangeshkar gets upset with him and refuses to sing for him. Asha Bhosle replaces her older sister and sings with him for many years to come.

Baburao Painter, a pioneer of film art and craft, passes away.

Sarla Bhooshan, wife of Bharat Bhushan, dies on November 14.

Dev Anand marries Kalpana Kartik.

V Shantaram8217;s daughter Rajshree plays a child artiste in the film Subah Ka Tara. This is his last film with his wife Jayshree.

Hit films of the year

Aar Paar directed by Guru Dutt

Chandni Chowk directed by B R Chopra

Nagin directed by Nandlal Jaswant

Nastik directed by I S Johar

Taxi Driver directed by Chetan Anand

Boot Polish directed by Prakash Arora