Half a million rupees, one impossible choice — who deserves to be called "good"?
The postmaster of a village receives a check for 500,000 rupees, for the purpose of bequeathing it to the village’s most upstanding citizen.
Acting
Motilal's smug philanthropist energy is deliciously punchable.
Direction
Bimal Roy makes village politics feel Shakespearean.
Writing
Every character thinks they're the hero. They're not.
Director
Bimal Roy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Bimal Roy's final film; he died the same year, making this his bitter farewell to questions of Indian identity and morality he'd explored since Do Bigha Zamin.
Motilal was reportedly frustrated playing yet another wealthy antagonist, but his performance became the film's most discussed element.
IN
