PM Nehru Praised B.R. Chopra's Blockbuster 'Naya Daur' in a Personal Letter

• B.R. Chopra's 1957 film "Naya Daur," starring Dilip Kumar, was a blockbuster and the second most successful film of that year.
• The film, based on Mahatma Gandhi's "man versus machine" philosophy, received a personal letter of praise from India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Nehru wrote the letter after showing "Naya Daur" to Prince Philip, who needed a film depicting rural Indian life, and was impressed by its content.
• Madhubala was initially cast but replaced by Vyjayanthimala after refusing outdoor shooting, leading to a legal dispute that ultimately generated pre-release buzz for the film.
• "Naya Daur" earned three Filmfare Awards: Best Actor for Dilip Kumar, Best Music Director for O.P. Nayyar, and Best Story for Akhtar Mirza.

Why It Matters: B.R. Chopra's "Naya Daur" was a critically acclaimed and commercially successful film, even earning praise from PM Nehru.