Hirak Raja, the Diamond King, lives in a castle on top of the mountains, detached from reality. Everyone in his castle, unlike the people living outside, speak in rhymes, which shows how they live in their own rhythm, their own bubble. The king has a hunger for power, so he destroys all education system in his land, so that no one gets educated enough to understand his politics and rebel. People who could be doctors, engineers, who could prove to be real gems in the society, turn out to become mine workers in the Diamond King's mines, digging out gems which serve no good to the society.

This movie is a landmine, if you can put your feet at the correct spot, it will blow you away.

Satyajit Ray's skills as a screenplay writer is cemented after this movie. Almost the whole of the screenplay is in poetic form. With every sentence in a rhythmic tone with its previous sentence. The comic relief is astounding. Being the second in line of the Goopy-Bagha series it had a lot of expectations. But it fulfilled all its expectations to the brim. With some amazing songs, tunes, coupled with a wonderful screenplay and exquisite acting, it makes one of the greatest movies of the Bengali film industry.

Rabi Ghosh and Tapan Chatterjee reprise their role of Goopi and Bagha. Coupled with Utpal Dutta as the scheming king Of Hirak, the land of diamonds and Soumitra Chatterjee, the honest school teacher, this is one helluva movie that I feel no Bengali should miss. The dialogs used in this movie are famous all over the Bong fraternity. This is yet another feather in Ray's cap.

Some movies are beyond our review..It's a pure gem of Satyajit Ray 's work

This was an amazing movie. Then again, I grew up with the songs of the trilogy. It was amazing, and a must see for people who haven't seen it.

The Rajah is so funny at times, you just laugh along with him. Goopy and Bagha are amazing in their roles, and the slippers that take them anywhere crack me up. They eat whatever they want, when the sing, the world stops. Its amazing. A must see for the whole family.

As a director, Satyajit Ray outdid himself, and he made a timeless classic for people of all ages. I laughed, and I laughed. Its an AMAZING comedy.

The effects are also really good for that time period. Ray is a magician with movies, screenplay, and effects. This movie is a stellar example of that.

Its just not a comedy.Its something more than that.It is a mockery of the present system of Indian governance.

Though made in 1980, still carries the same message that has been true through ages.The message being that the government is not always right and the masses are not always wrong.

However at the same time, it also makes us belief that through the line of non violence and education and countless discussions, amendments can be made even in the governance.

The ending bears a special mention where after "the brain wash" session, even the King (read government) and his people (read Government Babus) comes and joins the general masses to break the larger than life statue of the king (read clears the dirt that has coagulated in the minds of the people who run our system).

This certainly is a thought much ahead of time, which signifies that through proper education and perseverance, we can evolve the conscious of the people who run the system and violence and killings are not the only medium to demand justice and ask for proper governance.

(Reviewed on the basis of watching on video 33 years after release)

Plot: The kingdom of Hirak is under the rule of a tyrant who suppresses all mutiny by applying 'magaj-dholai' on the rebels. One such insurgent, Udayan pundit becomes absconding by escaping the sentries. During this time he encounters Goopy and Bagha who promise to help him with their magical powers. But will they be able to combat the mighty king of Hirak who has all the wealth in the world courtesy his diamond mines, has the assistance of a genius scientist and even possesses a pet tiger which guards the treasury?

Review: 'Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne' (1969) directed by Satyajit Ray was one of his biggest commercial blockbusters. The characters of Goopy, the singer and Bagha, the drummer had achieved cult-status along with the kind-hearted 'Bhooter Raja'. It was eleven years after delivering this master-class; Ray decided to bring back once again the delightful singer-drummer pair of Goopy and Bagha in 'Hirak Rajar Deshe' (1980).

Sequels, besides ensuring a ready viewer base, also invite the burden of huge expectations. Many directors have faltered under this pressure. Ray himself had been quite a pro in creating film franchises. The 'Goopy- Bagha' series was his fourth after the famous 'Apu'-trilogy, 'Feluda' series and the 'Kolkata'-trilogy; besides 'Aranyer Din Ratri' and the 'Byomkesh' series which were taken forward by other directors. Yet it's safe to say; in all those instances Ray couldn't match the glory of the original with his sequels. But with 'HRD' it seemed the wait for the perfect sequel was finally over.

In order to match the heightened expectations, Ray undertook some necessary measures: a bigger star-cast, conversion from black & white to colour, specially created glossy sets in a Madras film-city and the return of the tiger in real instead of the superimposed special effect in 'GGBB'. But the unique feature which can be easily considered the USP of this sequel is its rhyming dialogues. Most of the characters converse through rhymes across long-wielding sequences comprising of simple words which convey the sinister policies and conspiracies of dictatorial politics. One of the few exceptions is the school-master Udayan, whose free speech represents his free thoughts unlike the rest whose ideas are restricted by the imposed policies of the dictatorship. It's notable, even Goopy and Bagha spoke in rhymes when they remained confined in their palace. But once they went out in the open and came in contact with Udayan, they also started speaking in a free-tongue! A couple of words are even in English ('income', 'bookey'); but that's understandable as the British are likely to have arrived in India by then. Even without considering the meanings the dialogues convey, one must doff their hats to Ray who once again reveals a mostly unknown skill of poetry by scripting a screenplay which could remind of other poetic texts like Kashiram Das' 'Mahabharata'. And not just the dialogues; who can forget the famous 'mantras' specifically created for the 'magaj-dholai'? Clearly, poetry's loss has been cinema's gain!

The new cast boasts of the addition of superstar Soumitra Chatterjee along with the veteran Utpal Dutta. Playing the righteous school-master is a cake-walk for Soumitra; but the character of Hirak Raja certainly presented one of the greatest challenges for Dutta. He brings all his thespian skills into play to 'recite' the lengthy-dialogues, many of them shot in a single scene. It's highly creditable as the margin for deviation was nil. He successfully portrays himself as an epitome of dictatorship. Tapen Chatterjee and Robi Ghosh reprise their respective avatars and their chemistry has only smoothened and blossomed with time. A particular mention must be made of Ghosh's courage during his encounter with the tiger; as unlike in the film the tiger was not hypnotized in reality! Like in 'GGBB' Santosh Dutta again plays a double role and his performance as the scientist is again a winner. In fact we get a peek into his real nature only near the end and it was quite surprising to see the diminutive fellow burst into such convulsions of fervor. It would have been nice to see this character explored a bit more.

Unlike 'GGBB' which was based on a book by his grand-father, Ray himself takes on the cudgels of flushing out a meaningful script this time. The treatment and the characterizations are not 'comical' like the prequel; but the rhyming dialogues and occasionally funny behaviors make it an equally entertaining experience. Yet, this film makes an obvious statement against the oppression of despotic misrule; where else the anti-war message was conveyed with much more subtlety in 'GGBB' without ever making the situation grave. The whole concept of 'magaj-dholai' brilliantly metaphors the mentality of modern-day politicians to confine the public into a false sense of prosperity by injecting fictitious bubbles of hope.

'HRD' once again reveals the musical genius of Ray which was first displayed in 'GGBB' and was that film's USP. This time expectations in terms of music were huge; and the songs needed to click for the film to be a success. And Ray delivers! From classical to fast-paced, Ray stamps his versatility on all genres. Backed by simple yet thoughtful lyrics, almost all the twelve songs bind the viewers in a spell. 'Aar Bilambo Noy', 'Aha Ki Anando', 'Eje Drishyo Dekhi Onnyo', 'Santrimashai' and 'Nohi Jantro' are some of the diamonds studded in this gem of a film. Even in terms of background music Ray excels himself and delivers some of his finest scores.

'Hirak Rajar Deshe' is one of those rare sequels which are almost as good as the original. Even though Goopy and Bagha would return for one last adventure with 'Goopy Bagha Phire Elo' (1991); this classic political documentary still deserves many repeat viewings; if nothing else then at least for the dialogues (which I had thoroughly memorized as a kid and still remember by heart)!

Satyajit Ray really knew how to present the political scenario so that a 6 yr old kid understand.

Really deserves an Academy Award for its sheer brilliance.

Some movies just dont need reviews. Because this movie is not reviewable movie , this is an amazing movie that you should sit calm relax and enjoy the masterclass. A must must must recommended movie of Satyajit ray. All the movie lovers who speak bengali who dont speak they should use subtitles to watch the film. Its one of the best bengali movies ever made. The dialogues that were used were very unique. This movie is much much much ahead of its time. People usually dont make this kind of movies anymore. These type of movies should be promoted to let people know about how masterclass old movies used to be.

It's a masterpiece movie Everyone should watch this

GooGaBaBa's part two. After getting bored being in the royal lavishness for years, the duo will go to Hirak, means 'Diamond', kingdom as royal guests, will get to know about the dictatorship going on there and the climax. As the tyrant king Hirak Raja, Utpal Dutt bangs again. Note how Ray casted this guy, whom Prasenda told as the best actor of India, whenever he needed a strong, hard boiled, blood-sucking-just-by-glance, gut-wrenching villain. However, this masterpiece served as a symbolic protest by Ray and of course by the then state government - who were a frequent producer of his films - against the infamous emergency called by the the then central government. Ironically, this movie was even used to protest against the state government to rock their throne when they toppled the limit of corruption. Even now, more ironically, this film was referenced by many writers, columnists and video makers to shout out against our current state government. If GooGaBaBa was an anti-war movie, this can be labeled as an anti-dictatorship one. Circle will be complete when Ray's son will make the next one as an anti-religion piece. Peace, brother.

Every scene was brilliantly executed! The poetic way of delivering dialogue is just fantastic! This Movie was more than amazing. This was released in 1980 potraying a time way before than that yet somehow the main message is still relevant. Rulers live in peace whilst common people suffer and also they try to show everyone a clean image of their area just like Heerak Raja tried to make everyone believe that he was a great man. The main point is how well the songs fit into the scenes, just amazing!

A classic by Satyajit Ray. The movie is all about legendary actors, beautiful and meaningful songs, music, a very important social and political message, and Satyajit Ray.

It is the sequel of Ray's 'Goopi Gayen Bagha Bayen' , and revolves around the adventure of the duo(a singer named Goopi,and a Dholak player named Bagha, to "Hirak Rajjo" (Kingdom of Diamonds), a kingdom, with an egoistic and tyrant king(Hirak Raja). The movie gives stress upon problems that even our world faces even now. What a visionary Ray was! Legend.

Another masterpiece by Ray. What an amazing cast. The film mirrored many layers of the socio-economic issues in this entertaining film.

Satyajit Ray is an excellent filmmaker. How he represents this surrealistic world is a pure class of art.This movie actually gives us the insight of the mind of a dictator and how he wants to control everyone through his action to keep everyone under his rader and that nobody actually raise thier voice against his rule. The depiction is so vivid and artistic, it can easily make you awestruck!

And specially every musical number is very meaningful and interesting. So, this movie is simple yet beautiful. One of Ray's masterpiece!