Produced by Prakash Pictures, with story by Ramchandra Thakur and dialogues by Zia Sarhadi, Baiju Bawra was a musical "megahit" which had a mighty 100-week run in the theatres.

For Baiju Bawra, Badayuni had to forgo Urdu, and write lyrics in pure Hindi, with songs such as the bhajan "Man Tadpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj" becoming popular.

[7] The film starred Bharat Bhushan as Baiju, with Meena Kumari playing his love interest Gauri.

[4] The film merges the legend of Baiju Bawra with the historic setting of Mughal Emperor Akbar's court in India.

The movie then follows Baiju's attempt to avenge his father's death by challenging Tansen to a musical duel.

Even though there were many changes in the storyline from the original life of Baiju Bawra, the film was both a commercial and critical success and catapulted both its lead actors into stardom.

[11] Tansen is known to be the greatest classical vocalist ever to have existed in India, and was one of the nine jewels (Navaratnas) of Emperor Akbar's court.

Baiju gets shelter from a village priest and while growing up, falls in love with Gauri, the daughter of a boatman.

The word "revenge" brings all of Baiju's memories back; he leaves the fort greatly agitated, and the princess does not try to stop him.

Baiju again starts his musical training, spending all his time in a Shiva temple, but his vengeful feelings never leave him.

Hearing this, Gauri decides to make a venomous snake bite her, thinking that her death would bring enough grief to Baiju that he would defeat Tansen.

Baiju manages to do so and wins the competition, saving his own life and finally avenging his father's death.

Baiju persuades Akbar to spare Tansen's life, to return the princess' land to her, and to allow music in the streets.

Emperor Akbar is unhappy to see him go and asks Tansen to sing to produce a storm and floods to make him stay.

Her father warns her that either Baiju should be found, or Gauri should marry a village moneylender, and in case she refuses, he would commit suicide.

[13] Bhatt's interest in literature and music compelled him to make a film about Tansen and the folk-legend singer Baiju Bawra as the main focus.

Bhatt's option for Bharat Bhushan and Meena Kumari in the main roles was a matter of financial deliberation and continuity of dates required for the shooting.

[8] Meena Kumari, earlier called Mahjabeen Bano, started her acting career at the age of four in Vijay Bhatt's film Leatherface (1939).

Meena Kumari's first adult role was in Bachchon Ka Khel (Child's Play) (1946) directed by Raja Nene.

Filmindia in the June 1946 issue, commented on her appearance "Meena Kumari, up till recently a 'baby,' now plays the charming heroine of the story".

After some supporting roles, he was cast in Sohag Raat (1948) opposite Geeta Bali and Begum Para, and in Devendra Goel's Aankhen (1950).

[18] However, his "mellow looks matched by a soft voice" had the compassion required to depict sympathetic roles, with his specialty being a "sensitive, suffering poet-musician" in several hit musicals such as Baiju Bawra, Mirza Ghalib (1954), Basant Bahar (1956), Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) and Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962).

[19] Signed by Bhatt for Baiju Bawra, his "unruly mop and simple demeanour" established him as a star and "crystallised Bhushan's image as an actor of 'note'".

The pathos required of his role was acclaimed by critics as well as audiences, as were the singing sequences of classical raga-based songs in Mohammad Rafi's voice.

Her role as the "strong dacoit queen" who lures Baiju away from his village made a "major impact" and was critically acclaimed.

[26] His composition in the film is cited as the first use of the classical medium by Naushad, but he had based a large number of his songs on Indian rāgas.

Renowned Bollywood music director Naushad and lyricist Shakeel Badayuni created memorable songs for the movie, with all but one being based on Hindustani classical melodies (ragas).

Noted playback singers Mohammad Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, and Shamshad Begum, and renowned classical vocalists Amir Khan and D. V. Paluskar lent their voices to the score.

The songs Rafi sang for the film, including "Man Tarpat Hari Darshan Ko Aaj" and "O Duniya Ke Rakhwale", went on to become smash hits.

All lyrics are written by Shakeel Badayuni[4]; all music is composed by Naushad[4]A remake of the film tentatively titled Baiju-The Gypsy was announced in November 2010.