Kaagaz Ke Phool |Critique- Remembering the Best

Gurudutt was a legend. But today even some self-proclaimed film enthusiasts haven't seen much of the legend. I was tongue-tied when I saw this saga...

“Bichchde Sabhi Bari Bari…” the song picturised on Guru Dutt and created by S. D, Burman, truly portrays how the near ones leave you with destiny in odd times. An emotion that took a toll of the cinematic genius. Failed marriage had more pain than the analgesic influence of cinematic success. Somewhere this classic rated at par with Pyasa has an autobiographical touch. Incidentally, Pyasa too had a similar flavor.

Suresh (Guru Dutt) is a movie director who cannot compromise with the quality of his work. His estranged wife doesnot want to return to him because her parents are too ‘big’. His brother-in-law (Johnny Walker) is a stud and is sympathetic with him. One night, Suresh meets a girl- Shanti (Waheeda Rahman) and lends her his coat. She comes to the shooting to return the coat and is captured by camera. Suresh has a new actress for his saga in process. Love blossoms between them but his daughter Pammi (baby Naaz) doesn’t like this. As a result of her expressed opposition, Suresh and Shanti decides to part their ways. Destiny puts Suresh on backfoot and he loses everything. Will Shanti return to him? This makes the plot a classic.

Few directors of Indian Cinema became a part of folklore. Guru Dutt was one of them. Kaagaz Ke Phool tells how even great people fells prey to the vicious games of destiny. How tll figures are subtly grounded. In the last scene when he dies, nobody pays tribute to him. His body stinks and shooting becomes more important than the legend- Suresh Sinha. Today, when only few people remember him, it seems that he was just in his presumption. We take years to create demigods and forget them in seconds.

Written by: Sujoy Ghosh