Pyaasa | 100 Years Of Indian Cinema | Under Lens

Across the world Guru Dutt is known as a path breaking filmmaker. Much of all adulation is for two special movies Kaagaz Ke Phool and Pyaasa. Rated amongst the best in Cinema, Pyaasa reinvented plot devices and presented a story that changed how West perceived Indian mainstream cinema. 

 

Vijay is a talented poet who is unable to make a living. His love marries a rich man. A prostitute who is in love with his poetry tries to provide some consolation which he is not able to accept. A typical Devdas-like setting largely makes up for the first half. It’s the second half which makes Pyaasa such a classic. The rich man tries to exploit his talent after he is assumed to be dead. He is lauded. People who shunned him in his early days try to make a legend out of his grave. But he is not dead. Rival to the rich man try to use him as a medium to settle scores. Disgusted with the hypocrisy, Vijay leaves them for his own peace.

 

Pyaasa is a scathing statement on the diabolical ways of world. The contrast between rich and poor, in words and actions, subtly highlights the need of socialism in this country. The influence of market forces on liberal arts is boldly shown. Different relationships, especially the one between Vijay and Gulabo (prostitute), are beautifully explored. The element of disgust fades away slowly and mutual admiration seeps in. Love, in traditional way, is not allowed to influence the narrative as it would have been unrealistic. In the climax, the way Vijay denounces the world, its simply brilliant. Light and sound effects add a heavenly touch to a rather simple scene. No wonder, Pyaasa is rated among the best in World as all-time greatest films.

 

Trivia: Guru Dutt wanted Dileep Kumar to play Vijay but he declined. Pyaasa turned out to be a critical and box-office success rated among the best in cinema. Dileep Kumar also declined Lawrence Of Arabia (role later played by Omar Sharif). Another all-time greatest film. Omar Sharif also got an Oscar nomination.    

 

Passion Narrative - Story Of Guru Dutt - 3 | Statesmen

Waheeda Rehman was discovered in Telugu film industry. When Guru Dutt found her, she was raw as an actor. Over time she matured and gave memorable performances. Her platonic relationship with Guru Dutt was fodder for gossip magazines. He had a soft corner for her and she had emotions for him. But was that an affair, no one really knows.

 

As marriage was on rocks, Guru Dutt was slowly killing himself. He was either thinking about films or drinking. Suicidal tendencies surfaced.

 

Two movies – Kaagaz Ke Phool and Pyaasa defined his life and cinematic brilliance.

 

Pyaasa was reflection of his angst against hypocrisy in society. How people misbehave with the no-ones and run behind the names? How people don’t even hesitate in exploiting people in inferior position? How even the blood betrays? Pyaasa was story of a poet who is cheated by not only strangers but also by the people he had faith in. When his brilliance is admired by masses, they suddenly start celebrate his art. What should he do? Jump in and enjoy the empty stardom? He would rather renounce the world. Guru Dutt suffered this dilemma. Owing to responsibilities, he chose the middle path trying to balance between what he wanted and what people expected. How he wished to make more movies like Kaagaz Ke Phool which got it due years after his death.

 

Kaagaz Ke Phool was a glimpse in his life and life of his mentor Gyan Mukherjee. A successful man who fades away in the winds of changing times. Suresh is successful but unhappy because he doesn’t have a free hand in his work. His marriage is on rocks and is trying very hard to sort issues with his arrogant wife. He discovers an artist accidently and they fall in love. However, she walks away when his daughter objects. In the end Suresh doesn’t get anything except an unknown death. There was so much in common with his own life. Sort of a mirror image. Sort of a fore warning.

 

When Vasanth come he brings in gifts of nature and the bounty is cherished by all. When he leaves, he leaves silently. His absence is noticed much later. How prophetic was his name...

 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

 

 

Passion Narrative - Story Of Guru Dutt - 2 | Statesmen

Guru Dutt mentored Abrar Alvi and V. K. Murthy. Former wrote some of the most memorable scripts while later raised the bar of cinematography by yards. 

 

Guru Dutt helped Abrar develop skills for direction. Abrar went on to make Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam with Guru Dutt and Murthy. Their methodology was so similar that people believe that it was ghost-directed by Guru Dutt, a thought rubbished by people involved. However, its noteworthy that it took a Guru Dutt to bring out a director from the writer Abrar Alvi was. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam turned out to be his only directorial venture.

 

V. K. Murthy knew how to stretch the envelop. Brilliant use to contrast shades in black and white, especially in Kaagaz Ke Phool, caught the imagination of filmmakers across the globe. However, just like Abrar, he failed to stand at par with his own standards. Guru Dutt influence was there. With him, the light was gone. 

 

Another name which cannot be separated from Guru Dutt was Johnny Walker. Born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi – Johnny Walker, along with Rehman, was one of the most common faces appearing in Guru Dutt’s cinema. He provided Guru Dutt’s intense cinema with the light moments it needed. Their bonding was so strong that absence of a role in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam was Johnny Walker was opposed by Guru Dutt. Abrar remained adamant and Guru Dutt gave in once Johnny Walker gave his best wishes.

 

Like many iconic filmmakers, Guru Dutt was not able to separate his personal and professional life. Had he taken the path followed by Raj Kapoor, we would have seen more of him. Guru Dutt fell in love with Geeta Dutt, a singer of great repute. She was very successful as an individual and as a result, clashes happened. Alcohol didn’t helped either. Both took to hard drinks and slowly ruined their life. People believe that Geeta Dutt was always very suspicious of Guru Dutt’s personal life outside home. Rumors of his affairs compounded more problems. And there was a Waheeda…

 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

 

 

Passion Narrative - Story Of Guru Dutt - 1 | Statesmen

What an irony? A person born as Vasanth became famous for ‘Kaagaz Ke Phool’ and ‘Pyaasa’. 

 

Guru Dutt...

 

10 October 1964. News spread like fire in dry wild. Guru Dutt died an untimely death. Some speculated accidental overdose of sleeping pills and some saw it as a suicide bid. But the bottom line was that one of the biggest contemporary name became a page of past. A tragedy to be mourned over again and again. As obituaries started flowing in, people realized that despite of all success and all acclaim, there was a big void in life of Guru Dutt – lack of personal harmony. What they saw in his characters in Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool... had much more than a hint of reality. Much more.

 

Born in Bangalore, Guru Dutt had more than his share of sorrows. Financial constraints and tension between parents affected him. But it was his kid brother’s death inflicted more injury than anything else.

 

His early days in Calcutta shaped him as an artist. Like any other artist, he struggled hard. He started with Uday Shankar’s troupe. This helped him later when he worked as a choreographer. His stint with Uday Shankar taught him the importance of discipline and enhanced his artistic vision. Guru Dutt began his career as an Assistant Director and Choreographer. His experiences with Gyan Mukherjee as his assistant helped him understand the nuances of cine-world in and outside the film studios. In his early days, Guru Dutt bonded well with Dev Anand and Rehman. His friendship with two established faces made his way easier. Dev Anand offered him his first film as director – Baazi. Baazi established Guru Dutt as a promising director. A journey thus started...

 

There are reasons to believe that many times Guru Dutt was held hostage by industry norms and producer’s whims. Sometimes he would abandon the project and sometimes he would just give in. After Baazi, Jaal and Baaz came. Both failed. However, these two movies helped him develop the famous Guru Dutt Team. Over the years, this team influenced Indian cinema to a great extent.

 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

 

Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam | A Masterpiece | The Critique

Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is perhaps one of the finest piece of cinema in this country. A story set in Calcutta of Raj based on a novel by Bimal Mitra haunted filmmakers across time reminding them that this is the sky they must aim for. Abrar Alvi’s direction proved that in the shadow of Guru Dutt there was someone else who worked as hard as him, without much recognition, without much appreciation. A star cast that can put biggest ensembles to shame with its collective acting prowess. Rehman, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman, Nasir Hussain and last but not the least Guru Dutt. 

 

A simpleton Bhootnath (Guru Dutt) comes to Calcutta. Calcutta is perhaps the city of his wild imaginations. He starts working for Mohini Sindoor Factory and develops an enamoring relationship with owner’s daughter Jaba played by beautiful and dynamic Waheeda Rehman. He is also attracted by Chhoti Bahu who showers him with her sisterly love. Chhoti Bahu is a middle class woman married in a rich household to Chhote Sarkar (Rehman – brilliant as usual) who spends his time in kothas and ignores his house. She wants only love and company of her husband. She can do anything... even the unimaginable. This role was immortalized by Meena Kumari.  

 

Apart from strong performances and brilliantly written dialogues for a very fine story about feudal society and its downfall in Raj, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is aided by brilliant cinematography by V.K. Murthy and amazing songs like Na Jao Saiyan Chhudaake Baiyan and Piya Aiso Jiya Mein Samaaye Gayo Re. Geeta Dutt and Asha Bhosle added more to the soul of this movie. Geeta Dutt’s voice had the pain that Chhoti Bahu had in her life and Asha’s voice had the charm of a free spirited girl from Brohmo Samaj – Jaba. The contrast in the moods of the characters and the simplicity of Bhootnath who forms a relationship with each of them, a complicated oft-misunderstood one with Chhoti Bahu and a strong passionate one with Jaba, completes the canvass.

 

Abrar Alvi never got his due. The talent and popularity of Guru Dutt and quintessential feel of his cinema took away everything Abrar deserved. Still... whenever someone appreciates Guru Dutt and his cinema, a share goes to Abrar, unknowingly.

 

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Heroes Of Hindi Cinema | Uttkrishtt 2012

We can always argue who is our favorite hero. Definitely a matter of subjective evaluation. However, that should not undermine the popularity of characters and appreciation by masses. Presenting Uttkrishtt 2012 Results – Heroes Of Hindi Cinema...

A quick analysis can tell us that people didn’t voted much for larger than life characters. Most of them walk among us. They represent masses. They fight for causes so omnipresent that usually we chose to ignore. Not every hero wins. In fact, some lose their battle. But their fight is not about the outcome. It’s about their values... You can lose a battle provided you fight well.

1. Common Man (Naseeruddin Shah - A Wednesday) : What can a common man do? We need heroes to do the struggle on behalf of common man. But on a Wednesday things changed when a caller brought entire Police Department on knees and successfully orchestrated killing of four deadly terrorists. As it turns out, he is just another common man, without a name and to some extent, without an identity.

2. Raghu (Rajesh Khanna - Bawarchi) :  He is street smart. He can manage house and people like a magician. But what makes him different is his inherent goodness. His ability to teach people a few nuances about life. He picks a family where harmony is a matter of past and becomes a part of it, only to teach them small things to make life better and leave them forever... in search of a new house.

3. Radha (Nargis - Mother India) : Mother - whenever this word is uttered, Nargis drenched in sweat while working in farm is one of few images which comes up in mind. Radha's life is a ballad of struggle and resilience. Her husband leaves her with debt when he becomes invalid. Lala who lustfully approaches her. The famine and never ending financial problems. She refuses to bow down and remains righteous. In the end, she even kills her own son in order to save the honor of her village which she believes to be not different from hers.

4. Suresh Sinha (Guru Dutt - Kagaz Ke Phool) : A successful film director whose marriage is on the rocks finds some solace in affection of his new actress. As his romance faces trials, his daughter is not happy with the situation. Unannounced, actress leaves him. His work betrays him and slowly becomes irrelevant in cinema. In the end, he dies a tragic death.

5. Usha (Smita Patil - Bhumika) : Usha is a strong willed woman who wants to make her career in cinema. Her manager, who later becomes her husband, arranges work for her. After a point she wants to leave her profession much to dislike of her husband. She leaves her and pursue a relationship with a director which doesn't work out. It follows up with a relationship with a businessman who is too orthodox. In the end she returns to her husband and try to redefine her life.

6. Vijay Deenanath Chavan (Amitabh Bachchan - Agneepath) :  Revenge is a dish best served cold. Kancha was responsible for murder of his saintly father and he decides to take his revenge. Vijay wants his village back. His violent means are not appreciated by his mother but his goodwill has many takers. He is a character who breaks laws but doesn't break hearts of poor. A person with heart of gold and blood in eyes.

7. Yeshwant Lohar (Nana Patekar - Yeshwant) : Hot-head. This one word describes Yeshwant. However, he is not only a hot headed cop, he is a very honest person who would not let anything bypass law. He inspires his wife to become IAS. When he realizes that he was wrong in doubting her, he apologizes sincerely. He is a temperamental but un-tampered character.

8. Kabeer Khan (Shahrukh Khan - Chak De! India) : A disgraced captain of Indian Hockey team whose religious identity becomes a subject of suspicion takes up a difficult task of training a women's Hockey Team and win the World Championship, something literally unheard. He fights against the system, his demons and resistance within the team. In the end, when his hard work pays back and the color of medal changes to gold, he silently leaves in his own little world.

9. Adinath (V Shantaram - Do Aankhen Barah Haath) : A young jail warden who believes that goodness exists in even most dreadful criminals and this goodness can help them their demons and become good citizen. He takes six criminals with him and tries to rehabilitate them in a farm. His firm belief in his ideology works and six criminals becomes good citizen. The purpose of law and punishment sees the daylight.

10. Raju (Dev Anand - Guide) :  Raju, the guide, falls in love with dancer-wife of archeologist. Dancer is lonely as her husband doesn’t care for her talent. Raju makes her a professional. As money comes, greed develops. Eventually, he is arrested. After release he takes shelter in a famine-ridden village. Due to miscommunication, people start believing that he is a saint. They start paying respect and much more. Some more miscommunication happens and message 'he won't eat till it rains' goes out. After a lot of dilemma, Raju decides to stick to the message.

Abrar Alvi - As Director | Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam and Fullstop | Statesmen

You remember Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam ? Any idea who directed it. I asked few cine-buffs about it and the random answer was Guru Dutt… Well, I am a Guru Dutt fan and I would love to say Yes, but no. It was directed by a fine film writer who is credited with works like… Mr. & Mrs. 55, Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand,  Professor… Yes, I am talking about Abrar Alvi.

Abrar Alvi impressed Guru Dutt on sets of Baaz with his deep insight of storytelling. Recognizing his talent, Guru Dutt asked him to join in for Aar Paar and its subsequent success stamped his talent. When a very impressive Kaagaz Ke Phool failed to impress public; Guru Dutt came under heavy debts. He needed a big movie to help him stand. At this point, Alvi rose to the accession and directed Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. It was a big blockbuster…

Success is mother of controversies. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam had the distinct signature of Guru Dutt and the general opinion was that Guru Dutt ghost-directed it. Many people still believe it and many crew-members had dropped hints indicating that though Alvi directed the movie; there was larger than just an actor involvement on Guru Dutt’s part. Something people usually say about Aamir Khan as well… Interestingly, the editor of movie maintained that it was out and out Alvi’s genius that made Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam such an epic.

Alvi never directed another movie. He is perhaps the only who got Filmfare for his debut and sole movie. He never got the credit for his work and maybe that had a major impact on his decision to stay away from director’s seat. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is one of the movies that cannot be remade again. Let’s raise a toast in name of the director of the movie… Abrar Alvi.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Death In A Loop… Guru Dutt And Sanjeev Kumar | Under Lens

1964… Guru Dutt died due to an overdose of sleeping pills and alcohol. That time he was involved with K. Asif’s saga Love and God. Sanjeev Kumar replaced Guru Dutt however little he knew that his end will be similar.

Sanjeev Kumar was not able to recover from his personal issues and drank heavily. Something parallel to the life of Guru Dutt. What an irony, Sanjeev Kumar died in 1984 and the movie in which he replaced Guru Dutt was released in 1986. By ’71, even K. Asif was history. Three legends of Indian cinema expired even before the movie that linked them released.

Even Sanjeev Kumar had a pending movie when he left this world. Movie was Professor Ki Padosan. The movie was three-fourth complete when Sanjeev died an early death. Director was confused and finally on suggestion of a senior member of cine-fraternity included an Invisible-character sequence to justify Sanjeev’s obvious absence. Movie bombed as expected.

Life doesn’t give what you want. Guru Dutt had a tormented marriage and Sanjeev Kumar was turned down by the lady he loved so much. Guru Dutt was unlucky as there was no one to support him… not even Waheeda Rahman. Sanjeev Kumar might have been luckier. There was someone who loved him… Sulakshna Pandit. But he turned her down. He didn’t gave his life a chance.

They always say… “marry someone who loves you… not the one whom you love…” but sometimes you don’t hear what you yourself say to the world.

Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

Guru Dutt -Dev Anand : Great Friendships

“That is my shirt….”

Dev Anand must have said that when he saw a young choreographer wearing his shirt. What a coincidence. Star of movie Hum Ek Hain saw a ‘no one’ wearing his shirt. He must have flared up… but no. Dev was calm. He asked the person the secret. Easy guess. Same laundry! The star and choreographer had the same laundryman and he somehow replaced a star shirt with a no-one’s shirt.

Dev Sahab is known as a gentleman by everyone; inside and outside the industry. He was a star. But the person who wore that shirt was not destined to be a no-one. He was destined to be the most respected moviemaker of India. He was Guru Dutt.

Guru Dutt was a struggler then and that led to his big break. The incident made Dev and Guru great friends and they made a promise to each other. If Guru becomes a movie-maker, he will cast Dev and if ever Dev makes a movie, Guru will direct it.

Dev made Baazi and that was directed by Guru. It was a blockbuster. However, Guru was not able to fulfill his promise. He did it indirectly by producing CID starring Dev but directed by Raj Khosla. Another blockbuster. Dev still regrets that he never worked under Guru under Guru’s production house. One prime reason was creative differences between Chetan Anand and Guru Dutt.

Keeping that aside, Dev and Guru were great friends and created two legendary movies. Today when we hear about actors trying to belittle others, stories like this definitely make these legends appear bigger.
 
Written By: Sujoy Ghosh

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