Guru Dutt: The tortured genius behind classics Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool, who died at 39 of ‘melancholia’ – The Indian Express

A number of nice artists proceed to reside with us by way of their work. One in all them is the legendary Guru Dutt. His 1957 movie Pyaasa discovered a spot in Time journal’s record of all-time 100 nice motion pictures. His movies Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam are quoted as examples of nice cinema. Provided that Dutt would have identified simply how influential and fashionable his work would grow to be, he might not have ended his life, and at the moment, the historical past of Indian cinema might have been adorned with many extra gems from him.

Born on July 9, 1925, the auteur director died by suicide in 1965. However in his 39 years, Dutt dropped at life his ardour for artwork by way of his wealthy and fascinating filmography, which incorporates not simply classics like Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool, but in addition entertainers like Baazi, Jaal, Aar Paar, Mr and Mrs 55, and CID. When you watch these masterpieces, it will be laborious to consider that Dutt didn’t get the type of recognition he deserved.

Kaagaz Ke Phool, the primary cinemascope movie in India, had a disappointing run on the field workplace upon its launch in 1959, and its failure is claimed to have affected him a lot that he stop movie route. However Raj Kapoor had predicted the movie’s cult standing and instructed Dutt, “Don’t fear, you’ve gotten produced the image 15 years too early.”

madhubala guru dutt Madhubala and actor Guru Dutt in Mr and Mrs 55. (Specific archive picture)

Guru Dutt’s fascination in the direction of artwork and tradition dates again to the time when he was simply 10. His mom Vasanthi Padukone as soon as recalled how he obtained indignant at her when she refused to take him to the favored dancer Uday Shankar’s present in Kolkata. She additionally remembered him as a “naughty and cussed baby.” She shared within the documentary, In Search of Guru Dutt, “He had an inquisitive thoughts. Generally I used to go mad answering his questions. He by no means listened to anybody and would do what happy his coronary heart. He used to get indignant simply and was impulsive.”

However this impulsive, short-tempered man grew as much as be a accountable individual. He gave up his dream of going to varsity and getting a level. He appeared for his Matric exams along with his mom and each cleared the examination in the identical yr. However after that, at 16, he needed to take up the job of a phone operator in a mill due to his household’s monetary situation. He used to earn Rs 30 per thirty days. “When he obtained his first wage, he purchased one thing for everybody. He purchased a frock for me, a coat for our father, and a Bhagavad Gita for his faculty trainer. He was beneficiant since all the time,” Dutt’s youthful sister Lalitha Lajmi shared with Prasaar Bharti.

Nonetheless, his dream of studying dance, music and drama was fulfilled by his uncle BB Benegal, and he was despatched to Uday Shankar’s College of Dancing and Choreography in Almora in 1941, the place he received an annual scholarship of Rs 75. However Dutt needed to return to his household in Bombay (now Mumbai) after being expelled because of an alleged relationship with the corporate’s main girl.

[embedded content]

However quickly he was employed as an assistant dance director at Pune’s Prabhat Movie Firm. Right here started Dutt’s journey within the Hindi movie trade. On the Prabhat Studios, Dutt developed a lifetime bond with Dev Anand throughout an opportunity assembly.

Commercial

“In 1946, I used to be on the payroll of Prabhat Movie Firm and was taking part in the lead in my first movie, Hum Ek Hain. Someday, as I used to be strolling out of the studio, I noticed a younger man of about my age getting into, and we exchanged well mannered hellos. A couple of seconds later, he turned and stared at my shirt. I checked out his. I realised he was sporting my shirt and I used to be sporting his. Clearly, the washerman had interchanged them. We had a hearty giggle and embraced one another,” Dev Anand instructed journalist Shaikh Ayaz. He had additionally talked about that in his love affair with Suraiya, Dutt was his dearest pal and confidante.

Dutt and Anand additionally promised one another that every time they’ll style success, they’ll make one another part of it. “We promised one another that the day I turned a producer, I’d take him on as a director, and the day he directed a movie, he’d forged me as a hero. And I’m not a promise-breaker. I did launch Guru as a director in Navketan’s Baazi in 1951,” Anand shared.

dev anand guru dutt Guru Dutt, Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman. (Specific archive picture on 03.08.1956)

After Baazi’s success, the filmmaker directed Jaal (1952) and Baaz (1953), Aar-Paar (1954) and Mr & Mrs 55 (1955) and CID (1956). However, these movies couldn’t satiate the artistic starvation of Dutt. He felt he was in “solitary confinement” which ended solely with the discharge of Pyaasa.

Commercial

In a 1957 Filmfare interview, he stated, “Once I joined movies, the wanderer in me was put right into a solitary confinement and the door of my ‘jail’ was opened solely after the discharge of Pyaasa.” Whereas making movies, he additionally gave Hindi cinema abilities like Johnny Walker (comic), VK Murthy (cinematographer), and Abrar Alvi (author and director) their debuts. Waheeda Rehman, whom he forged in Pyaasa, was additionally stated to be his discover.

Baazi not solely gave Dutt a flying begin to his profession, but in addition launched him to the love of his life Geeta Roy, who sang the movie’s tune ‘Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Takdeer Bana De’. The 2 fell in love and his sister Lalitha turned the cupid of their love story as she delivered Dutt’s letters to Geeta. After three years of courtship, the 2 obtained married in 1953.

“We met for the primary time through the making of Baazi and it was three years later, through the making of Baaz, that we have been married. From Baazi to Baaz it was only a matter of dropping the ‘I’ and changing it right into a ‘We’,” Geeta Roy, who modified her identify to Geeta Dutt, was quoted as saying by Yasser Usman in his biography Guru Dutt: An Unfinished Story.

guru dutt family Guru Dutt along with his spouse Geeta Dutt and kids Arun and Tarun. (Specific archive picture)

Earlier than tying the knot, Geeta and Dutt determined that she is going to proceed her profession as a singer within the movie trade. However issues modified after marriage and Dutt began objecting to her singing. He needed her to sing solely in his movies. Therefore, their fights turned frequent they usually grew aside. Geeta Dutt took to consuming and step by step distanced herself from Guru Dutt. A while in 1963, Dutt moved to a flat on Peddar Highway, Mumbai and Geeta, along with her three kids, shifted to an residence close to Mehboob Studios, in Bandra.

Although an alleged affair with Waheeda Rahman was usually stated to be the explanation behind his troubled marriage, his sister Lalitha instructed Filmfare, “Guru Dutt’s speculated relationship with Waheeda has grow to be a kind of a delusion at the moment. She’s been unnecessarily blamed for his disturbed marriage. Possibly, Guru Dutt noticed a muse in Waheeda. Love is a troublesome emotion to outline. And let me let you know he didn’t commit suicide over both of the 2 ladies.” She revealed in the identical interview that her brother had “suicidal tendencies, he had tried suicide twice earlier than.” She stated, “The second time he was admitted to the Nanavati Hospital and had slipped right into a coma for 3 days.”

Commercial

waheeda rehman guru dutt Waheeda Rehman and Guru Dutt. (Specific archive picture)

As per his brother Devi Dutt, he had an ‘ego’ that triggered troubles for him and his son Arun believed his father had a “unfavourable thought course of and morbid considering”.

Dev Anand additionally stated that Guru Dutt “suffered from melancholia.” The famend filmmaker couldn’t take a look at life past success and failure as he as soon as stated, “What’s life about, pal? It’s solely about two issues – success and failure. There’s nothing in between.”

Commercial

Abrar Anvi recalled his final night with Dutt in ‘Ten Years With Guru Dutt’. He revealed that Dutt was consuming since 5.30 within the night and was upset since Geeta refused to ship their daughter to Dutt’s place. He retired into his room after dinner at 1 am and at 3 am got here in search of Abrar. When he didn’t discover him, he took one other bottle of whiskey with him into his room and locked the door.

guru dutt abrar alvi Guru Dutt with director Abrar Alvi on the set of the movie Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam. (Specific archive picture)

The subsequent morning, Geeta Dutt known as a number of instances to talk with him, however he was lengthy gone. Whereas Abrar famous that he died because of troubles in his private life, his brother Devi instructed Filmfare, “Guru Dutt was dealing with critical revenue tax issues. He was on the verge of chapter. He was frightened in regards to the studio going away.”

Commercial

At present, after watching a few of his cult classics, one can’t assist however agree with Dev Anand’s phrases, “He ought to have made extra movies. He had a lot in him.”

Adblock take a look at (Why?)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Bollywood Divas Inspiring Fitness Goals

 17 Apr-2024 09:20 AM Written By:  Maya Rajbhar In at this time’s fast-paced world, priori…