May 24, 2007 01:46 PM
4454 Views
(Updated May 24, 2007 01:47 PM)
Produced and directed by Guru Dutt Kagaz ke Phool is no less than a cult classic. Made
back in 1959 this movie can be considered as Guru Dutt’s semi-autobiographical. Narrated in flashback, Guru Dutt has shown his own understanding and sympathy for human conditions. Movie narrates protagonist’s
tragedies and later his acceptance of the same. Guru Dutt has touched his love story with the pain and despair of his own life highlighting it with heart breaking moments. It is said that when the movie released it flopped because this cinematic masterpiece went over the audience's heads as it was too
sad, slow and tragic to handle.
The movie tells the story of a man who had everything but lost it. Guru Dutt plays a film director
who is shunned by his family because his profession has no social status. He becomes successful on discovering a new actress, Shanti, played by Waheeda Rehman, and fell for this young woman. His success is short lived when they are forced to separate because of pressure from his family. This design conveys the
passion, anger and sorrow of the narrative.
S.D Burman’s music and Kaifi Azmi lyrics represent one of the finest songs with “waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam” as one of the beautiful sad song. Waheeda Rehman’s and Guru Dutt’s admirable acting with superb dialogues conveys the depth of the emotions portrayed. Even in
technically terms it is one of the finest movies as the camerawork with its use of light and shadows is magical. The frames have been beautifully composed keeping in mind the cinemascope format. The film has been shot with
meticulous attention to detail and the ambiance of the film studios is most effectively created.
In the end Guru Dutt creeps back to an empty set, sits on the director’s chair and quietly passes
away. It shows an ironic assertion of the glamour world that the show must go on. On the whole watching this movie is a gloomy experience but deep down one can see the moments of intense brilliance that comes straight from the heart of Guru
Dutt.
