The name Guru Dutt brings back the memories of a highly sensitive, emotional and loving visionary who could write magical poetry on screen and is unanimously acclaimed as one of the most celebrated filmmaker of not only Indian but World Cinema, sadly living a very short life span of just 39 years. As a reputed actor, producer and director of Hindi movies, his major films are considered as the key representative of Indian cinema and have found there respected places in the All Time Great Movies lists prepared by renowned publications and organisations all over the world.
A lot has been written about Guru Dutt’s personal life, his love affairs, the artistic cinema and his cult films of the past by many renowned authors, columnists, editors and bloggers since his death in 1964. But most of these writings have always focused upon his effective presentation of pain and sadness on the celluloid through his expressive performances, chosen themes, characterizations, music and execution in films such as PYAASA, KAAGAZ KE PHOOL & SAHIB BIBI AUR GHULAM (directed by Abrar Alvi) in particular.
Putting it specifically, a big majority of these write-ups and tribute articles have always shown a deep inclination towards the writer-actor-director’s tragic end and his constant relationship with sadness or loneliness seen in the last years. And very rarely you find anyone mentioning the young, fun loving, flirting Guru Dutt we get to witness in his early films such as 12 O’CLOCK (lawyer/boyfriend), AAR PAAR (taxi driver), MR AND MRS 55 (a cartoonist) and CHAUDHVIN KA CHAND (a young lover).
Personally speaking, I really cherish watching his deep, poetic persona in all the well-made classic films talking about love, tragedies and separations in a sad yet thoughtful mode. But I honestly enjoy watching his amazingly relaxed and effortless performances in the thrillers, light dramas and romantic comedies a lot more finding an entirely different Guru Dutt in deep contrast with the over-famous gloomy image presented, followed and publicized by the majority of people.
Therefore would like to pay my humble tribute to the true artist by remembering his lesser talked about, pleasing and joyful image on screen in a particular song, where he is spiritedly dancing on a Bhangra (Punjabi) rhythm along with Asha Parekh. And the most amazing fact related with this particular song is that this is from a film that got released in 1963 (as one of his last ventures) post the release of his three cult classics i.e. PYAASA (1957), KAAGAZ KE PHOOL (1959) and SAHIB BIBI AUR GHULAM (1962) that actually established the sad-tragic image within the viewers and the industry.
The song “Kaahey Itna Gumaan Chhoriye, Yeh Mela Do Din Ka” is from film BHAROSA (releasing a year before his death), with music by Ravi, lyrics by Rajinder Krishan and rendition by Asha Bhosle, Mohd. Rafi and chorus.
No doubt, these five minutes would introduce you to a completely different Guru Dutt, far away from the image of a depressed-lonely man sitting on the chair in a deserted studio, partially visible through the beam of a streaming sunlight.
HIS BLESSINGS
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Guru Dutt in a dancing mood, Guru Dutt as a fun loving dancer, Articles on Cinema, Remembering Guru Dutt, Articles on Music, Poetry and Life by Bobby Sing, A Tribute to Guru Dutt at bobbytalkscinema.com
