Directed by: Guru Dutt
Music: SD Burman
Lyrics: Kaifi Azmi,
Shailendra
Starring: Guru Dutt,
Waheeda Rehman,
Baby Naaz, Johnny Walker,
Veena, Minoo Mumtaz,
Pramila, Mahesh Kaul
Earlier this year, I missed Raj Khosla’s birth centenary. Today is the birth centenary of his mentor and friend, Guru Dutt, a luminary in his own right, and someone who has contributed his mite to the golden age of Hindi cinema. It seemed only fitting that I acknowledge and celebrate this milestone.
The question was, how? Do I write about him under ‘The Masters’? Do I curate a list of songs, given that he was an accomplished song director? Or do I review one of his films? (I have reviewed two of my favourite Guru Dutt films before – Mr & Mrs 55, which is a guilty pleasure, and Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam, which, though not directed by him, had his fingerprints all over it.)