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Guru Dutt Padukone was born in Mysore in South India on July 9, 1925. He had his early education in Calcutta before doing basic training with dance maestro Uday Shankar after which he joined Prabhat Studios. It was here that he got a break as a choreographer with the film Hum ek Hain (1946 ), the launching pad of friend and actor Dev Anand. Rumour has it they met at Prabhat when their shirts got mixed up by the dhobi! A friendship blossomed wherein Dev Anand promised him that if ever he produced a film, Guru Dutt would direct and should Guru direct, Dev would play the leading man! From Prabhat Guru Dutt moved on to Famous Studios and then on to Bombay Talkies. His close friend from Prabhat, Dev Anand (now a star), who had launched his own banner 'Navketan', invited him to direct a film for him thus keeping his share of the promise. 1951 saw the release of Baazi Guru Dutt's directorial debut. The film starring Dev Anand, Geeta Bali and Kalpana Kartik was a trend setter regarded as the forerunner of the spate of urban crime films that followed in Bollywood in the 1950s. Its songs, sung mainly by well known playback singer of the times Geeta Roy, were runaway hits. In fact Guru Dutt and Geeta Roy met during the song recording of Baazi and fell in love marrying on the 26th of May,1953. Baaz in1953 saw Guru Dutt make his debut as leading man and he went on to act as well as direct.
Aar Paar released in 1954 established Guru Dutt as a director to reckon with. Followed some of his best work Mr. and Mrs 55, Pyaasa and Kaagaz ke Phool but the last mentioned was adismal failure at the box office and a dejected Guru Dutt never directed a film again. He continued to produce films and act in both home and outside productions. But never did he ever give his name in the credits as director again. Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam though credited to writer Abrar Alvi bears his unmistakable stamp. The film won the President's silver medal as well as the film of the year award from the Bengal Film Journalists Association. However Guru Dutt's personal life was a shambles. He had separated from his wife allegedly due to his involvement with his discovery and leading actress Waheeda Rehman and on Oct. 10, 1964 he took an overdose of sleeping pills and committed suicide though doubts linger as to whether his death was accidental. Indian cinema had lost one of its greats. At the time of his death Guru Dutt was starring in Love and God and in Baharein Phir Bhi Aayengi, a home production. Both the films were ultimately completed by different actors, Sanjeev Kumar and Dharmendra respectively.
Guru Dutt revolutionalised the close up shot. He went into closer magnifications of characters than those seen till then almost as if probing for their internal feelings. He went beyond the standard 50mm lens used then, using lenses with higher focal length to get tighter close ups. He strongly felt that 80% of acting was done in the eyesand 20% the rest of the body. For the eyes are the most expressive part. And being an actor - director made it easy for Guru Dutt to get good performances from his artistes. But being a limited actor himself, his directorial ability knew how to utilize his strengths while covering his weaknesses. His thematic contents coupled with his technical innovations make his films the masterpieces they are. And if he wasn't completely satisfied with the results, he scrapped the film he was making irrespective of the amount of money and time gone into the project. This explains the large number of incomplete films that he left. According to his one time assistant and successful director in his own right, Raj Khosla
" His ambition was not just to make a good film or be one of the top film-makers. He aspired to make a great film, a different film and he wanted to be the best film-maker. He always wanted things in absolute terms. Be it acclaim or success. He would settle for nothing less. Film making was an obsession with him. He was a very ambitious man. But ambition is a passion that can destroy. It ultimately drove him to the point of no return."
Writer and close friend Abrar Alvi recollects
" Frankly none of his films satisfied him as a director. He always felt that something was missing from his films."
Raj Khosla further felt that Guru Dutt had achieved too much too soon as far as his professional life was concerned. After Pyaasa and Kaagaz ke Phool, there was nothing better to be achieved. This created a vacuum in his life. Perhaps this emptiness caused him to take his own life. His death was an irreplaceable loss for Indian Cinema.
As Dance Director :
Hum ek hain ( 1946 ) starring Dev Anand, Rehana
As Assistant Director :
Lakharani ( 1945 ) starring Durga Khote, Monica Desai, Sapru. Guru Dutt acted in it as well.
Mohan ( 1947 ) starring Dev Anand, Hemavati
Girl's School ( 1949 ) starring Geeta Bali, Sohan, Shashikala, Sajjan
Sangram ( 1950 ) starring Ashok Kumar, Nalini Jaywant
As Director :
Baazi ( 1951 ) starring Dev Anand, Geeta Bali, Kalpana Kartik and K.N. Singh. Guru Dutt's first film.
Jaal ( 1952 ) starring Dev Anand, Geeta Bali and K.N. Singh
Sailaab ( 1956 ) starring Abhi Bhatacharya, Geeta Bali
As Producer, Actor, Director:
Baaz ( 1953 )***starring Guru Dutt, Geeta Bali. This was produced in partnership with Geeta Bali's sister under the banner of H.G. Films.
Aar Paar ( 1954 ) starring Guru Dutt,Shyama, Shakila, Johnny Walker
Mr. & Mrs 55 ( 1955 ) starring Guru Dutt, Madhubala, Lalita Pawar, Johnny Walker
Pyaasa ( 1957 ) starring Guru Dutt, Mala Sinha, Waheeda Rehman, Rehman, Johnny Walker
Kaagaz ke Phool ( 1959 ) starring Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Johnny Walker
As Producer, Actor :
Chaudhivi ka Chand ( 1960 ) starring Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Rehman, Johnny Walker
Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam ( 1962 ) starring Guru Dutt, Meena Kumari, Waheeda Rehman, Rehman
As Producer :
C.I.D. ( 1956 ) starring Dev Anand, Shakila, Johnny Walker and introducing Waheeda Rehman
As Actor :
Twelve o'clock ( 1958 ) starring Guru Dutt, Waheeda Rehman, Shashikala
Sautela Bhai ( 1962 ) starring Guru Dutt, Pronoti Ghosh
Bahurani ( 1963 ) starring Guru Dutt, Mala Sinha
Bharosa ( 1963 ) starring Guru Dutt, Asha Parekh, Mehmood, Shubha Khote
Sanjh aur Savera ( 1964 ) starring Guru Dutt, Meena Kumari, Mehmood, Shubha Khote
Suhagan ( 1964 ) starring Guru Dutt, Mala Sinha
Incomplete productions :
Gauri ( 1957 ) This was to have launched wife Geeta Dutt as a singing star and was to be India's first ever film in cinemascope.
Raaz ( 1959 ) Based on Wilkie Collins' The Woman in White. This was to have been music director R.D. Burman's maiden film.
with Waheeda Rehman in 'Raaz'
Kaneez ( 1962 ) A fantasy based on the Arabian nights. This was to have been Guru Dutt's first feature film in colour.
Baharein Phir Bhi Aayengi ( 1963 - 64 ) Guru Dutt died while this film was under production. It was subsequently completed by brother Atma Ram with Dharmendra in the Guru Dutt role and released in 1966.
Other incomplete films :
Love and God ( 1963 - 64 ) Produced and directed by K. Asif, Guru Dutt was the leading man of this film. When he died the role was taken over by Sanjeev Kumar. Both Asif and Sanjeev Kumar died before completing the film. Producer K.C. Bokadia completed it by using doubles and what not and released it in 1986.
Picnic Starring Guru Dutt, Sadhana. The film was shelved.
Besides these there were announcements of filmsto be made for e.g. Professor starring Kishore Kumar and Waheeda Rehman and many ideas were contemplated upon but unfortunately never saw the light of day.
Note : Unless specified ( *** ), all the films where Guru Dutt is involved as a producer are under the banner of Guru Dutt Films Pvt.Ltd.
Geeta Dutt
The Guru Dutt - Geeta Dutt home page
Some landmark films
e-mail me at : filmnoir@bom4.vsnl.net.in
