Remembering Guru Dutt: 7 Iconic Must-Watch Films By The Legend

An actor, director, and producer, Guru Dutt is known for giving some of the best classic movies of Hindi Cinema in the 50s and 60s. The intricacies of his films are what makes them way ahead of their times. 

One of the best filmmakers and actors that the Indian Cinema has ever seen, Dutt was honored by the Indian Post in the year 2004 by releasing the stamps which bore his face. In the year 2010 Guru Dutt was a part of CNN’s list of top 25 directors of Asia. Here's a list of some of the iconic Guru Dutt films:-

#1. Aar Paar (1954)

Unlike the Guru Dutt films of his later years in cinema, Aar Paar was a light hearted comedy. It presented a comic tale of a taxi driver in Mumbai and two women who pursue him for marriage.

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#2. Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1955)

Another one of Guru Dutt’s comedy film, Mr. & Mrs. 55 traces the story of a cartoonist in contemporary Mumbai. The film dealt with the theme of marriage. Interestingly, the title of the movie turned out to be even more apt with the Hindu Marriage Act coming into force that year.

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#3. Pyaasa (1957)

The movie Pyaasa made it into the Time Magazine’s list of top 100 films of all times. Pyaasa is the most iconic romances that the Indian Cinema has ever seen. Tracing the tragic story of a poet (Vijay) and his unquenched thirst for getting published, the story ends with Vijay renouncing the world. The character of Gulaabo, a local courtesan, is something that adds on to the depth of the film.

(Image Courtesy: Pyaasa)

#4. Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)

Surprisingly, Kaagaz Ke Phool was not a commercial success. However, decades later, it ended up becoming a cult classic. It also got a place in Sight & Sound critics and director’s poll as the greatest film of all times. It traces the fall of a movie director who falls in love with an actress, is driven to alcoholism and eventually dies a lonely death.

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#5. Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960)

Chaudhvin Ka Chand was Guru Dutt's commercial comeback after the box office failure of the 1959 film Kaagaz Ke Phool. It captures a love triangle, where two best friends fall in love with the same woman. The film also had the element of comic relief with the character of Mirza Masaraddik Shaiza, played by Johnny Walker.

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#6. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962)

Set in the colonial times, the plot of the movie, interestingly, revolves around the relationship between a feudal lord, his wife and their servant. Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam spectacularly depicts the fall of Feudal system in Bengal, as the grand haveli gradually reduces into ruins.

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#7. Saanjh Aur Savera (1964)

A romantic drama, Saanjh Aur Savera was the last film in which Guru Dutt made an appearance. It is the story of a wealthy doctor, Dr. Shankar, living in Mumbai and the dramatic events followed by his marriage.

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We would love to hear from you on the Guru Dutt, his films and the cinematic legacy left behind by him. Share your opinions with us in the Comment section below, and vote for your favorite Guru Dutt classic!

(Featured Image Courtesy: Time Magazine)