FILMS  SELECTED :

BAAZI  (1951)
AAR PAAR  (1954)
MR. & MRS. 55  (1955)
SAHIB BIBI AUR GULAM  (1962)

These films will be shown in June 2015 at Spanish Film Institute.

Biography

Considered to be a man ahead of his time, Guru Dutt was one of the greatest icon of commercial Indian cinema. Although he made less than 50 films during his lifetime, they are believed to be the best to come from Bollywood’s Golden Age. They are known both for their ability to reach out to the common man and for their artistic and lyrical content, and they went on to become trendsetters that have influenced Bollywood ever since. But for all his genius, there was a shroud of tragedy that overshadowed his career and life.

Continue reading GURU DUTT (Classic among the classics) →

BAAZI
Guru Dutt
Cast : Dev Anand, Geeta Bali, Kalpana Kartik
India. 1951. 143 min. Drama. Musical.

Venue :

Spanish Film Institute
3,  21  June

Madan comes from a poor family background. Unable to find employment, he takes to gambling in a big way. He makes a lot of money, and decides to open a gambling den, where he makes even more money. He meets with sophisticated and cultured Dr. Rajani, and both are attracted to each other. But Rajani’s dad does not approve of Madan nor of his background, and would prefer that Rajani marry Inspector Ramesh. Rejected, Madan meets with vivacious and outgoing Meena, and romances her. Then Inspector Ramesh arrests Madan and imprisons him for the murder of Meena, who was killed with a revolver with Madan’s fingerprints on it.

AAR PAAR
Guru Dutt
Cast : Shyama, Guru Dutt, Jagdish Sethi
India. 1954. 146 min. Romance. Musical.

Venue :

Spanish Film Institute
7,  23  June

Kalu is a taxi-driver in Bombay. He has two women who love him and would like to marry him. Kalu first wants to establish himself, and become rich, before he can even think of marriage. One of the women who loves him, has a father who is involved in gangster-type activities, and would like Kalu also to join him so that he can get rich soon. Kalu has now to decide to become rich quick or sleep better.

MR & MRS 55
Guru Dutt
Cast : Madhubala, Guru Dutt, Lalita Pawar
India. 1955. 157 min. Romance. Musical.

Venue :

Spanish Film Institute
9,  25  June

A young, naive heiress, in custody of a martinet and flamingly feminist aunt is forced into a ‘marriage of convenience’ with an unemployed cartoonist in an attempt to save her millions – a move orchestrated by the scheming aunt. However, in the course of her ostensibly married life, she learns the true meaning of marriage and the deep significance of being an Indian wife, much to the dismay of her aunt, who, in adherence to her wayward beliefs, has been trying to instill every kind of anti-male sentiment in her niece’s ingenuous mind.

Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam
Guru Dutt
Cast : Meena Kumari, Guru Dutt, Rehman
India. 1962. 152 min. Drama. Musical.

Venue :

Spanish Film Institute
13,  24  June

A Zamindar neglects his wife and prefers the company of alcohol and dancing girls. The decadence of the Bengali Zamindar milieu and the raising bourgeoisie in the late 19th century, seen through the eyes of a young upward mobile rustic seeking fortune in Calcutta, and fascinated by the lady of the house.