By Omair Alavi Whenever the list of actors/directors with huge potential would be written, Guru Dutt’s would top it since he was an A class producer/director, a brilliant actor and above all, left the world lot before he could fulfill his huge potential. At 39, a drunk Guru Dutt is said to have accidentally taken…
SAMAA | Omair Alavi – Posted: Oct 10, 2017 | Last Updated: 4 years ago
By Omair Alavi
Whenever the list of actors/directors with huge potential would be written, Guru Dutt’s would top it since he was an A class producer/director, a brilliant actor and above all, left the world lot before he could fulfill his huge potential. At 39, a drunk Guru Dutt is said to have accidentally taken too many sleeping pills, resulting in his instant death. Some call it suicide, some overdose but one thing remains, Bollywood would have been much different had he carried on. Today on his 43rd Death Anniversary, we walk through his career with songs that continue to haunt us from films that featured Guru Dutt in any capacity.
Babu Jee Dheere Chalna (Singer: Geeta Dutt)
Aar Paar (1954)
In what was a noir-comedy film involving a love triangle, Guru Dutt excels as a director and actor, paving way for more serious films. Here Shakeela is dancing on a song that is still considered popular even though it came more than 60 years ago.
Jaane Kahan Mera Jigar Gaya (Singer: Geeta Dutt, Mohammad Rafi)
Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1955)
Johnny Walker was not just a comedian but a brilliant performer when it came to filming songs; in Guru Dutt’s every directorial venture or production he had a Mohammad Rafi song filmed on him, and like this one where he dances with Madhubala, each of them became famous and is considered a classic in its own right.
Jaane Woh Kaise Log The Jinke (Singer: Hemant Kumar)
Pyaasa (1957)
This song immortalized Guru Dutt as an actor so much, so that whenever you hear this song, you think of him – even if you are a fan of Pyare Afzal. He plays a disgruntled poet in the film who is considered dead even when alive and gives the performance of his life as someone who wants recognition but doesn’t get it.
Jana Kia Tu Ne Kahi
Pyaasa (1957)
Although she had been part of CID, this film gave the beautiful Waheeda Rehman her first break in films. In one of her interviews, she said that she didn’t know what a jaywalker was when she was selected to play one in Pyaasa. She gave an amazing performance in the film and went on to become one of the most sought out actresses in India.
Sar Jo Tera Chakraye (Singer: Mohammad Rafi)
Pyaasa (1957)
Johnny Walker was not just a comedian but a brilliant performer when it came to filming songs; in Guru Dutt’s every directorial venture or production he had a Mohammad Rafi song filmed on him, and like this one, each of them became famous and is considered a classic in its own right.
Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam (Singer: Geeta Dutt)
Kaaghaz Ke Phool (1959)
Composed by SD Burman and penned by Kaifi Azmi, this is perhaps the most memorable song of Guru Dutt’s career because it was way ahead of its time and the orchestra still gives you goosebumps. The situation has been recreated many times in both India and Pakistan and still looks updated and modern after 6 decades
Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho Yaa Aftaab (Singer: Mohammad Rafi)
Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960)
In the late 50s and early 60s, Waheeda Rehman was possibly one of the most beautiful women in India and Guru Dutt fell in love with her despite being married to Geeta Dutt. In this song from Mohammad Saqid’s direction, Guru Dutt’s character compares his love to a Full Moon, and he couldn’t have been more correct.
Mera Yaar Bana Hai Dulha (Singer: Mohammad Rafi)
Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960)
This classic Guru Dutt production featured him and Rehman as best buddies who fell in love with the same woman – Waheeda Rehman. The film paces forward after this shaadi song featuring Guru Dutt regular Johnny Walker who kept the audience involved with his antics.
Na Jaao Saiyya Chudake Baiyya (Singer: Geeta Dutt)
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962)
Meena Kumari was known as Tragedy Queen and this film helped her achieve eternal greatness where Geeta Dutt sang for her in what turned out to be one of her husband’s last films as an actor. He plays the Overseer at a haveli where everything is not what it seems.
Bhanwra Bada Nadaan Hai
The failure of his alleged affair with Waheeda Rehman is considered to be the reason why Guru Dutt tried to commit suicide twice before he passed away on this day in 1964. However, in their final appearance on film, she is seen writing a poetry and he is observing her, maybe her beauty and charisma.
