Caulfield

Caulfield | 6 | October 23, 2009 at 7:38 pm | 333 views | Interviews| Share

Arun Dutt has a measured, polite and apologetic tone when he speaks — as though he was to blame for your ignorance — and a way of quietly stressing some words.

Dutt, who was in New York for a series on Guru Dutt’s films at the New York Film Festival, looks remarkably like his legendry father, a fact accentuated when he stood against a poster of Guru Dutt’s films.

Dutt discussed growing up in the shadow of Guru Dutt, hearing about his father from his old film crew, and how that affected him as a son.

How did you get involved in this event?

The rights for all films, except Baazi, are with me. [Dev Anand's [ Images ]] Navketan has that. The director of programming for the New York Film Festival, Richard Pena, had come to Pune sometime last year and we started talking. We’ve had a few screenings in the US — either Kaagaz Ke Phool was shown, or Pyaasa. But we never had a festival of this sort.

How has the fan following for your father changed over the years?

It has changed a lot. In fact, during his own time, he was not appreciated at all by the press. Yes, the audience loved him — all of his films were more or less successful but the press practically ignored him.

It was in the 1980s, when the films went to France [ Images ] and became very popular there, and in Europe. That was when the Indian press sort of woke up to him and, you know, seeing his films once again, started appreciating [them]. Today, he’s considered a legend.

Which is your favorite movie made by your father.

Pyaasa.

Isn’t Pyaasa about innocence betrayed and Kagaz ke Phool more a song of experience?

Yes, but the difference is just two years between the two.

But the story of Pyaasa is older, right?

Pyaasa was written in 1947 [it was released in 1957]. I’ve got his original handwritten version of Pyaasa (smiling with some pleasure). Page one is missing but you can really know what follows because the beginning of the film is exactly like the script. In the later stages, he made changes.

What language did he write in?

English. He thought in English also.

Read more from HERE

Related Posts

Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif together for the Guru Dutt biopic???

Aar-Paar starring Guru Dutt, Shyama, Shakila and Johnny Walker

An exclusive list of the greatest films ever made.

Geeta Dutt – The Skylark : A must read musical biography

Geeta Dutt with newer generation of composers

There Are 6 Responses So Far. »

1. 

   pardesi 23 October 2009
   08:39:53 pm

   

   Thanks Caulfield. Very informative interview, I had no idea there was a falling out between Sahil and Guru Dutt after Pyaasa. But I would take GD’s side, Pyaasa even without the lyrics would still be Pyaasa. The lyrics were awesome though, and inspired Piyush Mishra in Gulaal.
2. 

   Salim 24 October 2009
   01:14:43 am

   

   wicked interview.
   Sahir seemed to have problems with a lot of people! But the man was incredible – definitley my favourite lyricist alongside Gulzar. Sahir’s work with Roshan was magic.
3. 

   rbhopal1 4 November 2009
   02:32:49 pm

   

   Hey folks…Sahir is a fellow Ludhianvi (I was also born in Ludhiana..tho’ much later!) so naturally he has to be my favourite lyricist, but he was so talented…like in Pyasa his lyrics really touch your inner soul..especially the brothel song…but I would say that like in any film it’s the whole team and not just one person that makes or breaks the film…in Pyasa everyone was exceptional!
4. 

   Qalandar 4 November 2009
   02:59:44 pm

   

   I was lucky enough to catch Pyaasa at the recent Guru Dutt retrospective at NYC’s Lincoln Center (Arun Dutt spoke before the film, and you can easily spot the resemblance to his father), the film, the soundtrack, the lyrics, never get old…

   Thanks for posting…
5. 

   Qalandar 4 November 2009
   03:00:23 pm

   

   rbhopal1: I thought you were a Bhopali. I can’t imagine why.
6. 

   rbhopal1 5 November 2009
   02:01:41 am

   

   Bhopali, Punjabi, Gujerati, …in the end we are all Indian..with a common love for quality cinema..!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.