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Time of India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Casting Guru Dutt: Why Kollywood courted the brooding Bollywood romantic
Apart from his short lifespan of 39 years, filmmaker and actor Guru Dutt had this in common with the epochal Tamil poet Subrahmanya Bharati: like the latter, he received recognition and apotheosis only after his death. Even as Bharati's seminal lines of poetry are eternally etched in the Tamil consciousness, the songs of Dutt's films project evergreen lyrical hues of great human significance. Who can forget Pyaasa's anthemic refrain penned for Dutt by the incomparable Sahir Ludhianvi , 'Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye tho kya hai' (To what avail is personal victory in a world bereft of human values)? More directly underscoring the Tamil literature connection of Dutt was his little-known fascination for the work of the prince-turned ascetic and poet, Ilango, and his urge to picturise his epic 'Silappadhikaram' with Waheeda Rehman playing the role of Madhavi, the other woman in the life of the epic's protagonist Kovalan, who suffered the tragic fate of decapitation for a crime he did not commit. But that was not to be because of Dutt's untimely death in October 1964, either due to a deliberate or involuntary overdose of alcohol and sleeping pills. Known as the grand master of romantic gloom and the alchemist who transformed commercial Hindi cinema's pedestrian formulas through his individualism, artistry, and vision, Dutt's reputation skyrocketed in the decades after his demise, with Time magazine listing his 'Pyaasa' (1958) among the hundred all-time great films of world cinema in 2005. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Pelajari Undo In the early 1960s, consequent on the resounding failure of his ambitious 'Kaagaz Ke Phool', India's first cinemascope film in 1959, after the commercial and critical success of 'Pyaasa', Dutt became chary of directing films and preferred to essay roles rather than wield the megaphone, though there is speculation that he might have ghost-directed some parts of his successful film 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam' (1962), which he produced and played a significant role in. It was at this point that South Indian film producers found it opportune to cast the famous but unassuming director-actor in their quickly made Hindi films based on proven regional language subjects. Guru Dutt too, tired of the tempests raging in his life, both because of his difficult relationship with his wife Geeta Dutt, as well as his growing attachment to Waheeda Rehman, whom he groomed as a heroine, found working in the efficient Kodambakkam studios to his liking. The first South Indian Hindi film in which Guru Dutt played the male lead was 'Bahurani' (1963), which features a gutsy young wife standing up for her newly-wed, somewhat mentally challenged husband, against her violent brother-in-law. The film had been earlier made in Telugu as 'Ardhangi' (1955) and in Tamil as 'Pennin Perumai' (1956). In the Tamil version, Gemini Ganesan essayed the role played by Guru Dutt in the Hindi remake. Guru Dutt was directed in the film by the veteran Telugu-Tamil filmmaker T Prakash Rao, who had such hits as Sivaji Ganesan's 'Uthamaputhiram' (1958) and MGR's 'Padagotti' (1964) to his credit. The film, however, did not make waves. N Vasudeva Menon, an AVM studio manager who became a producer and studio owner himself, booked Guru Dutt for 'Bharosa' (1963), a remake of the Tamil 'Thedi Vandha Selvam' (1958), an ordinary film about a wronged hero with a golden heart. It was a role in which Guru Dutt was comfortable, though the film did not have much to write home about. The famous producer A L Srinivasan, known for his connections with Hindi film personalities and all-India film trade bodies, liked Dutt so much that he booked him for 'Suhagan' (1964), the Hindi remake of his own Tamil hit production, 'Sarada' (1962), which deals with a husband who can have physical relations with his wife only at the risk of dying. Director K S Gopalakrishnan had been fearful of directing a filmmaker of Dutt's stature, but the latter put him at ease. More than 'Suhagan', it was the time Dutt spent with Gopalakrishnan in his village, Malliyam, near Mayiladuthurai, that proved unforgettable. Gopalakrishnan's associate, the respected dramatist and writer Komal Swaminathan, recalled Dutt's easy manner and friendliness in his memoirs. Dutt would spend hours together in the hot sun angling for fish in a village tank. At a time when prohibition was being firmly implemented in Tamil Nadu, Dutt enjoyed potfuls of country toddy with the relish of sipping his favourite Chivas Regal! After all this merriment, some in place, some out of place, Dutt's unexpected death came as a shock to the 'Suhagan' unit, and producer ALS had to release the film with the message, "I humbly dedicate this film to the everlasting memory of the late Shri Guru Dutt, my friend and your favourite". Commercial hype apart, Guru Dutt has proved to be one of the great favourites of world cinema. (The writer is a Chennai-based journalist)
India.com
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Jeetendra, Shashi Kapoor, and many actors refused to work with this actress, until two heroes starred with her and turned her into a superstar, her name is…
For her dance and acting, Minu Mumtaz was counted among the best actresses in the 1950s and 1960s. Though she has given hit films one after the other, even today, people remember her films like Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam. Let us tell you, Mumtaz told in an interview how she will always remember Dilip Kumar and Mehmood till her death. She said, My dream of doing a film with Dilip Kumar i.e., Yusuf Sahab, would never have been fulfilled if Mehmood had never recommended me. Mumtaz said that at that time, a film of Yusuf Sahab was about to be released, in which he was playing the role of a twin. Let us tell you, the film we are talking about is the film 'Ram Aur Shyam' released in the year 1967. In which Mumtaz played the character of a girl named Shanta. Mumtaz said, I will always be grateful to Mehmood. At that time, I was working with Mehmood, and I came to know that Yusuf sahab's film was about to release, in which he is going to play the role of a twin. At that time, Mehmood had told Yusuf sahab that I am working with this girl (Mumtaz), and she is a very sweet girl. If you work with her, then her life will change. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jyoti Arshika (@jyoti_arshika) Mumtaz praised Dilip Kumar and further said, Yusuf sahab was such a sweet and good person that no one can match him. He told Mehmood to bring that girl. I will talk to him during lunch break and show him Mumtaz's work. Let us tell you, at that time, Mehmood had taken my work reel to show to Yusuf sahab. After which, he praised my work a lot and said that the girl is very good. I will do a film with her. Mumtaz said that working with Dilip Kumar was a big achievement in my career. After I worked with him, after that I started getting offers of films one after the other, and no film rejected me. My name was included in the list of top actresses at that time. Along with this, Mumtaz said that I will also be very grateful to Mehmood.
India Today
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Why Mahesh Babu's Khaleja is finally getting the love it missed 15 years ago
The final dialogue from the film 'Khaleja', 'Athbhutham jarige tappudu evvaru gurthinchaleru, jarigina tharuvatha evvaru gurthinchalsina avasaram ledu' which translates to, 'No one recognises a miracle while it's happening; and once it's done, there's no need to recognise it" - has come to reflect the film's own journey. What was once seen as a commercial failure in 2010 has now, fifteen years later, turned into a record-breaking success with its re-release. A miracle that went unnoticed at first, only to be celebrated long after it had quietly made a film's success is judged by its box office performance. But is that the only metric? This debate of success versus impact has existed for as long as cinema itself. Box office numbers depend on much more than just the quality of the film: timing, audience sensibilities, release competition, packaging, genre, the star's momentum. All of these played a part in the film's box office success. But, if success also means longevity, cultural relevance and emotional celebration, then a good film will always find its way into the hearts of audiences, even if it takes are countless examples in Indian cinema. From Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool and Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker to Shah Rukh Khan's Swades, films that failed at first found cult status later. Telugu cinema too has its share of such films, including Ram Charan's 'Orange', Rana's 'Leader', Ravi Teja's Neninthe, and among them, Mahesh Babu and Trivikram's Khaleja stands out as a film whose second life seems far more powerful than its Khaleja Failed to Impress in 2010advertisement Released on October 7, 2010, Khaleja arrived with high expectations. It marked the reunion of Mahesh Babu and Trivikram Srinivas after Athadu, a film that also gained widespread recognition after its satellite run. By then, Mahesh had already become a mass hero following Pokiri. However, his previous two films - Sainikudu and Athidi - were commercial disappointments, and Khaleja marked his comeback after a three-year the film's promotional interviews, when asked about his hiatus and the role in Khaleja, Mahesh Babu remarked, 'I felt a sense of monotony with the characters I was playing. I wanted to break out of that bubble, so I went all in with this one. Alluri Seetharama Raju in Khaleja is the most challenging and significant role of my career.' This shift in tone and the long gap between films contributed to heightened expectations among too, was riding high after Pawan Kalyan's Jalsa, and expectations were sky-high. But, upon its release, Khaleja received mostly negative responses. Critics pointed to its confusing themes, uneven screenplay and the lack of strong action moments. Despite Mahesh Babu's entertaining performance, fans were divided. The film also released around the same time as Rajinikanth and Shankar's Enthiran, which affected Khaleja's run in an interview with iDream, producer C Kalyan remarked, 'Before common audiences saw the merit in the film, Mahesh Babu's fans themselves killed the film. Their expectations were high, expecting a mass entertainer, but here he was, doing comedy which people didn't accept. They compared it to Robot (Endhiran) and dismissed it. But, I knew Khaleja would become a trendsetter.'What Makes Khaleja an Over-Time Classic?While Khaleja may not be a perfect film, several of its elements are undeniably striking. Mahesh Babu as Alluri Sitarama Raju, a taxi driver, is fresh, humorous, grounded and entirely believable. His reactions, one-liners and comedy timing add a layer of spontaneity. Even in high-stakes sequences, he never breaks the character of Seetharama Raju. His iconic use of "Bhayya!" became a pop culture comedy is another high point. It's woven into the fabric of the narrative, not added as filler but as organic, dialogue-heavy moments. The chase scene involving Govardhan in the second half is a great example. The intensity is contrasted by its quirky energy, making it both entertaining and Trivikram attempts to layer deeper philosophical ideas into the plot, about God, purpose and faith. At the film's success meet, the director, explaining the core of the film, said, 'After the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna ruled for many years. He died a normal man, his children were killed, thieves looted the kingdom. We don't talk about that because, to us, he is God when he speaks the Bhagavad Gita. Similarly, when an auto driver saves a man in an accident, he becomes God to that man, for that moment, for the outside world, he is an ordinary auto driver. Similarly, our hero.' It's a bold, layered idea. One that took time to be understood and Trivikram's signature dialogue writing elevated the film, intense lines like "Gaali velu chusthundi (the wind will lead the way) or 'Nela vollu virucukuntundi sidda (The earth will tear apart its skin, Sidda), or the famous monologue in the climax are now quoted with reverence, not just for their meaning, but for their literary time, social media discourse, decoding videos, and re-watches have also brought attention to the film's aesthetics, from Mani Sharma's music to the cinematography and production Khaleja a Perfect Film?Despite its cult following, many of the film's original criticisms still hold. The pacing is slow. While the chemistry between Mahesh Babu and Anushka works, her character Subhashini's role, too, feels underwritten. The villain, a corporate mining kingpin, comes across as a convenient caricature in an otherwise ambitious importantly, the film fails to invest enough time in its central theme. About 50 per cent of Khaleja is comedy, 40 per cent is set up, and barely 10 per cent is devoted to exploring the idea of godhood and existentialism. The one scene where Seetharama Raju has his realisation is brilliant, but there should have been more such moments to lend weight to the for all its flaws, Khaleja is a rare attempt. A film that blends philosophy, humour and commercial sensibilities in a way Telugu cinema hadn't seen before. It may not have worked in 2010, but fifteen years on, its resonance is louder than ever.
Pink Villa
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
POLL: Harbhajan Singh, Guru Dutt or Sharath Kamal, whose biopic do you want Vicky Kaushal to star in? VOTE
Vicky Kaushal has quickly become a favorite choice for biopics, thanks to his powerful performances. Now, the question is — which iconic personality should he bring to life next? Is it the cricket legend Harbhajan Singh, the table tennis maestro Sharath Kamal, or the legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt? Cast your vote below and let us know whose biopic you want to see him star in! Harbhajan Singh, Guru Dutt, or Sharath Kamal, whose biopic do you want Vicky Kaushal to star in? Vicky Kaushal has emerged as one of the top choices for biopics. Go vote and let us know whose story you'd like to see him bring to life. Harbhajan Singh Guru Dutt Sharath Kamal 1. Harbhajan Singh In an interview with Zoom, Harbhajan Singh expressed confidence in Vicky Kaushal's abilities, praising him as a brilliant actor. He mentioned that Vicky, being Punjabi and from the same Doaba region as himself, shares a similar accent, which he found impressive. He also complimented Vicky's looks, humorously adding that with makeup, Vicky could easily resemble him. Harbhajan firmly believed that Vicky was capable of portraying him effectively. Additionally, former actress Geeta also supported Vicky Kaushal as the ideal choice for Harbhajan Singh's biopic. She agreed with Harbhajan's views, highlighting Vicky as one of the finest actors today, noting his Punjabi background, tall stature, and distinctive appearance. Geeta expressed her conviction that Vicky would do a fantastic job playing Harbhajan in the biopic. 2. Guru Dutt Mid-day recently reported that Vicky Kaushal is in discussions to portray the legendary filmmaker and actor Guru Dutt in an upcoming biopic. Vicky is considered the frontrunner to take on the role of the iconic personality, celebrated for classics such as Pyaasa, Kaagaz Ke Phool, and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam. Sources say the makers are looking for an actor who can authentically capture the artist's brilliance and poignant emotions. 3. Sharath Kamal As reported by Free Press Journal, Sharath Kamal stated that before any film adaptation of his life is made, he plans to pen down a book detailing his experiences. He believes that writing provides a clearer perspective and helps form a comprehensive narrative. Sharath further mentioned that once the book is finished, a movie could potentially be made, though he expressed some skepticism about whether his sport has enough popularity to draw attention from filmmakers. Regarding casting choices, he humorously remarked that his main criterion would be for the actor to be tall, hinting with a smile that Vicky Kaushal might be an ideal candidate.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
SRK's son AbRam celebrates 12th birthday, Fans debate why Anushka Sharma is blamed in defeat but forgotten in victory, Vicky Kaushal to play Guru Dutt in biopic: Top 5 news
AbRam Khan celebrated his 12th birthday with family, while Vicky Kaushal is in talks to portray Guru Dutt in a biopic. Anushka Sharma faced online criticism during RCB's losses but received praise after their victory. Navjot Singh Sidhu shared an anecdote about warning Shah Rukh Khan about Bollywood, highlighting SRK's self-assuredness and drive to succeed. Whether it's a much-awaited teaser drop, a heartwarming throwback, or a big update from the industry's favourites — we've rounded up the biggest stories that had fans talking non-stop. From Shah Rukh Khan 's son AbRam ringing in his 12th birthday with Gauri Khan and Suhana Khan, Fans debating why Anushka Sharma is blamed in defeat but forgotten in victory to Vicky Kaushal being reportedly in talks to play Guru Dutt in biopic; dive in to catch up on all the glam, drama, and breaking updates from the world of entertainment! Shah Rukh Khan's son AbRam rings in his 12th birthday with Gauri Khan and Suhana Khan Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan's youngest son, AbRam, celebrated his 12th birthday on May 27, 2025, with an intimate gathering in Mumbai. The cozy celebration included his mother Gauri, sister Suhana, and maternal grandmother. The event featured pizza, a chocolate cake, and heartfelt moments, though Shah Rukh and Aryan Khan were notably absent. Vicky Kaushal in talks to play Guru Dutt in biopic? Vicky Kaushal is reportedly in discussions to portray the legendary filmmaker and actor Guru Dutt in an upcoming biopic. Known for his emotionally nuanced performances, Kaushal is seen as a fitting choice to embody Dutt's complex persona. Guru Dutt, celebrated for classics like Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool, remains an iconic figure in Indian cinema. The company holding the rights to Dutt's films is planning both web series adaptations and this biographical film. While official confirmation is pending, the prospect of Kaushal taking on this role has generated significant excitement among fans and film enthusiasts. Ajay Devgn confirms Drishyam 3 Shah Rukh Khan's son, AbRam, celebrated his 12th birthday with a family gathering attended by his mother, Gauri Khan, and sister, Suhana Khan. The intimate celebration featured a chocolate cake and a heartfelt note from Gauri, who shared a photo of AbRam on Instagram, expressing her love and pride. Why is Anushka Sharma blamed in defeat but forgotten in victory? Anushka Sharma faced trolling during RCB's losses but was praised after their win against Punjab, as fans called out the double standards. She was seen cheering joyfully in the stands. A recent viral moment shows her hugging a friend, while Kohli's birthday post for her also made headlines. Navjot Singh Sidhu warned SRK about Bollywood; actor REACTS Navjot Singh Sidhu recalled warning a young Shah Rukh Khan that Bollywood would "eat him like a sausage." SRK's confident reply? 'I don't compete with others, only with myself.' The anecdote highlights the fearless mindset that helped him rise to become one of India's biggest and most enduring superstars. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
