Why Guru Dutt’s “Pyaasa” a must watch film even when 68 Years on

Why Guru Dutt’s “Pyaasa” a must watch film even when 68 Years on

Amidst the country on a right or wrong attitude over the majority, the song “Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Woh Kahan Hain” from the Guru Dutt directorial Pyaasa brings a
much-needed sense of reality, it questions how can one feel any sense of pride when women are treated like this?

Guru Dutt’s immortal classic Pyaasa released on February 22, 1957 is often dubbed as ‘ahead of its time’, and that’s more than just a cliché.
In fact, Pyaasa feels even more relevant today than it did upon its release.

The struggles of an artist against an apathetic society resonate deeply in an era where the onslaught of technology threatens the very essence of artistic expression.

Notwithstanding its brilliance, Pyaasa was considered a risky venture at the box office.
Legend has it that distributors were so uncertain about its commercial viability that they insisted on adding the song Hum Aapki Aankhon Mein, offering a lighter moment of respite to the audiences from the film’s pervasive melancholy.

In fact, there was a debate amid Guru Dutt and writer Abrar Alvi regarding the film’s ending part.
Abrar wanted the protagonist to embrace the recognition and love finally bestowed upon him, while Guru Dutt insisted that he renounce it all. In the end, Guru Dutt prevailed.

Pyaasa tells the story of a struggling poet, Vijay, played by Guru Dutt, and his experiences in a heartless world where ‘the dead are worshipped, and the living are trampled upon.’
Vijay fails to secure a job after finishing college and struggles to make a living by getting his poetry published.

However, since he writes too much about the real world rather than penning down rosy verses, his work always ends up in the dustbin of publishers.

Vijay turns a pauper and is thrown out of his house by his elder brothers, who don’t want a freeloader in the family. Only his mother loves and cares for him.

Vijay later discovers that his brothers have also sold his collection of poems as scrap. He rushes to the scrap dealer, only to find out that a woman has already bought it.

Disheartened and dejected, Vijay chooses to sleep on park benches or at a friend’s place rather than return to a home where no one recognises his art.
A chance invitation to a college reunion introduces Vijay to a wealthy publisher, who offers him a job — not to publish his poems, but to confirm a doubt that he has. Vijay is in for more shocks and surprises.

However, he eventually comes across meets an admirer. One night, on the streets, Vijay hears a prostitute singing a song he wrote and realises that she is the woman who bought his poetry collection from the scrap dealer.

Yet, Vijay does not seek love or romance. He is too disturbed by the ways of society, where everyone seems to care only for themselves.
However, he does want his poetry back.
Two female characters play pivotal roles in the movie.
One is Meena, played by Mala Sinha, Vijay’s former lover from college. Vijay sarcastically introduces her as a ‘decent woman of high society’, who left him to marry a wealthy man because he was unemployed.

To his surprise, Vijay discovers that Meena is married to his boss, Ghosh, the publisher, who, having sensed their past relationship Amidst the reunion party, employed Vijay with the sole intention of exposing them.

The other character is Gulabo, played by Waheeda Rehman, the prostitute who bought Vijay’s poems from the scrap dealer and eventually falls in love with him. She is a kind-hearted woman who, despite being abused and exploited by society, continues to admire life and love.

Though Vijay is deeply sensitive in general, he is especially sympathetic toward oppressed women. This aspect is brought out elaborately in the movie.
Not only is the portrayal of Gulabo and other prostitutes refreshingly humane, but there are also moments where Vijay is visibly disturbed by their suffering.

One scene stands out: His friends take a grief-stricken Vijay to a brothel, where one of the dancers is forced to leave behind her ailing, crying baby to tend to clients. This provokes Vijay to recite “Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par Woh Kahan Hain”, one of Sahir Ludhianvi’s many classics.

News Edit KV Raman