Movie Discussion: Pyaasa (1957) by Guru Dutt
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Guru Dutt’s intense, melancholy drama is an icon of Hindi cinema’s golden age, when India's newfound independence sparked a robust, questioning artistry. Dutt, who counts among India’s greatest directors, also stars in the film as Vijay, a destitute Urdu poet ridiculed by his brothers and scorned by publishers for writing on social issues rather than romantic topics. Set in Calcutta, Pyaasa (which means "thirst") considers the position of the creative underclass amidst postcolonial India’s uncompromising developmental agendas. The enigmatic Waheeda Rehman plays Gulabo, a sex worker who finds solace in Vijay’s poetry and offers encouragement. The film also features some of Bollywood’s most enduring love songs, composed by S.D. Burman and Sahir Ludhianvi.
"The film's tale... is worthy of Dickens, but what really comes through is a portrait of a rapidly modernizing society obsessed with money, status, and power — and the lonely romantics who foolishly, heroically refuse to give in to it." (MUBI)
"Possibly one of the most remarkable transpositions of poetry on screen." (Sight and Sound)
"Dutt manages to take a poignant personal narrative and turn it into an outward-looking commentary about the state of unemployed youth in postcolonial, poverty-stricken India that is political, philosophical, and still very personal." (Rotten Tomatoes)
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Let's journey back to Indian cinema and discuss the 1957 movie Pyaasa (Hindi: प्यासा) by the acclaimed Indian filmmaker Guru Dutt, who directed, produced, wrote, and starred in the film. The film was recently voted the 185th greatest movie of all time in Sight & Sound's international survey of film critics, and it's considered the 5th greatest Indian movie of all time according to a meta-analysis by TheyShootPictures.
Please watch the movie in advance and bring your thoughts, reactions, and queries to share with us at the meeting.
You can stream it HERE (check the player settings for English subtitles and to adjust quality) or rent it on various platforms online. (I suggest watching the restored version! Avoid the cropped version on YouTube.) Note that the movie is 153 minutes long.
Check out other movie discussions in the group every Friday and occasionally other days.