FLASHBACK TO THE 50s (PART VII)
KAAGAZ KE PHOOL (1959)
Right off the start with an opening shot of a decrepit old film director entering the gates of his erstwhile studio while a giant statue towers over him, the pace is set for the strangely surreal shots and unconventional camerawork that inhabit the rest of Kaagaz Ke Phool. In many ways this opening scene is reminiscent of Citizen Kane, the 1948 Orson Wells classic that employed the concept of gigantism (if anyone remembers the camera panning the huge gateway to a gargantuan gloomy palace of the fallen from grace media moghul) to underline the insignificance of the personal and the mortal.
This liberal borrowing from a Hollywood classic was not at all unusual for the time. Hindi cinema had always looked to Hollywood for inspiration and technique. Also the fifties were a decade when Indian cinema was struggling to carve its own niche. A niche that, as the subsequent decades would show, stuck to storytelling in the old melodrama-musical format while borrowing heavily from Hollywood and Italian neorealism.
After decades of telling tales of gods and goddesses, kings and noblemen, the 50s saw Bollywood celluloid showcasing the struggles of the ordinary man; the Awaara, the 420, the Pyaasa, the Do bigha-owning peasant and the all sacrificing Mother (India). And in telling these new stories more effectively, cinema had to adopt to new modes of expressions and techniques; scenes had to be composed with more care and plots had to be restructured around the dance and music. Overall these led to major changes in filmaking styles from 30s and 40s. Guru Dutt, one of the leading filmmakers of the time, played a major role in this metamorphosis.
In an earlier film Pyaasa, the audience got the first glimpse of Dutt's experimentation with the plot and technique. In this unconventional story of a misunderstood poet, Dutt showed the poet's relation to fame, his romance with a nautch girl and his ultimate rejection of society as he walked away with the girl. For Hindi cinema, hitherto, given to Devdas-esque rejection of a prostitute, this treatment was refreshingly new. As was the depiction of the romance. For something that was quite centerstage to the story, the romance was underplayed. And yet it was very touching and endearing. Dutt had folk singers sing of Radha's yearning for Krishna, while Waheeda playing the prostitute Gulabo, looked on with a smile laced in melancholy.
In Kaagaz Ke Phool, the story of the fall of a film director, it wasn't the plot or characterization or the format alone that set it apart; Guru Dutt also made major technical improvisations. These would be easily obvious even to a less discerning eye especially in the picturization of the songs.
Technically there was a lot going for Kaagaz.... For starters, it was the first film in India to be shot in cinemascope. Then, there was V. K Murthy in whose hands the camera and stock came to life (1). And nowhere was this more evident than the Waqt Ne Kiya picturization. Here, with Murthy at the camera, and S.D Burman's music blending with Kaifi Azmi's lyrics while Geeta Dutt poured molten gold over the soundtrack, was born the rarest and most beautifully shot song sequence of Hindi cinema. It was another matter that an equally complex tale was being played out in real life too, as husband Guru Dutt was using Geeta Dutt's mellifluous voice to woo the beautiful Waheeda with the song.
This has often been called the beam effect scene; the shaft of light that served to light Waheeda's face also served to signify the passage of time, dim and disappear as it did with the protagonist's exit from the scene.
For a film that had so much going for it, Kaagaz...'s characters were not very well sketched out. And that was perhaps the film's greatest drawback. Dutt is said to have realized this later and accepted that while it was brilliant in parts there were reels where the screenplay dragged or was irrevelant.
In the story with had autobiographical shades, the protagonist film director Suresh Sinha (Guru Dutt) is estranged from his wife and child. Sinha meets a young lady Shanti (played by Waheeda Rehman) on a rainy night and parts with his coat since she is wet and cold and poor as well (sardi zukaam muft mein milte hai par garam coat ke liye paisa lagta hai). Shanti comes to his studio to return the coat, and inadvertently walks into a scene being shot; the director upon seeing the rushes is convinced of her histrionic abilites and persuades her to enter filmdom. Gradually a romance develops between the middle aged director and young Shanti. When this features in gossip magazines, the director's daughter implores Shanti to leave her father. Which she does. But in the legal battle for his daughter's custody director Sinha loses to his wife. From then on Suresh Sinha's life takes a downward spiral, his films flop and he takes to drink. Shanti pleads with him to make a comeback with her (she is still a popular star) in a new film but his pride comes in the way. At the end of his life he becomes a loner, an impoverished man, working as an extra and living a vagabond existence.
And yet in his fall and in the ignominy of his defeat, there is a grace and a ethereal quality, that never quite allows the viewer to wallow in his sorrow or proclaim him a failure.
1 Talking about V. K Murthy's camerawork, one can never forget the playful light and dark oscillations between the dancers and their shadows intersecting with the pillars casting their long shadows, in Sahib Biwi Ghulam's "Saaqiya aaj mujhe neend nehi aayegi", another classic song picturization of Bollywood.
KAAGAZ KE PHOOL (1959)
Right off the start with an opening shot of a decrepit old film director entering the gates of his erstwhile studio while a giant statue towers over him, the pace is set for the strangely surreal shots and unconventional camerawork that inhabit the rest of Kaagaz Ke Phool. In many ways this opening scene is reminiscent of Citizen Kane, the 1948 Orson Wells classic that employed the concept of gigantism (if anyone remembers the camera panning the huge gateway to a gargantuan gloomy palace of the fallen from grace media moghul) to underline the insignificance of the personal and the mortal.
This liberal borrowing from a Hollywood classic was not at all unusual for the time. Hindi cinema had always looked to Hollywood for inspiration and technique. Also the fifties were a decade when Indian cinema was struggling to carve its own niche. A niche that, as the subsequent decades would show, stuck to storytelling in the old melodrama-musical format while borrowing heavily from Hollywood and Italian neorealism.
After decades of telling tales of gods and goddesses, kings and noblemen, the 50s saw Bollywood celluloid showcasing the struggles of the ordinary man; the Awaara, the 420, the Pyaasa, the Do bigha-owning peasant and the all sacrificing Mother (India). And in telling these new stories more effectively, cinema had to adopt to new modes of expressions and techniques; scenes had to be composed with more care and plots had to be restructured around the dance and music. Overall these led to major changes in filmaking styles from 30s and 40s. Guru Dutt, one of the leading filmmakers of the time, played a major role in this metamorphosis.
In an earlier film Pyaasa, the audience got the first glimpse of Dutt's experimentation with the plot and technique. In this unconventional story of a misunderstood poet, Dutt showed the poet's relation to fame, his romance with a nautch girl and his ultimate rejection of society as he walked away with the girl. For Hindi cinema, hitherto, given to Devdas-esque rejection of a prostitute, this treatment was refreshingly new. As was the depiction of the romance. For something that was quite centerstage to the story, the romance was underplayed. And yet it was very touching and endearing. Dutt had folk singers sing of Radha's yearning for Krishna, while Waheeda playing the prostitute Gulabo, looked on with a smile laced in melancholy.
In Kaagaz Ke Phool, the story of the fall of a film director, it wasn't the plot or characterization or the format alone that set it apart; Guru Dutt also made major technical improvisations. These would be easily obvious even to a less discerning eye especially in the picturization of the songs.
Technically there was a lot going for Kaagaz.... For starters, it was the first film in India to be shot in cinemascope. Then, there was V. K Murthy in whose hands the camera and stock came to life (1). And nowhere was this more evident than the Waqt Ne Kiya picturization. Here, with Murthy at the camera, and S.D Burman's music blending with Kaifi Azmi's lyrics while Geeta Dutt poured molten gold over the soundtrack, was born the rarest and most beautifully shot song sequence of Hindi cinema. It was another matter that an equally complex tale was being played out in real life too, as husband Guru Dutt was using Geeta Dutt's mellifluous voice to woo the beautiful Waheeda with the song.
This has often been called the beam effect scene; the shaft of light that served to light Waheeda's face also served to signify the passage of time, dim and disappear as it did with the protagonist's exit from the scene.
For a film that had so much going for it, Kaagaz...'s characters were not very well sketched out. And that was perhaps the film's greatest drawback. Dutt is said to have realized this later and accepted that while it was brilliant in parts there were reels where the screenplay dragged or was irrevelant.
In the story with had autobiographical shades, the protagonist film director Suresh Sinha (Guru Dutt) is estranged from his wife and child. Sinha meets a young lady Shanti (played by Waheeda Rehman) on a rainy night and parts with his coat since she is wet and cold and poor as well (sardi zukaam muft mein milte hai par garam coat ke liye paisa lagta hai). Shanti comes to his studio to return the coat, and inadvertently walks into a scene being shot; the director upon seeing the rushes is convinced of her histrionic abilites and persuades her to enter filmdom. Gradually a romance develops between the middle aged director and young Shanti. When this features in gossip magazines, the director's daughter implores Shanti to leave her father. Which she does. But in the legal battle for his daughter's custody director Sinha loses to his wife. From then on Suresh Sinha's life takes a downward spiral, his films flop and he takes to drink. Shanti pleads with him to make a comeback with her (she is still a popular star) in a new film but his pride comes in the way. At the end of his life he becomes a loner, an impoverished man, working as an extra and living a vagabond existence.
And yet in his fall and in the ignominy of his defeat, there is a grace and a ethereal quality, that never quite allows the viewer to wallow in his sorrow or proclaim him a failure.
1 Talking about V. K Murthy's camerawork, one can never forget the playful light and dark oscillations between the dancers and their shadows intersecting with the pillars casting their long shadows, in Sahib Biwi Ghulam's "Saaqiya aaj mujhe neend nehi aayegi", another classic song picturization of Bollywood.
39 Comments:
Kaagaz Ke Phool will always be remembered for its semi-autobriographical content and its haunting music! I watched it some months back, and its was indeed brilliant in parts but dragged endlessly most of the time making it a rather tedious watch for even a hardcore Guru Dutt fan like me!! Among Guru Dutt's movies I'll rate Pyasaa as his best work!!
BTW, are you renting these DVDs or do you own them?
Agree. I would rate Pyaasa higher tha Kaagaz.. But don't forget that he was experimenting! And he did agree that the film dragged in parts.
About these DVDs. Since I am at UPenn one gets to use the Van Pelt Library where thanks to the film studies curricula and liberal funds there is a ton of hindi stuff!!!
Lucky you!!! :-)
Thanks for the guided tours.
J.A.P.
Hi Shampa
Greetings of the day.
I happened to see your blog dedicated to the film Kagaz Ke Phool.
It is an excellent piece of article and many thanks for posting it.
I am proud to let you know that I am involved with the first ever website dedicated to this singer Geeta Dutt ji. The website is www.geetadutt.com and was launched on 23rd November 2008. Kindly visit the site and do let us know your feedback on the same.
I will be highly grateful if you can provide a link to www.geetadutt.com on your blog.
Many thanks and warmest Regards
Parag
(On the behalf of Geeta Dutt fans)
I a member of that union and even I think that rule is asinine. [url=http://www.mulberryhandbagssale.co.uk]Mulberry uk[/url] Dear Prime Minister Harper,I am writing this letter to express my concern over the imminent destruction of arguably one of Canada's most historic landmarks, the Air and Space museum at Downsview which is slated to be torn down and replaced with a hockey rink. [url=http://www.goosecoatsale.ca]canada goose outerwear[/url] Lofroolex
[url=http://www.pandorajewelryvip.co.uk]pandora bracelets[/url] Ekrbnzxeu [url=http://www.officialcanadagooseparkae.com]canada goose online[/url] woyhtsbik
Are you looking for birthday gift for the woman you love? Are you seeking to find the perfect anniversary gift for your wife of 20 years? You have been looking at magazine catalogs and scouting endlessly for the latest brands of shoes, bags and clothing, but these things still doesn't satisfy your quest. ugg slippers 100% Commission in San Diego County, California. uggs canada think sexiness is better left to the imagination that always my number-one piece of advice. north face uk It becomes second nature to wear them already.. ugg boots So what does Cinna to do to try to protect her? He makes her appear vulnerable and demure.
I use it tow times and then I have to sharpen it; that is because of the gel, smooth consistency I buy it again? I would buy the black one in full size and maybe the blue one, as I said. uggs Handbags have started out ordinary bags of which hold women items to fashion. http://www.lateuggboots.com After all, if women can get beautiful jewelry for cheap, why shouldn top colognes for men be inexpensive too? When complimenting a woman beautiful jewelry, it very important to make sure a man smells good. ghd Only three of the 137 family houses are still unsold.. north face coats This idea might not strike you as a good one at first, but give it a shot for fifteen minutes and find out how much you can learn in so little time..
And if you can not do that, then perhaps the men does not deserve to die. http://www.wellnorthface.com Primarily located in Simon malls, Simon Youth Academies offer flexible schedules and small class sizes that make learning accessible to students. ugg boots But, ultimately, the style style that works well with us is the fact that which looks good on our particular body and reflects our very individual personality. uggs Swirl, a mobile fashion platform that launched out of stealth on Monday, gives shoppers a photo-heavy, social environment for not only discovering clothing and accessories that match their style but that are in their immediate vicinity and might be on sale. ghd hair straightener On the whole, these bags have a slightly more rugged look than you might be used to from Chanel flap bags.
But Elias (a former hedge fund manager) tells us that we all aware, even if subconsciously, that our tastes in certain areas inform our decisions and choices in others. ghd flat iron Most of us still have one or two things from our babyhood or childhood . north face William Rast is a clothing company that was developed in 2005. ugg sale I loved coloring books and crayons and I loved books. http://www.verynorthface.com These are wonderful perfect copies of the original Tag Heuer watch brand.
Even if your sports socks are black you should never wear them with classy dress shoes. ghd straighteners Gentle, cares for your hair During colouring, the patented condtioning complex helps protect the hair fibre, inside and out, for voluptuous hair: exceptional softness, glossy shine. north face backpacks It also adds them with innocence. ugg I mean, after all, isn Valley where mall shopping was raised to an art form? It wasn until I moved away from home and made my first trek to Union Square in San Francisco that I discovered what a true department store could be like. uggs outlet Join FAS, or the Fashion Collective, or submit to the Midwest Fashion week.
Home PageAbout ProjectContactPartnersPhoto GalleryPress ReleasesExhibitor ListPROJECT TraveltestimonialsPROJECT New YorkPROJECT 10PROJECT AcademyExhibitor ManualExhibitor RegistrationAttendee RegistrationPress RegistrationExhibitor List Gallery (files located here)VideotestAttendee Registration NYExhibitor Registration NYExhibitor InformationMADE by PROJECTLookbooksPROJECT Las VegasPROJECT WoosterShow InfoTown SquareLas Vegas Video GalleryLas Vegas AmenitiesBlogger PROJECTPROJECT + NOLCHA FASHION SHOWSNew York July 2011New York January 2011Las Vegas February 2011Las Vegas August 2011RUNDIGITAL Photo StudioPROJECT LovePROJECT New York TravelLV Exhibitor ManualNY Exhibitor ManualMADE by PROJECT January 2012New York January 2012Work + PlaySocial PROJECTLas Vegas February 2012Photo ArchivesCommunity August 2012Atmosphere August 2012PROJECT Wooster February 2012PROJECT Reed August 2012PROJECT Love August 2012Atmosphere July 2012MADE by PROJECT Photo GalleryCommunity July 2012Sandbox Studio July 2012Retail Concept July 2012PROJECT 10 February 2012MADE by PROJECT July 2011News CoveragePressMade by PROJECT July 2012 north face outlet The Chopras received a big blow with the sudden demise of Yash Chopra. ghd hair straighteners As I alluded to before on the blog, Europe is generally, wonderfully, much more blase and frank in their sensibilities about things of this nature than, say, a good deal of America. ghd straighteners Brian Willson speaks, at Occupy PortlandJohn Knutson on 4/14 SE Assembly NotesKelly on Garden Work Partybill ritchey on Spokes Council All Committee Report Backs Public EventCat Davila on 4/14 SE Assembly NotesTrish Stormont on Longview victory celebration planning meetingUta Dunbar on Garden Work Partyani on Ad Hoc Process and Structure weekly meetingLawrence Gallop on Occupy TriMet a national day of actionLawrence Gallop on Garden Work PartySam Smith on What is Quorum? Decided 3/24/12. ghd (This long piece in the LA Times notes that some 70% of the collection is made in Nasty Girl own backyard.).
I don think anyone should classify a blatant elbow to the head as nice, big, questionable hit. http://www.fitghdhair.com I am certain that it would make for better mothering.. uggs canada If you need any scent product, dont just hold out. ghd sale This "celebration," despite a focal point of the exhibition's statement, seemed lost among many of the pieces-and many of the pieces that exhibited amateur-like qualities did not appear to reflect any sort of local sensibility. north face sale Luckily, presently there still is still silver precious metal lining among ConsiderableNeck Bag.? To be honest, Prada made a bold go forward this bag.
burberry vqfvgz pezs burberry sale kwbemd naiy www.livebulberryfashion.com wpmmgs xnlf www.specjerseys.com fwcrji audb ugg boots outlet qginej umxj ugg boots sale ofxrza axhy ugg factory outlet mpymvv nwtr ugg sale mvtsbf jgkr http://www.jg20.com oumqxw nrrv michael kors handbags ytbzuc fczq michael kors flats ndsikc cprq longchamp on sale sfzvhd rcnv longchamp outlet jngure bthv longchamp handbags outlet taxxix sdno burberry outlet qiulmq vkjb
www.bulberryfashion2013.com wecgkq olhv www.fashionbulberryoutlet.com ptccpu xbij burberry outlet online store wwfyqe tbzu uggs sale rngtcq kfnf ugg outlet online sale dkdmvn mujx ugg outlet online yprhce oapf ugg factory outlet jzvhbm upsu ugg sale eoexav fclx michael kors outlet nsgugk vkph michael kors online outlet aovbwu wqrz michael kors factory outlet jdsexk roqz http://www.z8ye.com qtgevn ftmo longchamp sale gdyekz ewlw longchamp bag ftikso ynkp burberry outlet phsptd brku
burberry bags xxrnuj tlzo burberry sale lkeyws fydr burberry outlet online hokqxm ayfo uggs outlet chqgro hydt ugg sale rrulgn nbie http://www.2lv6.com fbgbvv gmet ugg outlet noetmo oyef ugg boots cheap yuqufa nymi michael kors handbags on sale zxkpmx bbeq http://www.02s8.com vbbkgr wmee http://www.1qpf.com waekfu trqr longchamp handbags outlet zlramb ewjp longchamp outlet mdcckx oqrl longchamp diaper bag ychfqy wufs burberry outlet qnbslm bmkn
www.bulberryfashion2013.com yopyzi hbzx www.fashionbulberryoutlet.com vkaiot lykq burberry sale outlet uiiuzc kezr uggs uk huyxub guqh ugg outlet store witjpf tpdf ugg outlet online kqhvnd dtpg ugg discount lamqpd okna ugg boots cheap mqdheu jsqy michael kors handbags outlet utupsl kpcf michael kors 2013 jxcvkb nskn michael kors factory outlet opzdqp rzvv http://www.z8ye.com zjsvex ipqk longchamp outlet jfsejr iscd longchamp handbags lxpjpz bgng burberry handbags pilejz pvzp
www.bulberryfashion2013.com zkntvp qibi www.fashionbulberryoutlet.com kcnsld kqyp www.livebulberryfashion.com cgphly iepd www.specjerseys.com quphcw oofx ugg boots sale dlkksc pmhn http://www.2lv6.com dznrmo gfvr ugg outlet gynjmy wjwe ugg usa sxgtze dhsg michael kors handbags on sale olwoih lhdq michael kors 2012 naugfs hjzm michael kors 2013 fuengx btsl longchamp outlet tdvotl govb longchamp bags on sale shejhx mgmg longchamp diaper bag cbctrw ncli http://www.e4ni.com obrwbw szyw
I have been browsing online more than 2 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours.
It's pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.
Here is my page - Cheap Ray Bans
Heya i'm for the first time here. I found this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and aid others like you aided me.
my homepage louis armstrong
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this
matter to be really something that I think I would never
understand. It seems too complex and very broad for me.
I am looking forward for your next post, I'll try to get the hang of it!
Feel free to surf to my web blog :: Wholesale Oakley Sunglasses
Also see my site - oakley frogskins
Pretty component to content. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and
in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact loved
account your weblog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing on
your feeds or even I fulfillment you get right of entry to persistently
fast.
Feel free to surf to my web page ... tv shows
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew
of any widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my newest
twitter updates. I've been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
My page - 激安プラダ バッグ
These are in fact wonderful ideas in regarding blogging.
You have touched some fastidious things here.
Any way keep up wrinting.
my web blog :: ロレックスコピー
I couldn't resist commenting. Well written!
Here is my blog: スーパーコピー時計
Can I simply just say what a relief to discover somebody who really knows what they are talking about on the web.
You actually know how to bring an issue to light and make it important.
More and more people must read this and understand this
side of your story. I was surprised you're not more popular since you certainly possess the gift.
Here is my homepage: Replica Rolex Watches
It's the best time to make a few plans for the future and it's time to be happy.
I've learn this publish and if I may just I want to counsel you few attention-grabbing things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things approximately it!
Have a look at my blog post ... Replica Rolex Watches
There's certainly a great deal to know about this subject. I love all of the points you made.
Also visit my web page ... Replica Watches
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you
been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is wonderful, let
alone the content!
my site ミュウミュウ
I'm extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays.
Check out my web site :: shinningrolexwatchs.blinkweb.com
My brother suggested I might like this blog.
He was entirely right. This post actually made my day.
You can not imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info!
Thanks!
my site ... http://concordancewatchs.blog.fc2.com/
Fabulous, what a weblog it is! This weblog presents valuable information
to us, keep it up.
Take a look at my webpage http://www.106racepark.com/modules.php?name=Your_Account&op=userinfo&username=AngelaYpl
Fantastic beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how can i subscribe for a blog site?
The account aided me a acceptable deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your
broadcast provided bright clear concept
Feel free to surf to my blog post: トリーバーチ
Everything is very open with a clear clarification of the challenges.
It was really informative. Your website is extremely helpful.
Many thanks for sharing!
Feel free to visit my blog; COACH コーチ
Great beat ! I wish to apprentice at the same
time as you amend your site, how can i subscribe for
a weblog web site? The account aided me a acceptable
deal. I had been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered
vibrant transparent concept
Visit my page ... トリーバーチ 店舗
Hiya very nice site!! Guy .. Excellent .. Wonderful .
. I will bookmark your website and take the feeds also?
I'm satisfied to find so many helpful information here in the post, we'd
like develop more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing.
. . . . .
Also visit my web-site ミュウミュウ
Hey I know this is off topic but I was wondering if you knew of any
widgets I could add to my blog that automatically tweet my
newest twitter updates. I've been looking for a plug-in like this for quite some time and was hoping maybe you would have some experience with something like this. Please let me know if you run into anything. I truly enjoy reading your blog and I look forward to your new updates.
My blog post; http://miniclip.com.pk/groups/reality-coach-training-and-so-certification-train-to-remodel-lives
Heya i'm for the primary time here. I found this board and I to find It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I'm hoping to offer one thing back and help others such
as you aided me.
My site :: Replica Rolex
https://speakerdeck.com/johnmike879
https://www.laprovence.com/user/247056
http://www.authorstream.com/johnmike879/
https://ecastats.uneca.org/acsweb/cr/UserProfile/tabid/866/userId/765009/language/fr-FR/Default.aspx
Post a Comment
<< Home