Guide is Vijay Anand’s unforgettable masterpiece- a movie so complex and layered in its narrative that you someimes are amazed at the thought process that must have gone into it. A film so far removed from the hill station romances being made in 60’s with their invariably spoilt rich heiresses and their strutting song-on-the-lips suitors that it makes you salute the courage and conviction of Dev Anand who produced this movie.
GUIDE is considered Dev Anand’s finest moment as an actor..the benchmark against which all his latter day performances were measured. Waheeda Rahman never looked as beautifully incandescent as she did in Guide and Vijay Anand despite his phenomenal talent was never able to re-create the magic of Guide in his films thereafter.
The film starts with Dev Anand who plays Raju, the guide, being freed from jail.He stands at a cross-road(literally!!) and decides whether to head back home or take the other unknown path..deeply ashamed by his sojourn in jail he decides to start afresh..and his journey begins..and so does the film with SD Burman’s soul-stirring ’’Wahan kaun hai tera’’.
He finds refuge in a village where he is mistaken for a saint-Mahatma..and by some turn of circumstance is forced to undertake a 12-day fast, which the villagers believe will bring clouds..rains..salvation from their current misery of drought and starvation.Dev Anand tries to escape but he cannot escape from his inner demons..his conscience..which tells him that this is his chance at self-redemption..He stays on..fasts..miraculously it rains..the villagers rejoice..but..the fast takes its toll..and Raju dies..
This is just a gist..actually not even a gist..as the true enormity of what Vijay Anand has achieved in his narration is to be seen and savoured.The lead protagonists of the film..Raju and Rosie(Waheeda Rehman)are neither white nor black but deliciously grey..
Rosie breaks a loveless marriage and finds solace in Raju’s arms..but you are never sure whether she does it because she loves Raju or is it because Raju encourages her to pursue her first love-’Dancing’ with full zeal..
Later you are not quite sure about Raju’s intention as well who initially fights the entire world including his doting mother..for Rosie..but then uses her dance performances to gain money, power and stature for himself..he never marries her..the whole relationship becomes one of convenience..rather than true love..
The arguments between Raju and Rosie in this part of the film is particulary memorable..When Dev Anand accusses Waheeda of being selfish-’’Jab Matlab tha toh pyaar tha..Waheeda retorts-’’Jab matlab se pyaar hota hai, toh pyaar se matlab nahin rahta..’’
The love story in this movie is absolutely unique and its difficult to find a more complex, ambiguous, tempestuous relationship in any other mainstream hindi movie..
The technical department of this movie is absolutely top-notch..be it the lush cinematography by Fali Mistry or the wonderful choreography..the editing by Vijay Anand is top class with the story seamlessly moving back and forth in time..
The music..well to do complete justice to that..have to write another review on just the music of Guide. Each and every song is a delight..what sublime melodies..complemented splendidly by Shailendra’s poetry..Be it ’’Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai’’ or ’’Piya tose naina lage re’’ or Rafi’s brilliant renditions of ’’Tere mere sapne’’ or ’’Din Dhal jaye’’..each song is a nugget to be treasured.arguably SD Burman’s finest work.
This film is undoubtedly a classic and if you haven’t seen it..go watch it..it will be 3 hours..very well spent..
Cheers!!!