Year of release: 1957 Director: Guru Dutt Producer: Guru Dutt Music: SD Burman Lyrics: Sahir Ludhiyanavi Script: Sarat Chandra’s Star Cast: Guru Dutt, Rehman, Mala Sinha, Waheeda Rehman, Johnny Walker etc Arguably Guru Dutt’s best work, ’Pyaasa’ ranks high in the select list of classic Hindi films and continues to attract cine buffs each time it is screened -- either at a festival or even otherwise. Based on Sarat Chandra’s novel, Srikanta, Pyaasa laments the loss of basic human values like love, friendship, honesty and faith through the tragic tale of the impoverished poet, Vijay (played by Guru Dutt himself). Rarely does mainstream cinema witness a character as evolved as Vijay. His disenchantment with a ruthless, materialistic world is evocatively brought out by Sahir Ludhianvi’s momentous lyrics set to simple but soulful music by S D Burman. Everything from the timeless lament, ’’Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai...’’ to the melancholic ’’Jaane woh kaise log the...’’ and the lilting ’’Jaane kya tune kahi...’’ is sheer magic. Equally poignant is the love story that unfolds on screen between Vijay and Gulabo (Waheeda Rehman), the prostitute who loves him with all her heart and realises his true worth even as everyone else uses and abuses him relentlessly. Vijay’s old sweetheart Meena (Mala Sinha) is a total contrast to Gulabo. While the former trades her love for a life of comfort and marries a rich publisher (Rehman), the latter remains steadfast in her devotion to Vijay and has undying faith in his talent. It takes rumours of Vijay’s death to bring his poetic genius to light. Suddenly the very people who had once dismissed him, his brothers, close friends and his manipulative employer turn him into a revered figure. His work sells like hot cakes and glowing tributes are paid to the deceased artist.
One day Vijay comes back from the dead. But his shop-runners would rather not see him alive. He is dismissed as a fake, and humiliated. Guru Dutt’s work is significant not only for fine performances from Waheeda Rehman and the director himself, but also for the fact that ironically, ’Pyaasa’ turned out to be the story of Dutt’s own life! The filmmaker had to suffer great losses and humiliation with his ambitious ’Kaagaz Ke Phool’ which eventually led to depression and ultimately, suicide. It was only after his death, that Guru Dutt was acknowledged as one of India’s greatest directors, and Kaagaz ke Phool a masterpiece. It is this unfortunate reality that further augments the tragedy of ’Pyaasa’..