Kaagaz Ke Phool
Encyclopedia
Kaagaz Ke Phool, is a 1959 Hindi film
produced and directed by Guru Dutt
, who also played the lead role in the film .
The film was a box office disaster of its time but was later resurrected as a world cinema cult classic in the 1980s. The film's music was composed by S. D. Burman and the lyrics were written by Kaifi Azmi
, giving hits like "Waqt ne Kiya Kya Haseen Situm", sung by Geeta Dutt
.
In the 2002 Sight & Sound
critics' and directors' poll, Kaagaz Ke Phool was ranked at #160 among the greatest films of all time.
, Guru Dutt
embarked on the creation of yet another of his socially challenging movies, Kaagaz Ke Phool. The theme and tone on this movie were ages ahead of the Indian audience of the 50s who were used to simpler plots and storylines. The underlying tones of the film were complex and the story was controversial for the time.
Considered one of Guru Dutt
's finest films by many, Kaagaz Ke Phool was a commercial disaster when it was first released. At the film's premiere, Dr Rajendra Prasad, then President of India and invited chief guest, walked out of the cinema hall, deeply offended. Audiences in Delhi's Regal cinema threw stones at the screen during the screening. Reactions like these deeply affected the sensitive and introverted Dutt Guru Dutt himself admitted in an interview to Filmfare in 1963,
Even though Guru Dutt produced and acted in two commercially successful and critically acclaimed hits after this, namely Chaudhvin Ka Chand
(1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam
(1962), he never undertook the role of director again. There is some speculation that Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam was ghost directed by him, although it lists Abrar Alvi
as the director, for which he won the year's Filmfare
'Best Director' award.
Ironically, today Kaagaz ke Phool enjoys a cult following, and became a commercial hit at its 1984 re-release in France
and Japan
. Critically acclaimed even at time of its release, it is often listed as one of the top ten Hindi movies of all time. The film is regarded by many as India's equivalent of "Sunset Boulevard
". Guru Dutt's influence in Indian cinema continues to date.
The cinematographer of Kaagaz Ke Phool was the legendary V.K. Murthy who won the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2010, which has the distinction of being the first Indian film made in wide 75 mm CinemaScope
. He created the shot of the sun breaking through the studio roof by using of a pair of ordinary mirrors and sambarani to get a parallel beam, as seen in the song, Waqt Ne Kiya. This scene won him the Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award for 1959. The film also won critical acclaim in direction, lyrics and poetic songs. S.D. Burman and Kaifi Azmi
poured their heart and soul in the music and lyrics of this film respectively.
), a famous film director. His marriage to Bina (Veena
) is on the rocks because her wealthy family sees filmmaking as a job lacking in social status. He is also denied access to his daughter Pammi (Naaz) who is sent to a private boarding school.
On a rainy night Sinha meets a woman Shanti (Waheeda Rehman
) and gives her his coat. She comes to the film studio to return the coat, unintentionally disrupting the shooting by walking in front of the camera. While reviewing the rushes, Sinha recognises her potential as a star in the making and casts her as Paro in Devdas. Shanti goes on to become an acclaimed star. Shanti and Suresh, two lonely people, come together. Their liaison is hotly debated in gossip columns and results in Pammi's friends tormenting her in school. Pammi pleads with Shanti to leave Sinha's life and allow her parent’s marriage another chance. Moved by Pammi’s plea Shanti throws away her career and becomes a school teacher in a small village. Shanti’s departure drives Suresh to alcohol, a downhill slide in his career and consequent decline in his fortunes. Shanti is forced to return to films since she has a contract with the studio. Eventually he gets a chance to make a comeback film only if it stars Shanti; but by then she is unable to help him, as he is too far-gone for redemption. In the final scene, Sinha, remembering his glorious past, dies in the empty film studio in the director's chair, a lonely and forgotten man.
was under strain due to his liking for Waheeda Rehman
. This was openly known causing Guru Dutt's personal life to resemble that of the protagonist in the movie. However, the forecast of his own (Guru Dutt's) death, to parallel the sad and imminent death of the protagonist in the film, is debatable.
Another explanation for the inspiration is Guru Dutt's association with Gyan Mukherjee, the famous 1940s director whose Qismet (1941) had made him into a household name. The life and subsequent failures of Mukherjee, whom Guru Dutt had joined in 1950, influenced him deeply. Many think that Kaghaz ke Phool was based on Gyan Mukherjee's life and failures, as Guru Dutt's previous film Pyaasa
had been dedicated to him.
teamed up with S.D. Burman for Kaagaz Ke Phool, coming up with some scintillating gems like the following treatise on disenchantment:
Dekhee jamaane kee yaaree, bichhade sabhee baaree baaree
kyaa leke mile ab duniyaan se, aasoo ke siwaa kuchh paas nahee
yaa fool hee fool the daaman me, yaa kaanto kee bhee aas nahee
matalab kee duniyaan hain saaree, bichhade sabhee baaree baaree.
to make it the perfect theme song for a lost season of grace. Many singers, including Lata Mangeshkar
, have tried unsuccessfully to re-create the same magic as Geeta Dutt
.
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
produced and directed by Guru Dutt
Guru Dutt
Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone , popularly known as Guru Dutt, was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema...
, who also played the lead role in the film .
The film was a box office disaster of its time but was later resurrected as a world cinema cult classic in the 1980s. The film's music was composed by S. D. Burman and the lyrics were written by Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi was an Indian Urdu poet. He is considered to be one the greatest Urdu poets of 20th century. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jon Eliya and many others he participated in many memorable mushairas of 20th century.-Early life:...
, giving hits like "Waqt ne Kiya Kya Haseen Situm", sung by Geeta Dutt
Geeta Dutt
Geetā Dutt was a prominent singer in India. She found particular prominence as a playback singer in Hindi cinema...
.
In the 2002 Sight & Sound
Sight & Sound
Sight & Sound is a British monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute .Sight & Sound was first published in 1932 and in 1934 management of the magazine was handed to the nascent BFI, which still publishes the magazine today...
critics' and directors' poll, Kaagaz Ke Phool was ranked at #160 among the greatest films of all time.
Overview
Motivated by the success of PyaasaPyaasa
Pyaasa is a 1957 Indian film produced and directed by Guru Dutt. The film tells the story of struggling poet, Vijay , trying to make his works known in post-independence India...
, Guru Dutt
Guru Dutt
Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone , popularly known as Guru Dutt, was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema...
embarked on the creation of yet another of his socially challenging movies, Kaagaz Ke Phool. The theme and tone on this movie were ages ahead of the Indian audience of the 50s who were used to simpler plots and storylines. The underlying tones of the film were complex and the story was controversial for the time.
Considered one of Guru Dutt
Guru Dutt
Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone , popularly known as Guru Dutt, was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema...
's finest films by many, Kaagaz Ke Phool was a commercial disaster when it was first released. At the film's premiere, Dr Rajendra Prasad, then President of India and invited chief guest, walked out of the cinema hall, deeply offended. Audiences in Delhi's Regal cinema threw stones at the screen during the screening. Reactions like these deeply affected the sensitive and introverted Dutt Guru Dutt himself admitted in an interview to Filmfare in 1963,
- " It was good in patches. It was too slow and it went over the head of audiences."
Even though Guru Dutt produced and acted in two commercially successful and critically acclaimed hits after this, namely Chaudhvin Ka Chand
Chaudhvin Ka Chand
Chaudhvin Ka Chand is a 1960 Hindi feature film directed by Mohammed Sadiq. A production of Guru Dutt, the film centers on a love triangle between Guru Dutt, Rehman and Waheeda Rehman, and features music by Ravi. Farida Jalal is a guest appearance in the film, her debut...
(1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam is a 1962 Indian Hindi film produced by Guru Dutt and directed by Abrar Alvi. It is based on a Bengali novel, Shaheb Bibi Golam by Bimal Mitra, and is a look into the tragic fall of the haveli-dom and feudalism in Bengal during the British Raj...
(1962), he never undertook the role of director again. There is some speculation that Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam was ghost directed by him, although it lists Abrar Alvi
Abrar Alvi
Abrar Alvi was an Indian film writer, director and actor. Most of his notable works are from the 1950s, 1960s done with Guru Dutt. He wrote some of the most respected works of Indian cinema, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Kaagaz Ke Phool, and Pyaasa which have an avid following world over...
as the director, for which he won the year's Filmfare
Filmfare
Filmfare is an English-language tabloid-sized magazine about Indian cinema. Published by The Times Group, India's largest media services conglomerate, in Mumbai , it highlights the doings of the Bollywood film scene...
'Best Director' award.
Ironically, today Kaagaz ke Phool enjoys a cult following, and became a commercial hit at its 1984 re-release in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Critically acclaimed even at time of its release, it is often listed as one of the top ten Hindi movies of all time. The film is regarded by many as India's equivalent of "Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades...
". Guru Dutt's influence in Indian cinema continues to date.
The cinematographer of Kaagaz Ke Phool was the legendary V.K. Murthy who won the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2010, which has the distinction of being the first Indian film made in wide 75 mm CinemaScope
CinemaScope
CinemaScope was an anamorphic lens series used for shooting wide screen movies from 1953 to 1967. Its creation in 1953, by the president of 20th Century-Fox, marked the beginning of the modern anamorphic format in both principal photography and movie projection.The anamorphic lenses theoretically...
. He created the shot of the sun breaking through the studio roof by using of a pair of ordinary mirrors and sambarani to get a parallel beam, as seen in the song, Waqt Ne Kiya. This scene won him the Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award for 1959. The film also won critical acclaim in direction, lyrics and poetic songs. S.D. Burman and Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi was an Indian Urdu poet. He is considered to be one the greatest Urdu poets of 20th century. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jon Eliya and many others he participated in many memorable mushairas of 20th century.-Early life:...
poured their heart and soul in the music and lyrics of this film respectively.
Plot
The film tells, in flashback, the story of Suresh Sinha (Guru DuttGuru Dutt
Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone , popularly known as Guru Dutt, was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema...
), a famous film director. His marriage to Bina (Veena
Veena
Veena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
) is on the rocks because her wealthy family sees filmmaking as a job lacking in social status. He is also denied access to his daughter Pammi (Naaz) who is sent to a private boarding school.
On a rainy night Sinha meets a woman Shanti (Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman , is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood movies and is known for many successful and critically acclaimed movies from 1950's, 60's and early 70's most notably C.I.D. and Guru Dutt classics such as Pyaasa , 12 O'Clock , Kaagaz Ke Phool , Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam...
) and gives her his coat. She comes to the film studio to return the coat, unintentionally disrupting the shooting by walking in front of the camera. While reviewing the rushes, Sinha recognises her potential as a star in the making and casts her as Paro in Devdas. Shanti goes on to become an acclaimed star. Shanti and Suresh, two lonely people, come together. Their liaison is hotly debated in gossip columns and results in Pammi's friends tormenting her in school. Pammi pleads with Shanti to leave Sinha's life and allow her parent’s marriage another chance. Moved by Pammi’s plea Shanti throws away her career and becomes a school teacher in a small village. Shanti’s departure drives Suresh to alcohol, a downhill slide in his career and consequent decline in his fortunes. Shanti is forced to return to films since she has a contract with the studio. Eventually he gets a chance to make a comeback film only if it stars Shanti; but by then she is unable to help him, as he is too far-gone for redemption. In the final scene, Sinha, remembering his glorious past, dies in the empty film studio in the director's chair, a lonely and forgotten man.
Plot Inspiration
Many claim that the film is semi-autobiographical of Guru Dutt and that he portrayed his angst in the movie. At the time of production of the film, Guru Dutt's marriage to Geeta DuttGeeta Dutt
Geetā Dutt was a prominent singer in India. She found particular prominence as a playback singer in Hindi cinema...
was under strain due to his liking for Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman
Waheeda Rehman , is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood movies and is known for many successful and critically acclaimed movies from 1950's, 60's and early 70's most notably C.I.D. and Guru Dutt classics such as Pyaasa , 12 O'Clock , Kaagaz Ke Phool , Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam...
. This was openly known causing Guru Dutt's personal life to resemble that of the protagonist in the movie. However, the forecast of his own (Guru Dutt's) death, to parallel the sad and imminent death of the protagonist in the film, is debatable.
Another explanation for the inspiration is Guru Dutt's association with Gyan Mukherjee, the famous 1940s director whose Qismet (1941) had made him into a household name. The life and subsequent failures of Mukherjee, whom Guru Dutt had joined in 1950, influenced him deeply. Many think that Kaghaz ke Phool was based on Gyan Mukherjee's life and failures, as Guru Dutt's previous film Pyaasa
Pyaasa
Pyaasa is a 1957 Indian film produced and directed by Guru Dutt. The film tells the story of struggling poet, Vijay , trying to make his works known in post-independence India...
had been dedicated to him.
Cast
- Waheeda RehmanWaheeda RehmanWaheeda Rehman , is an Indian film actress who appears in Bollywood movies and is known for many successful and critically acclaimed movies from 1950's, 60's and early 70's most notably C.I.D. and Guru Dutt classics such as Pyaasa , 12 O'Clock , Kaagaz Ke Phool , Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam...
- Shanti - Guru DuttGuru DuttVasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone , popularly known as Guru Dutt, was an Indian film director, producer and actor. He is often credited with ushering in the golden era of Hindi cinema...
- Suresh Sinha - Kumari Naaz (Baby Naaz) - Pramila 'Pammi' Sinha
- Johnny WalkerJohnny Walker (actor)Johnny Walker is the screen name of an Indian movie comedian, who acted in over 300 movies. He was born as Badruddin Jamaluddin Kazi in Indore, India, the son of a mill worker. The family shifted to Mumbai when the textile mill his father worked in closed...
- Rocky ("Suresh Sinha's" brother-in-law) - Mahesh Kaul - Rai Bahadur B.P. Verma ("Suresh Sinha's" Father-in-law)
- VeenaVeenaVeena may refer to one of several Indian plucked instruments:With frets*Rudra veena, plucked string instrument used in Hindustani music*Saraswati veena, plucked string instrument used in Carnatic musicFretless...
(Veena Sapru) - Bina (wife of Suresh Sinha) - Minoo Mumtaz - Veterinarian
- Nilofer
- Ruby MyersRuby MyersSulochana , real name Ruby Myers) was an Indian silent film star of Jewish ancestry, although it is unclear whether she descended from an Ashkenazi family, Bene Israeli family, or both....
(as Sulochna Devi) - Sheila Vaz
- Vikram Kapoor
- Mehmood
- Mohan Choti
- Munshi Muqqa
- Haroon
- V. Ratra
- Tony Walker
- Ratna
- TunTunTuntunTun Tun was the screen name of Indian playback singer and actress-comedienne, Uma Devi Khatri, who is often called the 'first woman comedienne of Hindi cinema'.-Early life:...
- Telephone Operator - Pratima Devi - Mrs. Varma(Rai Bahadur's girlfriend)
Awards
- Filmfare Best Cinematographer AwardFilmfare Best Cinematographer AwardThe Filmfare Best Cinematography Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.The awards started in 1953-Superlatives:Most AwardsKamal Bose - 5Radhoo Karmakar - 4Fali Mistry - 3Jal Mistry - 3...
- V.K. Murthy - Filmfare Best Art Direction Award - M.R. AcharekarM.R. AcharekarMurlidhar Ramachandra Acharekar was an Indian artist, film art director in Hindi cinema, who won Filmfare Best Art Direction Award three times, 1958 for Pardesi, 1960 for Kaagaz Ke Phool, in 1962 for Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai. -Bio:...
Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari 'बिछडे सभी बारी बारी' - Mohammad Rafi
Kaifi AzmiKaifi Azmi
Kaifi Azmi was an Indian Urdu poet. He is considered to be one the greatest Urdu poets of 20th century. Together with Pirzada Qasim, Jon Eliya and many others he participated in many memorable mushairas of 20th century.-Early life:...
teamed up with S.D. Burman for Kaagaz Ke Phool, coming up with some scintillating gems like the following treatise on disenchantment:
Dekhee jamaane kee yaaree, bichhade sabhee baaree baaree
kyaa leke mile ab duniyaan se, aasoo ke siwaa kuchh paas nahee
yaa fool hee fool the daaman me, yaa kaanto kee bhee aas nahee
matalab kee duniyaan hain saaree, bichhade sabhee baaree baaree.
Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam 'वक्त ने किया क्या हसीं सितम' - Geeta Dutt
The most popular song of the film is the deeply emotional "Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Situm; Tum Rahein Na Tum, Hum Rahein Na Hum". Soulfully tuned by the S. D. Burman, this song was brought to fruition by the pain-lashed voice of Geeta DuttGeeta Dutt
Geetā Dutt was a prominent singer in India. She found particular prominence as a playback singer in Hindi cinema...
to make it the perfect theme song for a lost season of grace. Many singers, including Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
, have tried unsuccessfully to re-create the same magic as Geeta Dutt
Geeta Dutt
Geetā Dutt was a prominent singer in India. She found particular prominence as a playback singer in Hindi cinema...
.