As India celebrates the centenary year of legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt, a nationwide retrospective of his most iconic films is set to unfold from August 8 to 10, presented by Ultra Media and Entertainment. The special cinematic tribute will showcase restored versions of Pyaasa, Aar Paar, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Mr. & Mrs. 55, and Baaz, bringing Dutt’s timeless genius to a new generation of film lovers.
At a special press conference in Mumbai on August 6, held just before the premiere screening of Pyaasa, veteran writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar paid an emotional tribute to Guru Dutt, recounting his deep admiration for the filmmaker since his youth.
“When I was in college, I watched a lot of films—I was a complete film buff. I had decided that once I graduate, I would go to the film industry and work with Mr. Guru Dutt for a few years… and then become a director myself,” said Akhtar, smiling at his youthful dreams.
“You know, when you're 18, everything seems possible. That was the plan. But unfortunately, I came to Mumbai on October 4, 1964—and Guru Dutt passed away just six days later, on October 10. I could never even meet him. I consider myself unfortunate for that .”
“There were so many writers and directors I admired during my college days—whom I later got to spend time with, learn from, and even work with. But Guru Dutt is the one exception. I never got that chance.”
Akhtar also spoke candidly about the refined taste he had developed even as a teenager—a quality that, he admits, bordered on arrogance. “Forgive me for saying this,” he chuckled, “but when I was 17 or 18, I would refuse to watch films of certain superstars, simply because I thought they were bad actors. Which means—even then—I had some standards, some preferences.”
“Guru Dutt made a huge impression on me back then. He wasn’t just a great director—India had many before him—but he was, perhaps, the first who truly spoke through visuals. That was his language. He taught us how to convey meaning without words. That, I think, was his true cinematic genius.”
The upcoming retrospective promises to remind audiences why Guru Dutt remains a towering figure in Indian cinema. With restored prints and national screenings, a new generation will witness the power of his storytelling.