DEATH ANNIVERSARY: AGAR USS RAAT GURU DUTT ZINDAA RAHETE TOH WOH AUR BHI MAHAAN BAN SAKTE THE... BY LT. ALI PETER JOHN

He was never the Guru Dutt he was after his most ambitious film, “Kaagaz Ke Phool" turned out to be an unmitigated disaster at the box-office, even though it was appreciated and acclaimed by all the critics - Ali Peter John

He took the failure of the film which was said to be based on his personal life, the story of him being married to the singer, Geeta Dutt and his affair with his discovery, Waheeda Rehman. The fate of the film changed his fate to a large extent too. He decided not to direct a film till he himself decided to direct one. And so his next two films, “Sahib Biwi Aur Gulaam" and “Chaudhavin Ka Channd" were directed by his associates, his writer Abrar Alvi and N.Sadiq. He was however the hero in both the films. He had to face heavy financial losses because of what had happened to “Kagaaz Ke Phool" and so he did films like “Bharosa",“Sanjh Aur Savera",“Suhagan" and a couple of other films made in the South where the money was very good and he made quite a fortune by working in the South.

He came back to Bombay and decided to take to direction again and started “Baaharein Phir Bhi Ayegi" with Mala Sinha, one of his heroine in his cult film, “Pyaasa" and himself as the hero. He shot for more than six reels of the film. He was still shooting a major schedule in Bombay, when he received a call from Mala Sinha from Madras in which she said that she would not be able to come to Bombay and shoot for him as she was held up by her shooting for a film called “Pooja Ke Phool". Guru Dutt was bitter and frustrated and cancelled the entire schedule. He returned home to his Peddar Road Apartment where he had shifted after his separation with Geeta Dutt, who had decided to stay on at her mother's house in Santa Cruz, with their children.

On the way home, he bought some new clothes for the children. He was aware of the meeting he was supposed to have with Raj Kapoor to discuss a film which he wanted to make in colour. He often felt that he lagged behind his contemporaries, Raj, K.A Asif and Subodh Mukherjee who had already made films in colour. His mood suddenly swung the way of despair. He had lost his wife and children because of the other woman in his life, Waheeda Rehman, who had also brown away from him. That same night, he was gripped by anxiety when he we told that he house was going to be raided by the income tax authorities. He in his anxiety wanted to exchange the gold coins he had received in the South for cash, but even that was not possible as it was Saturday and no transactions were to take place till Monday. He called his ex-wife because he wanted their children with him. He kept calling, but there was no answer.

He was already drinking and had the last meeting with his writer Abrar Alvi. He also met his younger brother, Devi Dutt and gave him the two tickets he had for the cricket match to be played at the Brabourne Stadium the next day and at around 1:00 am, both Abrar and Devi left his apartment. He was left alone with his Man Friday, Ismail who sent out to get him some sleeping tablets which a doctor-couple gave him without any prescription. He also asked his Man to bring two bottles of Scotch. He looked his bedroom from inside. He finished one bottle and then came out to take the other. There was no noise or even a whisper coming out from his bedroom. But, in the morning when his man went to wake him up, he was already dead.

It was October 12 and India had lost one of its most talented filmmakers, whose work is still talked about and studied by aspiring filmmakers from all the world. It is years now, but there are two questions which are still waiting to find answers. Did Guru Dutt commit suicide or was his death an accidental death? And the most tragic part of his story was that he died when he was only thirty-nine years old.

YEH WAQT BHI KYAA CHEEZ HAI? KISIKE SAATH INSAAF KARTAA HAI AUR KISIKE SAATH BERAHM HO JAATA HAI. AYE WAQT APNE AAP KO THODAA BADAL LO . TUMKO BHI ACHHA LAGEGAA AUR HUM TUMHAARE GULAAMO KO BHI .

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