“Yeh duniya jahaan aadmi kuch nahi hai, wafa kuch nahi, dosti kuch nahi hai. Yahaan pyaar ki qadr hi kuch nahi hai, yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaye to kya hai.”
These phrases by Sahir Ludhianvi type the essence of Guru Dutt’s 1957 movie Pyaasa. The journey of a poet, who as soon as believed that his artwork might make the world a greater place, finds himself profitable, albeit ‘posthumously’, and realizes how empty the applause is. He understands that it’s not value dwelling in a materialistic world the place relationships are hole and heartache is fixed.
In Pyaasa, directed and produced by Dutt, he performs Vijay, a poet who tries to know the which means of life. The tragedy of life is throughout him however as soon as it begins affecting him on a deeper stage, he can not help however sink into the whirlpool of these emotions. Trying to search out the which means of life, Vijay learns that a lot of the frills related to dwelling in society are meaningless and this realization makes his journey all of the extra lonely.
The thirst of Guru Dutt questions the which means of life.
An opportunity encounter together with his misplaced love Meena, performed by Mala Sinha, brings again the ache that he has translated into his work. When Gulabo, performed by Waheeda Rehman, by accident learns of his poetry, she is disarmed by her deep understanding of life. Dutt’s fascinating gaze catches your eye in each body he captures. Their withering ache and dissatisfaction with the structured society forces you to look inside your self and query your actions in life.
Vijay is in quest of non secular liberation and as he discovers that one better epiphany, he has misplaced the need to take pleasure in materialistic pleasures. The transient flashback to his faculty days not solely establishes his love story with Meena, but in addition emphasizes that the person who now seems perpetually sad as soon as had a zest for all times, when he may Didn’t know higher than this.
Although the movie doesn’t explicitly say so, it’s indicated that Vijay’s downfall was triggered by Meena ending their relationship. Vijay hasn’t actually moved on from that heartbreak, and no matter has occurred since – his brothers scold him, publishers disrespect his artwork. He is a weak man a decade later who believes preventing for himself might be a dropping battle. he sings, “Isko hi jeena kehte hain toh yun hi jee lenge. Uff na karenge, labb see lenge, aansoo pee lenge,” Declaring his dedication to the tragedy that’s his life.
Pyaasa locations its two major feminine characters at reverse ends of the social hierarchy. Meena, as soon as a romantic, has now grow to be a realist. She fell in love with Vijay once they have been each naive, however when she realized in regards to the challenges of the true world, she knew that love couldn’t be the tip of her world. Then there may be Gulabo, the lady who sells her physique however has a coronary heart of gold, whose understanding of affection is extra non secular. She is infatuated with Vijay’s poetry and believes that she has peeped into his soul via his poems. His devotion to victory surpasses all materialistic pleasures on the earth. In a scene the place Vijay calls her his spouse, his eyes lit up. The views of those two ladies are dramatically reverse, however they can’t be labeled as mistaken or proper, and the movie acknowledges this. But within the years since, Meena’s character has discovered the brief finish of the stick.
Waheeda Rehman’s Gulabo and Mala Sinha’s Meena come from extraordinarily various worlds, however are introduced collectively by Guru Dutt’s Vijay. (Photo: Express Archives)
Right from the start of the movie, Vijay desires his poetry to be printed in order that the world can hear his ideas. Like some other artist, he strives for recognition, however the normal viewers consists of people that can solely recognize artwork whether it is already validated by another person, or with a narrative that’s related. Comes what makes it thrilling. This explains why the artwork of conquest is well known after his loss of life. When victory rises from its presumed loss of life, Christlike imagery is clear and as victory sings “Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye toh kya hai,” He realizes that the one factor he wished – recognition for his artwork – isn’t value it.
In the years since its launch, Pyaasa has been known as the crown of Hindi cinema by many. While Guru Dutt is usually credited with the making of the movie, one can’t overlook that the movie survives due to Sahir Ludhianvi’s poetry and songs. “Jinhe naaz hai hind par woh kahan hain” Examines the debilitating situation of a newly shaped nation that’s abusing its ladies and doesn’t see the error in its methods. “Aaj Sajan Mohe Ang Lagalo” talks in regards to the Meera-like devotion that Gulabo develops for Vijay. “Tang Aa Chuke Hai Kasam-e-Kash Zindagi Se” talks about Vijay’s battle with dwelling on this world. And “Sir Jo Tera Chakra” provides a touch of lightness to this in any other case intense movie. SD Burman’s music, together with lyrics by Ludhianvi, which may be learn like poetry, make Pyaasa an album that’s nonetheless being cherished.
Pyaasa does poetry not solely along with her songs but in addition on display screen. VK Murthy’s cinematography leaves behind photos that hang-out the darkish corners of your soul. The use of shadows within the scenes the place Vijay has indifferent himself from his actuality is brilliantly executed and calls for the form of reward that makes it a basic.
The themes mentioned in Pyaasa are timeless in nature and the execution of these concepts is so impeccable that the movie actually hasn’t gotten a lot older in 64 years. Of course, issues just like the portrayal of an asylum or a lady’s dependence on her husband for funds do not translate effectively into 2021, however that is probably not the core message of the movie. The timeless nature of Pyaasa comes from the everlasting query that man has all the time had – ‘What is the which means of life?’ And so long as we preserve asking this query, Pyaasa will stay related.
Bollywood Rewind | CID | Madhumati | Naya Daur | Awara | Sharada | Do Aankhen Barah Haath | Bandini | Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam
Pyaasa is streaming on Prime Video and YouTube.
.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
