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Aar-Paar – 1954 Dutt
- The fourth film (first in my study, first available) for director/actor Guru Dutt. Dutt directed a total of eight films – all in the 1950’s.
- Dutt died young- age 39
- Here he plays Kalu- and there’s an undeniable charisma about him as an actor- sort of an endearing rogue with a smile. This is a love triangle romantic comedy (with a bit of crime thrown in– this film has everything)– a Bollywood film with musical numbers where characters interrupt actions and break into songs- not different than Mamoulian’s Love Me Tonight in 1932.
- Dutt is an even better director than actor. Like Joseph von Sternberg – Dutt’s camera is constantly obstructed and the frame designed. The camera goes below the car, below the sink. In another scene he shoots behind a stairwell and then car windows during a musical number. There are blinds at the jail, then prison bars, window panels and then ultimately trees and branches in the chase shootout climax.
- Dutt is constantly using these obstructions to create a frame within a frame. If it was just once or twice- call it a recommend or R/HR border—but this dedication to it throughout pushes it higher
- Highly Recommend- top 10 of the year quality
Drake2021-02-16T19:07:17+00:00
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Hey, great to see an Indian movie here. I’m also Indian. If you wanna check out some great Indian films, I highly recommend you check out the director “Shyam benegal” his films have screened and won prizes at cannes and Berlin. I highly recommend these 3 films:
1. Bhumika (1977)
2. Ankur (1974)
3. Nishant (1975)
@M*A*S*H – thank you for the suggestion- I’ve added Shyam benegal to my list
It’s great to see you are finally getting into Bollywood films.