Guide review :
Many of my friends ask me about my most favourite Bollywood film ever. It is a question most movie critics would evade as it is difficult to name one gem from amongst the many offered by Bollywood since its inception. But I always give Guide as the answer as there is no other Bollywood film which has impressed or inspired me so much.
Like Mera Naam Joker (1970) is to Raj Kapoor, Guide is what defines Dev Anand. Playing the ever charming Raju guide who falls in love with the much married dancer Rosie (Waheeda Rehman), Dev Saahab has never looked or performed better...
Vijay (Goldie) Anand's direction is first rate as he effortlessly transitions the narrative from an intense romance to a philosophical allegory. The simple carefree Raju guide's liasion with Rosie plunges him in to an abyss of vices and debauchery until he lands up behind bars for forging his lady love's signature. Post his release, he wanders aimlessly but fate leads him to become a saviour of a drought striken village. "Aadmi yahan jaana chahta hai par kismat uske kaan pakadkar wahan le jaati hai".
Raju finds his redemption by fasting for the rains. "Swami, do you believe it will rain?" asks a firangi reporter to which his reply is "These people believe so and I believe in these people!".
The dialogues are fantastic, Waheeda Rehman excels in her dances and even supporting actors like Kishore Sahu and Gajanan Jagirdar shine. The music by SD Burman is extraordinary to say the least and every song is simply a delight to watch. It is interesting how Goldie merges two excellent numbers - 'Saiyaan Beimaan' and 'Kya se Kya Ho Gaya' - in to one sequence creating a mesmerizing effect.
The climax differs from the R. K. Narayan's original namesake novel on which this film is based. The philosophical touch of "Main..main.. aur sirf main" was Goldie's idea which still gives me goosebumps. It is actually a happy ending to the character if you think over it.
Released in early 1965, Guide was a slow starter at the box office probably due to its then bold theme of extramarital relationship. The film picked up later when Gujarat suffered a drought and the makers cleverly put up large posters everywhere showing Dev Saahab in his Swami avatar with the tag line "Guide prays for rains in Gujarat". That struck an instant chord with the audience who then queued up outside theatres and made it a hit.
Guide was a rare Hindi film to have an abridged English version for the overseas market. In that version, Dev Saahab can be seen unzipping his pants implying sex with Waheeda after the 'Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai' song.
Undoubtedly, Dev Saahab brought immortality to Guide. He loved and lived the character so much that he strongly objected to its proposed remake in mid 2000s. He was absolutely right. After all, masterpiece like this cannot be recreated!!!
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.
Many of my friends ask me about my most favourite Bollywood film ever. It is a question most movie critics would evade as it is difficult to name one gem from amongst the many offered by Bollywood since its inception. But I always give Guide as the answer as there is no other Bollywood film which has impressed or inspired me so much.
Like Mera Naam Joker (1970) is to Raj Kapoor, Guide is what defines Dev Anand. Playing the ever charming Raju guide who falls in love with the much married dancer Rosie (Waheeda Rehman), Dev Saahab has never looked or performed better...
Vijay (Goldie) Anand's direction is first rate as he effortlessly transitions the narrative from an intense romance to a philosophical allegory. The simple carefree Raju guide's liasion with Rosie plunges him in to an abyss of vices and debauchery until he lands up behind bars for forging his lady love's signature. Post his release, he wanders aimlessly but fate leads him to become a saviour of a drought striken village. "Aadmi yahan jaana chahta hai par kismat uske kaan pakadkar wahan le jaati hai".
Raju finds his redemption by fasting for the rains. "Swami, do you believe it will rain?" asks a firangi reporter to which his reply is "These people believe so and I believe in these people!".
The dialogues are fantastic, Waheeda Rehman excels in her dances and even supporting actors like Kishore Sahu and Gajanan Jagirdar shine. The music by SD Burman is extraordinary to say the least and every song is simply a delight to watch. It is interesting how Goldie merges two excellent numbers - 'Saiyaan Beimaan' and 'Kya se Kya Ho Gaya' - in to one sequence creating a mesmerizing effect.
The climax differs from the R. K. Narayan's original namesake novel on which this film is based. The philosophical touch of "Main..main.. aur sirf main" was Goldie's idea which still gives me goosebumps. It is actually a happy ending to the character if you think over it.
Released in early 1965, Guide was a slow starter at the box office probably due to its then bold theme of extramarital relationship. The film picked up later when Gujarat suffered a drought and the makers cleverly put up large posters everywhere showing Dev Saahab in his Swami avatar with the tag line "Guide prays for rains in Gujarat". That struck an instant chord with the audience who then queued up outside theatres and made it a hit.
Guide was a rare Hindi film to have an abridged English version for the overseas market. In that version, Dev Saahab can be seen unzipping his pants implying sex with Waheeda after the 'Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai' song.
Undoubtedly, Dev Saahab brought immortality to Guide. He loved and lived the character so much that he strongly objected to its proposed remake in mid 2000s. He was absolutely right. After all, masterpiece like this cannot be recreated!!!
Regards, Sumeet Nadkarni.