Golden Era of Bollywood: The Films that are 50:GUIDE-A poetry on celluloid.

I am starting this series with this film which will be 51 on December 2016.Backed by S.D. Burman’s evergreen melodies, ‘Guide’ became a super hit and was also critically acclaimed. It was India’s official entry for the Oscars in 1966. At the Chicago International Film Festival, Waheeda Rehman won the Best Actress Award. Both Dev and Vijay Anand refused to send ‘Guide’ for the National Awards as they abhorred malpractices by the jury.
In 1962 Dev Anand went to attend Berlin Film Festival where he met Author Pearl S. Buck who was very much impressed by R. K. Narayan’s novel, ‘The Guide. ’ The story was appealing. So when she interacted with Bollywood actor Dev Anand at the Berlin Film Festival in 1962, she talked about doing an Indo-U.S. film venture based on the book.
This excited Dev Anand, who was basking in the glory of ‘Hum Dono,’ which had won acclaim at Berlin.As soon as he returned to India, Dev Anand called on R.K. Narayan, whose book had already made him a Sahitya Academy winner. Dev Anand successfully convinced R.K. Narayan about creating a classic on celluloid based on the book and the author sold the rights of ‘The Guide,’ to the actor.

Trailer of English version of Guide

It was decided that the film would be made in two languages, Hindi and English.the English Version was co-produced by Pearl S Buck.She penned the script of the English version and Directed by Tad Danielewski it starred Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman and Kishore Sahu. It was Navketan’s most ambitious and expensive venture in colour. Chetan Anand was supposed to direct the Hindi version simultaneously. But Chetan wanted Leela Naidu as the heroine and intended to shoot her dance sequences in long shot, to which Dev Anand disagreed, as he felt that only Waheeda Rehman was ideally suited for the role of Rosy Marco. Chetan also had differences with Tad Danielewski and left the project.

Extra Scenes from Guide

Dev anand gave direction of Hindi Version to his younger brother Vijay Anand.The combination of the Anand brothers with Kishore Sahu, Shailendra, S.D.Burman and Fali Mistry created history. Shot in exclusive locales of Udaipur, ‘Guide’ was poetry on celluloid.
Backed by S.D. Burman’s evergreen melodies, ‘Guide’ became a super hit and was also critically acclaimed. It was India’s official entry for the Oscars in 1966. At the Chicago International Film Festival, Waheeda Rehman won the Best Actress Award. Both Dev and Vijay Anand refused to send ‘Guide’ for the National Awards as they abhorred malpractices by the jury.

The film GUIDE is one of the earliest efforts in Indian Cinema to actually depict both its hero and heroine in negative shade. While Dev Anand, the hero of the movie is shown going errant after acquiring wealth on the other hand the heroine Waheeda Rehman dares to desert her husband who is high headed and a womanizer, and elopes with her lover who helps her in her ambition to become a famous dancer.The subject of extra marital relation when infidelity was considered a forbidden subject in India. Most people assumed that Indian audience was not ready to confront the story on adultery.

Vijay Anand presented the subject on the silver screen with such competence that viewers were bowled over by his simple narration laced with dance and superlative music. GUIDE today is regarded as perhaps the best film that Vijay Anand has ever made.Guide was also first film to win all four of the major awards (Best Movie, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress) at the Filmfare Awards.Surprisingly S D Burman was not given the Best Music Director award for this film.That Award was given to Shankar Jaikishan for the film Suraj.The film's music was composed by Sachin Dev Burman, the songs were written by Shailendra and they were sung by Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey and Sachin Dev Burman. The soundtrack was listed by Planet Bollywood as number 11 on their list of 100 Greatest Bollywood Soundtracks.
Dev Anand played Raju and Waheeda Rahman played Rosie and her husband's role was done by Kishore Sahu.

Raju's love and support gives the unfulfilled Rosie the courage to make bold and defy societal norms by leaving the oppressive atmosphere of her husband's house and moving into Raju's abode. Her sheer exultation in her new freedom is beautifully captured in her crucial song --- Kaaton se kheench ke anchal, chhod ke bandhan bandhe payal. It is evident in her dancing on the edge of a ledge in keeping with her dangerous new desires; in her riding in a cart and breaking a pot, thereby metaphorically breaking all conventions.

With Raju's glib managerial skills, Rosie becomes a dancing star. But insecurity soon manifests itself. Raju takes to drinking and gambling. His fear of losing his love makes Raju forge a cheque in Rosie's name. She finds it hard to forgive him, and he is sentenced to prison.

When he emerges from prison, he rejects his earlier life. He is mistaken as a holy man by some villagers and goes along with their belief.Circumstances make Raju go on a 12-day fast to propitiate the Gods for rain, and leads him to ponder over and seek answers to the ultimate spiritual question. In the end, the Guide finds the path to his own emotional salvation.

All in all, Guide was an effective film, quite different from your stereotypical Bollywood love story, and quite sensitive, This is one of the best films of Bollywood.

Songs from GUIDE