100 Years On, Why Guru Dutt’s Songs Still Resonate With Us

Guru Dutt, born as Vasanth Kumar Shivashankar Padukone, was a well-known actor, director, and producer. Not only are his films considered to be the finest of all time, but he was also acknowledged as one of Asia’s top 25 actors of all time. Dutt was just 39 years old when he died in 1964, but he left behind a cinematic legacy that continues to resonate decades later. He is best known for his cult classic movies such as Pyaasa, Kagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.  Born on July 9, 1925, in the southern state of Karnataka, this week marks his birth centenary. Songs were the soul of his films. Listing down our picks for his top five songs. 

Guru Dutt Songs:

Hum Aap Ki Aakhon Mein

This song is certainly a classic from Pyaasa (1957) and is sung by Geeta Dutt and Mohammed Rafi. Penned by Sahir Ludhianvi, the song takes the metaphor of eyes and turns it into an extended wordplay. 'Hum aap ki aankhon mein is dil ko basa dey toh?', the song hinges on the idea that eyes are the gateway to a lover's heart.

When the lover suggests that he can make his heart the object of her adoration by filling her vision with it, the beloved retorts that she can close her eyes and prevent him from doing any such thing. When he threatens to torture the beloved in his dreams, she warns him that she will whisk away sleep itself from his eyes.

Jaane Woh Kaise Log The 

One of the most iconic Guru Dutt songs, ‘Jaane woh kaise log the jinke’ was rendered by Hemant Kumar. In this hauntingly beautiful tune set by SD Burman, Dutt pines for love and philosophies about how he always received deceit in the name of affection.

Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam

One of the most loved and well-remembered songs from Kaagaz Ke Phool, 'Waqt ne kiya kya haseen sitam'  speaks of two people who once knew each other, but have fallen prey to the curse of time which has transformed them and turned them into familiar strangers. The melancholic song is voiced by Geeta Dutt and written by Kaifi Azmi.

Chaudhvin Ka Chand

Chaudhvin Ka Chand is a romantic ballad sung by Mohammed Rafi. Featuring Waheeda Rehman and Dutt, the film follows a series of misunderstandings around a love triangle which ultimately ends in tragedy. It was a huge commercial success and was also featured at an International Film Festival in Moscow in 1962.

Ye duniya agar mil bhi

The climax of Guru Dutt’s Pyaasa (1957) features the piece de resistance song of the film, Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jaaye Toh Kya Hai. Filmed on the poet character Vijay (Guru Dutt), the song laments the unabashed materialism that has taken hold over humanity.

Babuji Dheere Chalna

The memorable Babuji Dheere Chalna, the most celebrated song from Aar Paar, is actually a clever reworking of Quizás, Quizás, Quizás, written in 1947 by Osvaldo Farrés, a Cuban songwriter settled in New Jersey. With Geeta Dutt’s alluring voice and Majrooh Sultanpuri’s pitch-perfect wordplay, the song is a favourite of many.