Kaagaz Ke Phool

Kaagaz Ke Phool Was Directed As Well As Produced By Guru Dutt...Written By Abrar Alvi...This Was First Indian Cinemascope Film.. Story Revolves Around Suresh Sinha A Famous Director....He Is Looking For A Lead Actress For His Current Movie...Meanwhile His Married Life Is Not Going Well...Wife Has Left With The Daughter...He Is Not Allowed To Access His Daughter....One Day He Meets A Lady Shanti...After Few Days He Realize... She Is The One Whom He Was Looking For ...So He Casts Her In His Movie ....Shanti & Sinha Come Close ..They Built A Liking For Each Other....Which Leads To Various Situations Which Changes The Life Of The Director Sinha....

Guru Dutt Was Amazing Director ...But A Fine Actor Too...He Does Well As Director Sinha...Waheeda Rehmaan As Shanti Gives Better Performance.....Johny Walker Is Good ...Baby Naaz Is Fine But The Character Is Not Well Written...Script Of The Movie Is Good ...But It Gives More Importance To Sinha & Shanti Chemistry...

Music Of The Movie Was Composed By S.D.Burman ....It Has The Most Beautiful Composition "Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam" By Geeta Dutt...One Of The Best Song By Her...We Have "Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari" By Rafi Is Again A Classic ...Altogether Music Is Good...

Everything Was Fine...But Movie Was Such A Disaster At The Box Office...That Guru Dutt Decided Never To Direct A Movie ...Hence It Was The Last Movie Directed By Guru Dutt...People Never Understood The Concept...So It Was On The Cards....Now The Movie Is Considered A Classic ...One Of The Best Work By Guru Dutt & His Team....

Overall A Excellent Movie ....Must Watch For Averyone...:)

This is really a milestone in world cinema - not just Indian cinema. The story, the lyrics, songs, music, photography, editing and above all class act. Everyone has poured their heart in this film. This indeed is a poetry in form of a film. Though the topic is very depressing it but reflects reality from eyes of a defeatist, maybe the only flaw I see in the picture, and perhaps the reason why the film never saw a good box office record. However, it may have a lot to do with personal struggles of Guru Dutt at the time of making of this film. Only if the film had been about triumph of human struggle to overcome all odds, outcomes could have been different. A lot of credit is given to Guru Dutt alone, however I feel the classic nature of this film has a lot to do with contribution of everyone - the music is touching today as I suppose it might have been then. One who has never seen Wahida Rehman in younger days is dazed at her beauty and innocence. Guru Dutt himself looks rather handsome. Kaifi Azmi's lyrics are just inimitable. Photography is great - considering it was done in 50a. I came up with the DVD by chance and I'm now going to see more of Guru Dutt's work. I not for a moment want to deny Guru Dutt his share of glory, however one must also acknowledge other geniuses who made this movie a classic!

"Kaagaz ke Phool" (Paper Flowers) is an agonizing, self-reflexive look at a filmmaker who, because of martial, societal and economic pressures dissolves into alchoholism. It's a common theme among Indian movies, but in this film, there's autobiography to back it up. From what I understand, the course of this film paralells Guru Dutt's life who died by his own hand.

Geeta Gutt and Mohammad Rafi sing on the soundtrack penned by S.D. Burman, which is wonderful as can be expected considering the people involved (and, if anyone has a lead on where I can find it on lp or cd, be in touch!) The movie is beautifully shot, and the play of light on Guru Dutt's face (he acts in the lead role, as well as directing) as he enters an alchoholic stupor will bring a grown man to tears (I've seen it happen.)

There's more misery and abjection here this side of Fassbinder or Jerry Lewis, so this is perfect for a cold, rainy, lonely evening.

This movie sums up the genius of Guru Dutt. A reclusive and introvert man portrayed in the movie was Dutt himself. Too bad the movie went over the heads of Audience in the 50s, however, its charisma has given it the status of a cult classic. Waheeda Rahman was beautiful as ever and acted much better than she did in Pyaasa. I rate this movie better than Pyaasa personally. Kaifi Azmi's lyrics are at their best with "Waqt ne kiya" song topping everything out! I think the beginning is extremely maudlin and same for the ending. He enters the studio as an old and broken man, only to be jeered at by his ex colleagues. A must watch with outstanding Music!!!!

Apparently Guru dutt stopped directing movies after the failure of Kaagaz ke phool at the box office. What a pity! If only he had considered the holes in the plot, being the perfectionist he is, he would definitely have made at least one more film. And Indian Cinema surely needed more from a director of his calibre and taste.

Kaagaz Ke phool ( paper / artificial flowers ) is the story of a brilliant director who gets trapped into a downward spiral of self destruction. As soon as the titles roll down to the tune of "waqt ne kiya", we hear a poignant background song by Rafi , written by Sahir Ludhianvi and composed by S.D. Burman. An old and battered Suresh Singh is seen looking at the studios forlornly. And soon ensues the flash back about how this brilliant director goes through a roller coaster ride, suffers the pangs of a bad marriage, misses his daughter, discovers a star, meets an understanding friend and companion, and how he becomes a victim to the whims of society and loses everything.

There are a few flaws in the plot, especially around the events related to the turning point in the life of the protagonist, which may put off some audience.There is a comedy track, which may not gel well with the present day viewers. However, if the viewer is willing to be generous with his suspension of disbelief, he is in store for an audio-visual treat of a kind that is rarely seen among the annals of Indian Cinema. Guru dutt and Waheeda Rehman do well in their respective roles and most of the cast give good support. But what stand out are the music, the songs and the cinematography. Lyricist Sahir Ludhianvi is a master and "waqt ne kiya" proves it beyond any doubt. And what to say about S.D. Burman? He is an acknowledged genius and here he composes music that captures the spirit of the movie so wonderfully. The cinematography is a lesson for photographers. Some of the scenes,where conversation between the actors is picturized with the actors alternately fading in and out of the focus, have a wonderful effect on the feel of the film.

On the whole, be kind towards a few flaws, and you will not regret watching the movie.