Rudratree: General improvements to article content

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>Ds303 at 16:39, 19 June 2021

2021-06-19T16:39:03Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}{{Use Indian English|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kaagaz Ke Phool
| image = Kaagaz Ke Phool59.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| director = [[Guru Dutt]]
| producer =
| screenplay = [[Abrar Alvi]]
| starring = [[Guru Dutt]]<br />[[Waheeda Rehman]]<br />[[Kumari Naaz]]<br />[[Mehmood (actor)|Mehmood]]<br />[[Johnny Walker (actor)|Johnny Walker]]
| music = [[S. D. Burman]]
| cinematography = [[V. K. Murthy]]
| editing = Y. G. Chawhan
| studio =
| distributor =
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1959|01|02}}
| runtime = 148 minutes
| country = India
| language = Hindi
| budget =
| gross =
| native_name =
}}

'''''Kaagaz Ke Phool''''' (''Kāgaz kē Phūl'', {{Translation|Paper Flowers}}) is a [[Bollywood films of 1959|1959]] Indian [[Hindi|Hindi-language]] [[Romance film|romantic]]–[[Drama (film and television)|drama]] film produced and directed by [[Guru Dutt]], who also played the lead role in the film along with [[Waheeda Rehman]]. It is the first Indian film in [[CinemaScope]] and the last film officially directed by Dutt.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Sood|first=Samira|date=2020-05-16|title=Kaagaz Ke Phool is Guru Dutt's masterclass in filmmaking and heartbreak|url=https://theprint.in/features/kaagaz-ke-phool-is-guru-dutts-masterclass-in-filmmaking-and-heartbreak/421852/|access-date=2021-04-16|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> It marked a technical revolution in Indian cinematography and is widely considered to be much ahead of its time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Kaagaz-ke-Phool-1959/article15391096.ece|title=Kaagaz ke Phool 1959|date=11 October 2008|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The film was a [[box office bomb]] in its time owing to its heavy introspective theme which the masses could not identify with, but was later resurrected as a [[world cinema]] [[Cult following|cult classic]] in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-18|title=Kaagaz ke Phool: 59 years later|url=https://indianculturalforum.in/2018/07/18/kaagaz-ke-phool-59-years-later-guru-dutt/|access-date=2021-04-17|website=Indian Cultural Forum|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Zonno|first=Federico|title=About the beginning of Kagaze ke phool|url=https://www.academia.edu/9190766|journal=|language=en}}</ref> Its failure, both critically and commercially, severely impacted Guru Dutt and brought his studios on the verge of ruins. Dutt never officially directed a film after this.<ref name="Usman">{{Cite book|last=Usman|first=Yasser|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W_sKEAAAQBAJ&q=Kaagaz+Ke+Phool+SD+Burman+this+is+just+your+story&pg=PT143|title=Guru Dutt: An Unfinished Story: An Unfinished Story|date=2021-01-07|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-93-86797-89-6|language=en}}</ref> The film's music was composed by [[S. D. Burman]] and the lyrics were written by [[Kaifi Azmi]] and [[Shailendra (lyricist)|Shailendra]] (for one song ''"Hum Tum Jise Kehta Hain"''). Today ''Kaagaz ke Phool'' is a part of syllabi in many film schools worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|title=100 Filmfare Days: Day 25 - Kaagaz Ke Phool|url=https://www.filmfare.com/features/100-filmfare-days-day-25-kaagaz-ke-phool-6152.html|access-date=2021-04-17|website=filmfare.com|language=en}}</ref> It is considered to be the finest self-reflexive film to have ever been made in India.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chatterji|first=Shoma A.|title=60 years of Kaagaz Ke Phool: The most outstanding self-reflexive film of Indian cinema|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2019/jan/2/17790/60-years-of-kaagaz-ke-phool-the-most-outstanding-self-reflexive-film-of-indian-cinema|access-date=2021-04-17|website=www.cinestaan.com}}</ref>

==Synopsis==
The film tells, in flashback, the story of Suresh Sinha, a famous film director. His marriage to Veena is on the rocks because her wealthy family sees filmmaking as a job lacking in social status. He is also denied access to his daughter Pammi, who is sent to a private boarding school in Dehradun.

On a rainy night Sinha meets a woman, Shanti, and gives her his coat. She comes to the film studio to return the coat, unintentionally disrupting the shooting by walking in front of the camera. While reviewing the rushes, Sinha recognises her potential as a star and casts her as Paro in ''Devdas''. Shanti goes on to become an acclaimed star. Shanti and Suresh, two lonely people, come together. Their liaison is hotly debated in gossip columns and results in Pammi's friends tormenting her in school. Pammi pleads with Shanti to leave Sinha's life and allow her parents' marriage another chance. Moved by Pammi's plea, Shanti throws away her career and becomes a school teacher in a small village. Pammi decides to live with her father, who fights his in-laws in court, but is defeated and is forced to let Pammi go with her mother. Losing his daughter and Shanti's departure drive Suresh to alcohol, a downhill slide in his career and consequent decline in his fortunes. Meanwhile, Shanti is forced to return to films since she has a contract with the studio. Her producer agrees to hire Suresh because of Shanti, but Suresh's self-respect will not let him return and owe his job to Shanti's star status; so she is unable to help him, as he is too far gone for redemption. [As he says in one of his dialogues during this scene - "Sab kuch khone ke baad, sirf ek cheez bachi hai mere paas...Meri Khuddari.."(After losing everything, I've only one thing left with me - My self-respect...)] In the final scene, remembering his glorious past, he dies in the director's chair in an empty film studio, a lonely and forgotten man.

==Inspiration==
The film is widely considered to be an [[autobiographical]] reflection of Guru Dutt's personality, his deepening disillusionment with the film industry and the nature of fame it brings, and on the widely written-about alleged relationship between Dutt and his protégé, Waheeda Rehman. Dutt was married to singer Geeta Roy Chowdhuri (later Geeta Dutt) at the time, and his heavy drinking and the rumours of his passionate romance with Rehman didn't help. Some others believe it to be an homage to [[Gyan Mukherjee]] (known for directing [[Kismet (1943 film)|''Kismet'']]), whom Guru Dutt had joined in 1950.<ref name="Miguel2012">{{cite book|author=Helio San Miguel|title=World Film Locations: Mumbai|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q0_v3jr6TCAC&pg=PA22|date= 2012|publisher=Intellect Books|isbn=978-1-84150-632-6|pages=22}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The commercial and critical failure of ''Kaagaz Ke Phool'' was an intense disappointment for Guru Dutt. He had invested a great deal of love, money, and energy in this film. All subsequent films from his studio were, thereafter, officially helmed by other directors since Guru Dutt felt that his name is anathema to box office.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-07-09|title=Guru Dutt: Remembering a genius|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/guru-dutt-remembering-a-genius/story-qAv6dxRGSSoEaFtwoQKMxI.html|access-date=2021-04-17|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

In the writing of ''Sathya Saran's'' book ''Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi’s Journey'', [[Abrar Alvi|Alvi]], who wrote the screenplay and dialogues of ''Kaagaz Ke Phool'', told ''Saran'' that he believed the masses just couldn't identify with Suresh's trauma over his personal heartbreak and his lack of professional creative freedom, given that he was reasonably well off and he still had a job, while they struggled to put two meals on their table. He believed viewers couldn't feel for what they saw as the self-indulgent angst of a privileged man.<ref name=":0" />

==Cast==
* [[Guru Dutt]] as Suresh Sinha
* [[Waheeda Rehman]] as Shanti
* [[Johnny Walker (actor)|Johnny Walker]] as Rakesh "Rocky" (Veena's brother)
* [[Veena (actress)|Veena]] as Veena (Suresh Sinha's Wife)
* [[Baby Naaz]] as Pramila Sinha "Pammi" (Suresh Sinha's Daughter)
* [[Mahesh Kaul]] as Rai Bahadur B. P. Verma (Rocky & Veena's Father)
* [[Pratima Devi (actress)|Pratima Devi]] as Mrs. Verma (Rocky & Veena's Mother)
* [[Minoo Mumtaz]] as Juliet Singh
* [[Ruby Myers]] as Sulochna Devi
* [[Mehmood (actor)|Mehmood]]
* [[Mohan Choti]]
* [[Tun Tun]] as Telephone operator

==Production credits==
* [[M. R. Acharekar]] – Art direction
* [[Bhanu Athaiya]] – Costume design

==Post-production credits==
* S. V. Rau – Ramnord Research Labs

==Awards==
* [[Filmfare Best Cinematographer Award]] – [[V.K. Murthy]]
* [[Filmfare Best Art Direction Award]] – [[M.R. Acharekar]]<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052954/awards Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959)-Awards] ''[[Internet Movie Database]]''.</ref>

==Soundtrack==
The music of the movie was composed by [[S. D. Burman]]. He had warned him not to make ''Kaagaz Ke Phool'', which resembled his own life. When Guru Dutt insisted on making the film, [[S. D. Burman]] said that that would be his last film with [[Guru Dutt]].<ref name="Usman"/>

The song ''Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam'' became an evergreen hit and one of the most loved [[Bollywood|Hindi-film]] songs of all time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-08-31|title=Top 32: Most loved Bollywood songs of all time|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/top-32-most-loved-bollywood-songs-of-all-time/story-Oy5PxR4xslOx82xB6cmVkI.html|access-date=2021-04-17|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> In 2006, it was ranked ''#3'' in the ''20 Best Hindi Film Songs'' ever poll of 30 leading music composers, singers, and lyricists.<ref>{{Cite web|title=20 Best Hindi Film Songs Ever {{!}} Outlook India Magazine|url=https://magazine.outlookindia.com/story/20-best-hindi-film-songs-ever/231648|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-17|website=Outlook India}}</ref>

Apart from the song's composition and lyrics, it is also considered one of the best photographed songs of all time. The light-beam effect was produced using two large mirrors and natural sunlight.<ref name="Usman"/>
{|class="wikitable"
! Song !! Singer
|-
| "Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari" - 1
| [[Mohammed Rafi]]
|-
| "Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari" - 2
| [[Mohammed Rafi]]
|-
| "Dekhi Zamane Ki Yaari" - 3
| [[Mohammed Rafi]]
|-
| "Hum Tum Jise Kehta Hai"
| [[Mohammed Rafi]]
|-
| "San San San Woh Chali Hawa, Ruk Ruk Kaan Mein"
| [[Mohammed Rafi]], [[Asha Bhosle]]
|-
| "Ulte Seedhe Dao Lagaye, Hans Hans Phenka Pasa"
| [[Mohammed Rafi]], [[Asha Bhosle]]
|-
| "Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam"
| [[Geeta Dutt]]
|-
| "Ek Do Teen Chaar Aur Panch"
| [[Geeta Dutt]]
|-
|}

==Commemorative DVD==
{{Unreferenced|section|date=May 2021}}
Yash Raj Films released a commemorative DVD of the movie. Included in the special features is a three-part documentary produced by [[Channel 4]] in the [[United Kingdom]] on the life and works of Guru Dutt. His close associates and some of his family members remember him, his life and work. There is also a tribute to Geeta Dutt by Lata, in which she sings "Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam".

== Legacy ==
In 2002, ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' critics and directors' poll, ''Kaagaz Ke Phool'' was ranked in Top 160 [[List of films considered the best|greatest films of all time]].<ref>{{cite web|year=2002|title=2002 Sight & Sound Top Films Survey of 253 International Critics & Film Directors|url=http://www.cinemacom.com/2002-sight-sound.html|access-date=2009-04-19|publisher=Cinemacom}}</ref> In 2013, it was ranked #62 in the list of all-time greatest films by A Potpourri of Vestiges.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khan|first=Murtaza Ali|title=All Time Best 100 Movies: Editor's Pick 2013|url=https://www.apotpourriofvestiges.com/2013/04/all-time-best-100-movies-editors-pick.html|access-date=2021-04-17|website=A Potpourri of Vestiges}}</ref> It was listed in [[British Film Institute]]'s Top 20 Indian Films in 2002;<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-05-15|title=BFI {{!}} Features {{!}} Top 20 Indian Films|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515101729/http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/imagineasia/guide/poll/india/|archive-date=15 May 2011}}</ref> [[NDTV]]'s India's 20 greatest films, citing, ‘''Kaagaz Ke Phool, Guru Dutt's most melancholic film ever, takes his deepening disillusionment with the world and its guardians to a new level of despair. The iconic actor-director plays a filmmaker on the skids. He is unable to get his point of view across to the people who matter and life is a constant struggle, both personally and professionally. The masses failed to connect with the film, but Kaagaz Ke Phool has lived longer than many money-spinners of the golden era of Hindi cinema.’'';<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-02-21|title=India's 20 greatest films » NDTV Movies|url=http://movies.ndtv.com/PhotoDetail.aspx?Page=14&ID=1124#talk|access-date=2021-04-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221192614/http://movies.ndtv.com/PhotoDetail.aspx?Page=14&ID=1124#talk|archive-date=21 February 2012}}</ref> [[CNN- IBN|CNN-IBN]]'s 100 Greatest Indian Films of all time in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title=100 Greatest Indian Films of all time–CNN IBN|url=http://wiki.nikhil.io/CNN-IBNs_List_of_the_100_Greatest_Indian_Films_of_All_Time|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-17|website=wiki.nikhil.io}}</ref> It was ranked #6 in [[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook Magazine]]'s poll of 25 leading Indian Directors for Hindi Cinema's Best Films in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web|title=6. Kaagaz Ke Phool -1959 {{!}} Outlook India Magazine|url=https://magazine.outlookindia.com/story/6-kaagaz-ke-phool-1959/220096|access-date=2021-04-17|website=Outlook (India)}}</ref> It was also listed in [[Time Out (magazine)|Time-Out]]'s Top 15 of Best Bollywood Movies in 2015 and numerous other such lists.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Best Bollywood movies|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-100-best-bollywood-movies-the-list|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-17|website=Time Out London|language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, [[British Film Institute]] named ''Kaagaz Ke Phool'' as the Greatest Musical of 1959, citing, “''if proof were needed that Guru Dutt was no one-hit-wonder, it's right here.''”<ref>{{Cite web|title=The best musical of every year – from the dawn of sound to the rise of the jukebox musical|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/best-musical-every-year|access-date=2021-04-17|website=BFI|language=en}}</ref> It was ranked first in The Cinemaholic's list of Best Hindi Cult Films that were Flops, citing, “''The last film officially directed by the legendary Guru Dutt. Often regarded as one of the greatest film ever made, the failure of Kaagaz Ke Phool severely impacted Guru Dutt.”''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shah|first=Aarya|date=2017-10-18|title=15 Best Bollywood Cult Movies That Were Actually Flops|url=https://thecinemaholic.com/bollywood-hindi-cult-movies-flops/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-17|website=The Cinemaholic|language=en-US}}</ref> In an article regarding the film, [[University of Iowa|The University of IOWA]], summed up, ''“Flaws and all, Kagaz Ke Phool deserves to rank—with Fellini's 81/2—among the all-time great films about filmmaking and life.”''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kaagaz ke phool {{!}} Indian Cinema - The University of Iowa|url=https://indiancinema.sites.uiowa.edu/kaagaz-ke-phool|access-date=2021-04-17|website=indiancinema.sites.uiowa.edu|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|0052954|Kaagaz Ke Phool}}
* {{Amg movie|151271|Kaagaz Ke Phool}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UiXeDqpz1s ''Waqt Ne Kiya'' – Geeta Dutt]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV6NciXmG64 Opening sequence of Guru Dutt's film Kaagaz Ke Phool, Paper Flowers, 1959]
* [http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.com/article-kaagaz-ke-phool-guru-dutt-s-creative-laser-beam-65830516.html In-depth analysis of the film at LetstalkaboutBollywood!]

[[Category:1959 films]]
[[Category:Indian films]]
[[Category:Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:1950s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Guru Dutt]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Abrar Alvi]]
[[Category:Films scored by S. D. Burman]]
[[Category:Films about film directors and producers]]

Kaagaz Ke Phool - Revision history

Rudratree: General improvements to article content

>Ds303 at 16:39, 19 June 2021