Guide: because mirrors don't have memory
The movie directed by a young 30 year old Vijay Anand is based on the book with the same name by R K Narayan. Apparently a one of the first Indo-Western collaboration with Dev Anand in the lead the movie was shot in Hindi and English. Chetan Anand who was supposed to simultaneously direct the Hindi version, due to creative differences with the English director, had to step aside as it was decided that Hindi version will be shot separately and as per Chetan's viewpoint after English version was completed. As luck would have it Chetan Anand got busy in making another classic called Haqeeqat and fortunately we had Vijay Anand to helm this masterpiece of cinema.
The story is about a professional 'Guide' who believes that he is the best at whatever he does and thereby entitled to whatever he believes is rightfully his. This leads him from one success to another and to more success before it all falls apart in a moment of compulsive action that the protagonist is ingrained to take to ensure his success always remains the handicraft of his own making. From this point the movie takes us onto the path the protagonist takes not 'guided' by his own volition for the first time. Rest of the story is a wonderful exploration and expansion of human experience and has some spell binding moments that should be celebrated as mark of cinematic excellence.
The movie works on the watcher at multiple levels. It has some of the most memorable songs, a romantic story which is the the heart of this guided journey, beautiful actors and depth of vedanta rarely touched in cinema before or since. Take for example the song: Din dhal jaaye raat na jaaye, tu to na aaye teri yaad staaye - Such beautifully painful words to express the pining for one's lover expressed in simple solar colloquialism. Or Wahan kaun hai tera musafir jaayega kahan Or Mose chall kiye jaaye so on and so forth. Its rare to find an album with each song jousting with the rest to outdo each other. The beauty of the songs doesnt just end with beautiful poetry, rendition and music but it extends to how they communicate such complex human experiences in such simple words.
Take for example an antaara from Din dhal jaaye - Tum mujhse main dil se pareshan dono hain mazboor, aise me kisko koun manaaye - The Guide finally admits that he understands why the beloved is mad at him while also inadvertently letting out the truth that its his complusive nature that is the root cause something which becomes more accessible to him as he foregoes his previous life for an unknown path. Another example close to my heart is a stanza from waha koun hai tera - Kehte hain gyaani duniya hai faani, paani pe likhi likhaai, hai sab ki dekhi hai sabki jaani, haath kisi ke na aayi - what a clever use of water as the writing pad to communicate the concept of observing the play of maya and the futility of trying to hold onto it as reality.
Each and every song contains the secret to the story yet to unfold or a beautiful exposition of feelings and emotions and thats just the appetizer. The way movie is shot is even more communicative. There is a scene where the guide is gifted a pair of wooden sandals by a village local aptly called bhola (simpleton) because the guide had helped him overcome a dire family emergency and bhola treats him as Swami (enlightened being). Now our protagonist thinks of bhola as a stupid and naive villager and laughingly accepts the sandals and is about the wear them. As he slips his feet into the sandals there is a 1 second shot where the feet slip on the sole of the wooden sandals before the guide steadies himself. Someone who has been so sure in his entire life, has commanded and commandeered his life per his wishes is for the first time taking a path where he doesnt know what and how the future will pan out and the slip communicates impactfully the signs of vulnerability which an uncertain future is going to face him....soon. In another scene when Guide is caught betwixt and between; if he accedes to villagers request to fast for rains, a proposition he considers stupid to the say least, he dies with no assurance of rains - if he doesn't he is letting down a group of people he has grown really fond of and in effect has been inadvertently living for them past few months. He doesn't want to let them down just as he has everyone in his past life. His mind made up to take up the request to fast unto death, the second layer of confusion traps him - i am not what these guys think I am - I am not as pious as they believe me to be and hence this undertaking is beyond my spiritual powers. He confesses to Bhola alone about his entre life story and stands in front of him expecting him to out him and give him a punishment for leading the villagers astray for his own selfish survival needs. Bhola simply says - Swami the creators ways are only known to him. Who are you and I to question them? Valmiki from being a bandit became a Saint.
The facade of smart vs stupid simply crumbles for our guide in front of this acceptance by bhola despite what he believed should have made him hate him till eternity. His acquired sense of right and wrong, immorality of morality and above all judging others all smashed to smithreens in front of the bholaness of bhola. If his is not the defintion of unconditional love then what is? This is the pivotal moment in movie where our guide surrenders himself completely to the faith villagers have in him and let this faith Guide the rest of his life journey.
Guide is an ensemble of life and just like life it has something for everyone depending upon watcher's procilivities.
Dev Anand delivers a performance for ages securing his legacy. Waheeda gave us a glimpse of her dancing genius for the first time and Vijay Anand delivered a masterpiece and a fulfilling movie full of life; not as we know it but as it is. As Indian culture piques more interest around the world its my firm belief that Guide would be celebrated as a must watch life tale across the world.
In today's Hindi cinema this movie should encourage our film makers especially one's who rule the roost that this is also one way to look at cinema. The superstars should seek comfort that if Dev Anand could put his money where his mouth is then so can they with more adventurous real life stories. If they are still scared about their capabilities they look no further than Vijay Anand for inspiration and if they feel too caught up with their own film making habits, I would recommend a mirror for inspiration because mirrors dont have memory.
The movie directed by a young 30 year old Vijay Anand is based on the book with the same name by R K Narayan. Apparently a one of the first Indo-Western collaboration with Dev Anand in the lead the movie was shot in Hindi and English. Chetan Anand who was supposed to simultaneously direct the Hindi version, due to creative differences with the English director, had to step aside as it was decided that Hindi version will be shot separately and as per Chetan's viewpoint after English version was completed. As luck would have it Chetan Anand got busy in making another classic called Haqeeqat and fortunately we had Vijay Anand to helm this masterpiece of cinema.
The story is about a professional 'Guide' who believes that he is the best at whatever he does and thereby entitled to whatever he believes is rightfully his. This leads him from one success to another and to more success before it all falls apart in a moment of compulsive action that the protagonist is ingrained to take to ensure his success always remains the handicraft of his own making. From this point the movie takes us onto the path the protagonist takes not 'guided' by his own volition for the first time. Rest of the story is a wonderful exploration and expansion of human experience and has some spell binding moments that should be celebrated as mark of cinematic excellence.
The movie works on the watcher at multiple levels. It has some of the most memorable songs, a romantic story which is the the heart of this guided journey, beautiful actors and depth of vedanta rarely touched in cinema before or since. Take for example the song: Din dhal jaaye raat na jaaye, tu to na aaye teri yaad staaye - Such beautifully painful words to express the pining for one's lover expressed in simple solar colloquialism. Or Wahan kaun hai tera musafir jaayega kahan Or Mose chall kiye jaaye so on and so forth. Its rare to find an album with each song jousting with the rest to outdo each other. The beauty of the songs doesnt just end with beautiful poetry, rendition and music but it extends to how they communicate such complex human experiences in such simple words.
Take for example an antaara from Din dhal jaaye - Tum mujhse main dil se pareshan dono hain mazboor, aise me kisko koun manaaye - The Guide finally admits that he understands why the beloved is mad at him while also inadvertently letting out the truth that its his complusive nature that is the root cause something which becomes more accessible to him as he foregoes his previous life for an unknown path. Another example close to my heart is a stanza from waha koun hai tera - Kehte hain gyaani duniya hai faani, paani pe likhi likhaai, hai sab ki dekhi hai sabki jaani, haath kisi ke na aayi - what a clever use of water as the writing pad to communicate the concept of observing the play of maya and the futility of trying to hold onto it as reality.
Each and every song contains the secret to the story yet to unfold or a beautiful exposition of feelings and emotions and thats just the appetizer. The way movie is shot is even more communicative. There is a scene where the guide is gifted a pair of wooden sandals by a village local aptly called bhola (simpleton) because the guide had helped him overcome a dire family emergency and bhola treats him as Swami (enlightened being). Now our protagonist thinks of bhola as a stupid and naive villager and laughingly accepts the sandals and is about the wear them. As he slips his feet into the sandals there is a 1 second shot where the feet slip on the sole of the wooden sandals before the guide steadies himself. Someone who has been so sure in his entire life, has commanded and commandeered his life per his wishes is for the first time taking a path where he doesnt know what and how the future will pan out and the slip communicates impactfully the signs of vulnerability which an uncertain future is going to face him....soon. In another scene when Guide is caught betwixt and between; if he accedes to villagers request to fast for rains, a proposition he considers stupid to the say least, he dies with no assurance of rains - if he doesn't he is letting down a group of people he has grown really fond of and in effect has been inadvertently living for them past few months. He doesn't want to let them down just as he has everyone in his past life. His mind made up to take up the request to fast unto death, the second layer of confusion traps him - i am not what these guys think I am - I am not as pious as they believe me to be and hence this undertaking is beyond my spiritual powers. He confesses to Bhola alone about his entre life story and stands in front of him expecting him to out him and give him a punishment for leading the villagers astray for his own selfish survival needs. Bhola simply says - Swami the creators ways are only known to him. Who are you and I to question them? Valmiki from being a bandit became a Saint.
The facade of smart vs stupid simply crumbles for our guide in front of this acceptance by bhola despite what he believed should have made him hate him till eternity. His acquired sense of right and wrong, immorality of morality and above all judging others all smashed to smithreens in front of the bholaness of bhola. If his is not the defintion of unconditional love then what is? This is the pivotal moment in movie where our guide surrenders himself completely to the faith villagers have in him and let this faith Guide the rest of his life journey.
Guide is an ensemble of life and just like life it has something for everyone depending upon watcher's procilivities.
Dev Anand delivers a performance for ages securing his legacy. Waheeda gave us a glimpse of her dancing genius for the first time and Vijay Anand delivered a masterpiece and a fulfilling movie full of life; not as we know it but as it is. As Indian culture piques more interest around the world its my firm belief that Guide would be celebrated as a must watch life tale across the world.
In today's Hindi cinema this movie should encourage our film makers especially one's who rule the roost that this is also one way to look at cinema. The superstars should seek comfort that if Dev Anand could put his money where his mouth is then so can they with more adventurous real life stories. If they are still scared about their capabilities they look no further than Vijay Anand for inspiration and if they feel too caught up with their own film making habits, I would recommend a mirror for inspiration because mirrors dont have memory.