Guru Dutt: A Life in Cinema

by Nasreen Munni Kabir

This book traces the life and works of the remarkable director and actor, Guru Dutt, who succeeded in introducing to Indian cinema an individual and lyrical vision. This book is lavishly illustrated with beautiful black and photographs illustrating his life and film career.

Genres: Film, India, Biography

236 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 1996

About the author

Born in India, Nasreen Munni Kabir is a renowned UK-based documentary film-maker who has produced and directed over 80 TV programmes on Hindi cinema for Channel 4 TV, UK, including the series Movie Mahal, In Search of Guru Dutt, Lata in Her Own Voice, and the two-part documentary The Inner and Outer World of Shah Rukh Khan. She has also directed a profile on Ustad Bismillah Khan and on the making of Bombay Dreams, the musical produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber for BBC Television, UK. She continues to curate Channel 4’s annual Indian film seasons.

Author of 16 books on Hindi cinema, Nasreen has served on the board of the British Film Institute for a six-year term. She enjoys subtitling, and has has subtitled over 500 Hindi films. Her last book was Conversations with Waheeda Rehman. She is most remembered for her Guru Dutt biography, titled Guru Dutt: A Life in Cinema (OUP, 1996). Nasreen continues live in London.

Reviews

[Abhishek Jha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's beautiful! As Biography point of view, this is well written. For a Guru Dutt fan, it's a must have. Contains some rare photos of hom and the his pictures and the shelved projects too.

The underwhelming aspects are that the picture's disturb the reading. It should be placed after the end of every chapter.

[Rahul Chatterjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very impersonal , numerical description of his life & work.

[Param · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paints a vivid portrait of the man although feels a little too adulatory at times when obvious points of criticism are tactfully avoided or understated. But a compelling account from skillful interviews with his contemporaries. NMK interviews never disappoint!