Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's Journey

It is an interesting book. I thought I would get to know more about Guru Dutt, but book is not about guru Dutt, It is around him. Did I get any more insight about Guru Dutt. Yes obliquely I did. I was left thinking if Guru Dutt committed Suicide, what must be his state of mind. When Guru Dutt had poured himself out in his film Kagaz ke phool, rejection of the film by audience and critics must have annihilated him. Although passionate but difficult and largely misunderstood needs in the relationship with Geeta Dutt would have send him of the edge without hope, price you pay for sensitivity.

Guru Dutt, life mimics art or the other way round? Surely for life as melodrama and tragedy along with Douglas Sirk one of the directorial greats?

Sathya Saran has done a good job of documenting the discussions She had with Abrar Alvi about various aspects of his career with Guru Dutt films. Its a real pity that he did not get enough opportunities commensurating with his talent. Naturally, he was bitter about it during his later life which comes out in the book.I am sure he had many more stories to tell which could not make it to the book. The book could have done with a lot of pictures and documentary evidences like letters which are quoted in the book.Overall, the book has many things to offer the cine buff.

Stay away from this book. It's an insult to the great Guru Dutt. Abrar Alvi is not trustworthy as he supplies much gossip and claims that all the credits of making those great films were his own and not Guru Dutt's. Horrible book by a sick man.

I felt the book nice and interesting to read. It gives a good picture about Guru Dutt and his life as a whole.