Ten Years with Guru Dutt
Author | Sathya Saran |
---|---|
Country | India |
Language | English |
Subject | |
Genre | Biography |
Published | 9 July 2008 |
Publisher | Penguin Books |
Media type | |
Pages | 216[1] |
ISBN | 978-01-43416-92-0 |
Ten Years with Guru Dutt is a 2008 book written by Sathya Saran, containing mostly her conversations with the director Abrar Alvi about his friendship and professional experience with the filmmaker Guru Dutt. Published by Random House, the book was commercially successful and received acclaim from critics, among whom praised her writing style. In 2012, the book was adapted into a play of the same name, which was met with appreciation from reviewer particularly for its performances of the actors.
Development and writing[]
Sathya Saran—a former editor for the women's magazine Femina who had worked for the publication for 26 years[2][3]—got the idea for writing Ten Years with Guru Dutt after reading an Indian Express article containing interview of the director Abrar Alvi about her professional experience with the filmmaker and actor Guru Dutt, which she found to be "fascinating".[4][5] The journalist who interviewed him ended the article by saying that "there were many stories Alvi could narrate, but wondered who would have the time to listen to him". According to Saran, she took the opportunity to spend her free time.[4] In 2004, she contacted him to do a meeting with him, who was initially reluctant because of his sickness. The writing was finished three years later.[5]
Release and reception[]
The book was released on 9 July 2008 by Penguin Books and emerged as a commercial success,[6] with The Hindu including it in their bestselling listing.[7] In 2012, it was translated into Hindi.[8] A second edition of the book was published on 5 October 2020.[9] The writer from Business Line concluded that the book is "an absorbing read", saying that it would impress "those who have been ... amazed, influenced and fascinated by Guru Dutt and his work".[1] The Sahara Times called the book "interesting" as well as "valuable" and described it as "a literary treat".[1] The Indian Express's critic added, "Very entertaining ... Laden with nostalgic nuggets [of] a bygone era of film-making."[1] Writing for India Today, Kaveree Bamzai said, "As a treatise on the making of Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, it makes absorbing reading."[10] In her review for The Hindu, Savitha Gautam stated the book "may not unravel the mystery that was Guru Dutt. But it paints a picture of creative partnership, which resulted in an invaluable contribution to Hindi cinema. The book is [for] every film goer who has been enchanted by the magic of Guru Dutt films."[11] The Deccan Herald named it "the best book ever written" of an Indian personality.[12]
Adaptations[]
Ten Years with Guru Dutt was adapted into a play of the same name. It was directed by Saattvic, who co-starred in it with Dilnaz Irani, Namit, Tariq Vasudeva, Dhruv Lohumi, Manasi Rachh, and Maanvi Gagroo, while Saran made a special appearance.[13] Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Raghavendra Rathore designed the costumes.[14] According to the director, the story for the play was "slightly manipulated", adding, "I had to keep all the characters' looks in mind and I was very cautious about the way the actors enacted the parts."[15] The play took place at Prithvi Theatre in Juhu on 20–21 April 2012.[15][16] Giving the staged adaptation a rating of three-and-a-half stars, Purvaja Sawant from The Times of India felt that all actors had performed their roles well,[13] an opinion that was also shared by Swati Vishnoi, who wrote for The Asian Age.[8]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Saran 2020a.
- ^ Maharshi 2019.
- ^ Kumar 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Yadav 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b N. 2008.
- ^ Ansari 2008.
- ^ The Hindu 2008.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Vishnoi 2012.
- ^ Saran 2020b.
- ^ Bamzai 2008.
- ^ Gautam 2008.
- ^ Usman 2014, p. 342.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Sawant 2012.
- ^ The Indian Express 2012.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Vajpaaye 2012.
- ^ The Hindu 2012.
Sources[]
- Ansari, Humaira (10 July 2008). "Remembering the genius of Guru Dutt". Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- Bamzai, Kaveree (18 July 2008). "Book: Shadow lines". India Today. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- "Bestsellers". The Hindu. 23 August 2008. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- Gautam, Savitha (4 November 2008). "A writer's recollections of a film-maker". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- "Guru Dutt on Stage". The Indian Express. 19 November 2012. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- Kumar, Sheila (26 November 2015). "Chronicle of a ghazal singer". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- Maharshi, Arunima (7 February 2019). "Former 'Femina' Editor Sathya Saran On Fighting To Keep Sexist, Degrading Ads Out Of The Mag". IndianWomenBlog.org. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- N., Patcy (14 July 2008). "'Suicide was always on Guru Dutt's mind'". Rediff.com. Archived from the original on 2 October 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- "'Ten Years with Guru Dutt'". The Hindu. 20 April 2012. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- Saran, Sathya (1 January 2020). "Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's Journey Paperback – January 1, 2020". Amazon. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- Saran, Sathya (5 October 2020). "Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's Journey Paperback – 5 Oct. 2020". Amazon. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- Sawant, Purvaja (7 December 2012). "Theatre Review: Ten Years With Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's Journey". The Times of India. Times News Network. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- Usman, Yasser (5 December 2014). Rajesh Khanna: The Untold Story of India's First Superstar. Penguin Books. pp. 342–343. ISBN 978-9-351-18875-9.
- Vajpaaye, Soumya (19 November 2012). "Guru Dutt comes alive on stage". Hindustan Times. Mumbai, India. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- Vishnoi, Swati (8 April 2012). "Reliving 10 years in the live of a legend". The Asian Age. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- Yadav, Medha Duta (1 November 2020). "Mentor and the disciple: Writer Sathya Saran on her accidental meeting with Guru Dutt and more". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
External links[]
- 2008 non-fiction books
- Biographies about actors
- Books about Guru Dutt
- Indian biographies
- Indian non-fiction books
- Penguin Books books