(NR) India – 2 hr 32 min – with subtitles
1962 · d. Abrar Alvi, Guru Dutt
Starring Meena Kumari, Rehman, Guru Dutt
On a lavish estate, a poor laborer becomes the secret confidante of the dissolute property owner’s wife while navigating his own affair with his employer’s daughter. A towering figure in Indian film with the stature of Welles or Hitchcock—yet little known in the USA—actor/director Guru Dutt is at the peak of his creative powers with this maximalist tale of changing times, featuring stunning performances, showstopping songs, and amazing visual style. Join us for the North American premiere of this new 4k restoration and discover one of cinema’s great artists.
This screening will be introduced by Sankeerthna Vedamtam, BMFI Programs and Education Coordinator and Archive Panic founder. Author Mayukh Sen will join us for a post-film conversation. After the program, join us in the BMFI Multimedia Room for a free reception with food by Pinwheel Provisions!
Mayukh Sen is the author of Love, Queenie: Merle Oberon, Hollywood’s First South Asian Star, a finalist for the 2025 National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography. He is a 2026 United States Artists Fellow. He teaches film and television reporting and criticism at New York University and lives in Brooklyn.
Saturday, May 2
1.00
