Guddi

It is a 1971 Hindi film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee & written by Gulzar. Dharmendra,Jaya bachchan, Utpal Dutt formed the main cast. It is Jaya Bhaduri- Bachchan’s career making film.She is a schoolgirl with a huge crush on Dharmendra.He plays as himself.The movie has many snippets from other films,it is a must quiz.It was a big city hit. In 1975 it was remade in Tamil with Jayachitra & Kamal Hassan.

The class room scene has a line by Jaya Bhaduri telling her friend,’Meine toh Meena Kumari ki chutti kar di’ not really but she almost achieved the feat. She debuted with Satyajit Ray’s ‘Mahanagar’ but gained immense popularity due to Guddi.This is the same film where Amitabh couldn’t act because of his commitment to K. Abbas for ‘Saat Hindustani’.Hrishi Da had the grudge for too long but forgived due to Jaya’s intervention.

Samit Bhanja ,a Bengali actor ,bagged this role opposite Jaya but is not known to do more work in Hindi. The opening song,’Hum ko man ki shakti dena.’ has the film institute because Jaya wanted her in that setting. It is still sung in schools all over. When someone saw her, her unglamourous self in school uniform, lamented on a wrong choice by Hrishi Da,who was very confident about his prodigee & believed she was here to stay!

Kusum is a spunky schoolgirl living with her father (AK Hangal) & her brother & sister- in -law( Sumita Sanyal, who is opposite Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Anand’ ) Guddi has a crush on Dharmendra.When Navin (Samit Bhanja) her sister-in -law’s brother proposes to her,she refuses saying she likes Dharmendra.In her stay in Mumbai they visit Elephanta caves where the beautiful song ,’Bole re papihara…’ by Vani Jairam is shot. Along with Suman Kalyanpur, Sudha Malhotra, Hemlata one of the voices that mesmerised us besides Lata Mangeshkar & Asha Bhosle.One more song by Vani Jairam..’Hari bin kaise jeeun…’ a Meera bhajan is hummable.

Navin discusses the matter with his uncle ( Utpal Dutt) who decide to make Guddi realise the difference between illusion & reality. (This theme is relevant even today, the trends followed blindly by the youth.) He contacts Dharmendra through a mutual friend & shows the difference between reel & real.Guddi comes to know that he is not the superman she imagined but a normal human being. the film ends with Guddi agreeing to marry Navin.

Jaya Bhaduri had nomination for best actress by Filmfare. But her skill as an actress was much appreciated.Her roles in ‘Uphaar’,’Koshish,’Kora kagaz’ were liked. She appeared along with Amitabh In ;Zanjeer’, ‘Abhimaan’, ‘Chupke chupke’,’Mili’ & ‘Sholay’.I suddenly realised that I have watched most of her films & she has the ability to blend so well,not hog the limelight for herself.A rare quality among those who are in the show biz. Signing off for now.See you tomorrow with more musings !