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9 July is the 100th birthday of the producer director and actor who is considered a Guru in Hindi cinema. Guru Dutt the filmmaker of Hindi cinema whose two films were selected among the 100 best films of the world by Times Magazine. These films were Pyaasa (1957) and Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959). Who was Guru Dutt? Every film of his is no less than a class for the filmmakers who came after him but Kagaz Ke Phool is one such film that made Guru Dutt and also ruined him. When this film was released it performed poorly. Made for Rs 17 crores Kagaz Ke Phool (1959) not only left Guru Dutt in debt but also eroded his confidence. This film was ahead of its time later earning the status of a cult classic and people associated with the film industry began to consider it a distinct genre of cinema. V. Shantaram was a great filmmaker of his time and when he saw Kagaz Ke Phool in Delhi he went home and told his wife If only I could do the work that Guru Dutt has done I would have been happier. Every shot of Kaagaz Ke Phool is a complete story. From the lighting of these shots to the camera work everything is a lesson for film students. Why did Guru Dutts film dominate the box office? After the failure of Kaagaz Ke Phool Guru Dutt had this misconception that if he gave his name as the director of a film the film would flop. After that whatever films he made as a producer Guru Dutt did not direct them. Shyam Benegal said “Guru Dutt had such a rapport with his cinematographer V.K. Murthy that whatever Guru Dutt thought V.K. Murthy would bring it on screen exactly like that and Guru Dutt had a similar jugalbandi with his writer Abrar Alvi whom he later got directed in Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam (1962).” Guru Dutt directed only 8 films in his career but each of his films leaves an impression on the viewer whether it is a success or a flop.