Reliving 50 yrs of 'golden' cinema (1957-2007)

A poet's love for his work and a prostitute he yearns for. It was a bold experiment for Guru Dutt who made Pyaasa in 1957, and fell in love with Waheeda Rehman while making it.

“When I was first explained that I have to play the part of a prostitute who seduces men, I didn't understand because I was all of 16 years,” recalls Waheeda.

Now when we do a flashback, the poet/filmmaker Guru Dutt was in august company that year. 1957 also gave Bollywood, Nargis' classic Mother India.

Apart from sparking off Nargis' love story with Sunil Dutt during the making, Mehboob Khan's earthy representation of a strong Indian mother went on to win a foreign film Oscar nomination.

"Nargis is not hesitant to apply all the mud and muck on her face for this shot. and yet, she ends up looking so beautiful in that one shot," says filmmaker Tanuja Chandra.

This year also witnessed the "before its time" prison drama Do Aankhen Barah Haath. A film that is stuck in movie lore for its melodious songs and positive spirit, went on to win the Best Foreign Film award at the Golden Globes in 1959.

Last but most definitely not the least, BR Chopra's Naya Daur is a timeless tale of modern technology overtaking the village economy of India.

"I believe that each of us should give something back to society, to our people. And I feel that my films should talk about something that is relevant to the present times,” says filmmaker BR Chopra.

Each of these films emphasised socially relevant issues while entertaining millions of movie-goers in India, and earned Bollywood its place in the sun at a number of film festivals worldwide.

Yet 50 years on the films may just fade from public memory. Apart from Ravi Chopra, who plans to release his father's Naya Daur in colour, there is little being done to promote them.

"I feel that these films should be exhibited, should not necesarily be colored but should be shown to the present generation. And yes, I would encourage today's film audience to go and see them," says filmmaker Sudhir Mishra.

So while film makers fondly remember these four films that have influenced them for so long, it’s high time Bollywood sat up and placed these cinematic classics in their right place with the viewers. Perhaps a Naya Daur might just again kick off a new wave of more quality films.