Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam to be colourised

One of Hindi cinema's best known classics Sahib, Bibi aur Ghulam is being turned into colour for a new generation of viewers.

In a Chennai lab, technicians are cleaning and polishing every frame as the 1962 classic, which was directed by Abrar Alvi and produced by Guru Dutt, is being turned into colour. The man supervising it is Guru Dutt's son, Arun.

"We had to go in for colourisation if we wanted to rejuvenate the negative. If we wanted to do it in black and white, the cost would be prohibitive and we would not be able to recover the money. The main thing is that I want to reintroduce my father's film and for that colourisation is a must," said Arun.

While the work on the movie is continuing, it will take 10 months to colour 2 lakh frames. But Dutt feels that it is worth the effort, and that his father would have approved of it.


As difficult as it may be, the logic of colour looks all set to sweep many more black and white films.