Guru Dutt's life, now on film

Finally, the life and loves of legendary director Guru Dutt will be made into a film. It will be directed by Bhavna Talwar, who had won a National Award for her debut film, Dharam.

She has also secured exclusive rights to use the iconic songs in his films like Jaane Kya Tune Kahi and Yeh Duniya Agar Mil Bhi Jayen Toh Kya Hai (Pyaasa), and Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Situm and Dekhi Zamanein Ki Yaari (Kaagaz Ke Phool).

Apparently, Saregama/HMV -- one of India's oldest and well-stocked music companies -- has given Talwar the exclusive rights to use the entire body of Guru Dutt’s music.

Says a source close to the project: “Saregama and Bhavna Talwar’s producer-husband Sheetal Talwar have signed a deal for the entire oeuvre of Guru Dutt’s music to be used in Bhavna’s film on Guru Dutt as and how required.”

Though Adarsh Gupta, Business Head of Saregama, confirms the deal, none of the two parties is willing to divulge the kind of monies that exchanged hands before this large treasure-chest of melodies passed into the Talwars’ hands. But here’s a hint: Tigmanshu Dhulia had to pay Rs 35 lakh for one Lata Mangeshkar classic Lag Ja Gale Se before it could be used in Sahib Biwi Aur Gangster Returns.

Shedding light on her ambitious Guru Dutt bio-pic, Talwar said, “It would look at the man and the filmmaker from one range of vision --  mine. There will be lots of music but we will not over-use Guru Dutt’s vast repertoire of music just because we have access to it.”

As for Dutt's family raising objections to the bio-pic, a source close to Talwar’s film says, “We’re very clear on the legal aspect of filming a real-life personality. We’ll only be using information on Guru Dutt that is in the public domain.”