Kaagaz Ke Phool (Paper Flowers)

Guru Dutt's final film as a director, Kaagaz Ke Phool/Paper Flowers (1959), follows the successful film—maker Suresh Sinha (played by Dutt himself) as rumours of his affair with his actress Shanti (Waheeda Rehman) lead him to lose his family, descend into alcoholism and ultimately retreat from the film industry. Initially met with critical and commercial failure, the film is now revered for its technical prowess and considered one of the finest self—reflexive works in Indian cinema.

Lalitha ...