As Indian cinema commemorates 100 years of the birth of Guru Dutt, one of its most celebrated and visionary filmmakers, tributes have poured in from across the industry. Among the most heartfelt came from veteran filmmaker Sudhir Mishra, who reflected on how deeply Guru Dutt’s influence has shaped his life and work over the decades.
At a commemorative event ahead of the nationwide Guru Dutt film retrospective (August 8–10) featuring restored classics like Pyaasa, Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, and others ,Mishra spoke of Guru Dutt not just as a director, but as a lifelong presence in his cinematic journey.
“It feels strange to speak about this young man Guru Dutt today… because all of us have grown older—older than he ever became. While we grew up within cinema, he somehow stayed there. I’m 65 now, and I can finally say… Guru. It’s beautiful. He never really left me.”
Recalling his first encounter with Guru Dutt’s cinema, Mishra said: “I first saw Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam when I was 12, with my grandmother. It’s a stunning film—emotionally, visually, structurally. Even at that age, it stayed with me. What’s truly astounding about Guru Dutt is that he isn’t just a filmmaker—Guru Dutt is an experience. You can keep coming back to his work like you revisit a great poem.
Watch him at 22, and he means one thing. Watch him at 35, and you’ll see something entirely different. I keep revisiting him. And each time, he reveals something new.”
Mishra candidly admitted that Guru Dutt's influence has been foundational to his own artistic expression. “There is nothing in my life that I’ve done which isn’t influenced by Guru Dutt. I haven’t measured up to him—but I’ve been trying to. Every film I’ve made, every scene I’ve written, every shot I’ve taken—I can’t imagine it without Guru Dutt. He taught us how to make films. He taught us how to see films. He taught us how to take that blueprint—that script—and then rewrite it on film. He taught us rhythm—not just in movement, but in emotion, in structure, in silence.”
As the centenary celebration of Guru Dutt unfolds, voices like Mishra’s serve as a reminder that Dutt’s genius is not a relic of the past—but a living, breathing force that continues to inspire, challenge, and elevate Indian cinema.