Synopsis : While Bollywood is an industry that has captivated the Indian imagination for over a century, those of us outside it’s pale have very little understanding of how it works, how it creates, what its heartbeat is like. This despite it having a character very different from Hollywood, the industry it began referencing through the quirk of a journalist’s pen in the 1970s. In the 60s and before, Bollywood was simply Bombay cinema, and Bombay cinema had been creating some utterly homegrown magic for some time.
Today, rumours, page 3, and marketing-driven 'news' of stars personal lives and fashions form the staple that we are fed. Writing on Bollywood tends to be star-struck; one of India’s most powerful home-grown industries has very little serious non-academic writing on it. Sathya Saran’s book Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's Journey stands out as an invaluable contribution in this context, giving us insight into creative genius, long-term collaborations, and the inner workings of the industry itself.
We are delighted to invite Sathya Saran - compulsive writer, secret singer, indefatigable traveller - to Mumbai Local, to share with this marvellous book with us. How it came about, her experience working with Alvi, and her discovery of Guru Dutt and Bollywood along the way. Film clips, readings from the book, and delightful conversation with Sathya will take us on a fascinating journey into a world of creativity and collaboration marking some of the most magical endeavours of the Bombay film industry.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday for an evening that is a must for Guru Dutt fans, and for those keen to understand our film legacy. Do share this email with everyone who has seen Pyaasa or Kaagaz ke Phool or Mr & Mrs 55 or Chaudhvin Ka Chand or Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam or ... And also with those who haven’t, because we all know they really should see these films, right?
If you or your friends can’t make it, you can join us on live feed on our Facebook page here.
About the Artist : Sathya Saran
Best known for her long association with Femina, which she edited for 12 years, Sathya Saran is also the author of a diverse variety of books. The Dark Side reflects her love of the short story, while the critically acclaimed biographies, Years with Guru Dutt Abrar Alvi's Journey; Sun Mere Bandhu Re The Musical World of SD Burman and Baat Niklegi toh Phir The Life and Music of Jagjit Singh bear testimony to her love of cinema and music.
Sathya is currently working on a book on Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. Sathya teaches fashion journalism at NIFT Mumbai, Kangra, and Srinagar. She has been a stage actor with Veenapani Chawla. Passionate about writing she conceptualised and curates a unique Writers Conclave titled The Spaces between Words the unfestival sponsored by JSW at Kaladham near Hampi, in partnership with The Hindu. Sathya has written a television serial titled Kashmakash on marital problems. Her column in Femina and Me magazine now continues to gain new fans as a guest column in Dainik Jagran.
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