I watched Delhi 6, a couple of days back. It was torture and the feeling to get over with the movie and do something better made me move over to the remote kept close by. I forwarded most part of the movie. The only thing that i liked about the movie was Waheeda Rehman. The gorgeous lady has aged gracefully, and even now, looks as charming as ever. She may have played the role of a grandmother in the movie, but she reminded me of the song from the movie 'Guide' (kaanton se kheench ke ye aanchal, tod de bandhan bandhey paayal.......hoo o....) She in her blue sari, singing without any inhibitions and breaking the 'matkas' (pots) was embedded in my memory. I remember a day from my childhood. I had seen the movie 'guide'. I remember singing the same song and breaking the pot kept at home, though I had to spend one whole evening at home and wasn't allowed to go out and play. The lecture on why we shouldn't break things was a bonus. But, ah! the pleasure of experiencing the sound of a breaking earthen pot is music to the ears. I am aware of the hindu ritual of breaking an earthen pot today (it's broken by the person who lights the pyre of a dead person)
I do not belong to the generation when Guru dutt or waheeda rehman ruled the silver screen, but that didn't make me a lesser fan of the duo. I had seen Waheeda Rehman for the first time when I saw her with Guru Dutt in the movie 'Chaudahvin ka chand' and the title song still remains one of my favourite songs. I eventually became a Guru Dutt fan and went on to watch Sahib Biwi aur ghulam, pyaasa, aar paar, mr and mrs 55 and various other movies.. But his
ideal match always seemed to be Waheeda Rehman. Their onscreen chemistry had tricklded down to their personal lives too. The intense Guru Dutt and the innocent beauty of Waheeda made them a perfect couple. 39 is no age to die, but that's the life span of the legend who for me is the ultimate image of a creative person. His way of story telling was far too superior than any director we see today. He was said to have been ahead of his times and truly so. 'Pyaasa' had inspired a whole generation to become writers and the song 'ye duniya agar mil bhi jaae to kya hai..' is a masterpiece. Isn't it true after all, that a world of scheming relatives, jealous peers, false relationships and wrong timings make up the real world.
Guru Dutt lived for some part of his life with a person who truly loved him and understood him. His life was tragic but he lives on and will continue doing so. People who tell stories will scan through the reels he has left behind and try to make meaning of each word he spoke and each shot he okayed. However, there's just one person who knew him, sans the make up - waheeda rehman it is. She smiles almost benignly, her softness shimmering through the sparkling eyes. She hasn't left the stage which gave her fame. As pretty as she was in her youth.
