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| Index | 29 reviews in total |
14 out of 14 people found the following review useful:
Most Awesome movie and greatest Movie ever Made, 16 September 2005
Author:
flamesandthunders from Canada
Sep : 16 2005 I might be too young to comment about this great movie. I am just 24 years old. But i think age is not a bar to appreciate this movie. I see this move at least twice or thrice a week. Based on R. K. Narayan's Novel, "Guide" is by far the best movie ever made. Hats off to Narayan , Vijay Anand and Dev Anand. Not to forget S.D Burman Da 's music. This is a thought provoking movie. It, has the power to arouse the sub-conscious ethical senses. All the new directors have to learn a lot from this movie. Movie making is not just copying Hollywood. You can proudly say that Guide is a Hindi movie.... made in India. The concept of guide was far ahead to the contemporary movie making. It was made not only for that generation but for generations yet to come, just with enough impact to change lives..
17 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
Classic Indian drama of love, sacrifice, downfall, redemption, 27 October 2002
Author:
Brian Camp from Bronx, NY
GUIDE (1965) is an unsung classic of Hindi cinema, starring major Bollywood
star Dev Anand. It's a beautifully-produced modern love story and focuses on
what happens when a tourist guide takes up with an ex-dancer who has been
abandoned by her archaeologist husband and then guides her career as she
becomes a musical star. It has much in common with classic Hollywood
romantic musicals in the way it seamlessly incorporates songs and musical
numbers into the action and charts the success of its female star. It adds
to this rags-to-riches show biz story some characteristic Indian twists
which give it greater scope and deeper meaning.
Based on a novel by R.K. Narayan, GUIDE stars Anand as Raju, a glib,
well-liked freelance tour guide who takes visitors, Indian and foreign, to
historic sites around Delhi and tells them stories--some true, some
embellished--about these magnificent places. When Raju takes Rosy (Waheeda
Rehman), the ex-dancer, under his wing it causes a rift between him and his
mother, friends and co-workers, so he leaves with Rosy and helps her to
embark on a career as a singing and dancing performer.
However, as Rosy achieves stardom, Raju falls into bad habits, palling
around with the money men, drinking and gambling heavily. Eventually, he is
arrested for forging a check and is sent to jail. When he gets out he starts
life anew and wanders alone far and wide before winding up in a remote
desert village where, thanks to the endless stream of pearls of wisdom he
dispenses, he is taken as a holy man. In the midst of a terrible drought, he
is compelled to embark on a fast so as not to disappoint the villagers who
believe his fast will bring rain. All the while, Rosy and his mother are
searching for him.
The story is not told in quite this order. We first see Raju as he is
getting out of jail and we first see Rosy as she begins her search for him.
The story then unfolds in flashbacks from both his and Rosy's perspectives.
If there is any flaw in the narrative structure, it is that the exploits of
Raju in his reign as holy man, or "swami," are given short shrift while the
love story tends to bog down during the lovers' disillusion and drift apart.
We needed to see more of Raju's life in the remote village. Given that the
film is only 170 minutes (rather short for a Bollywood film), another
half-hour of storytelling would not have hurt.
Still, it is an accomplished work, boasting all the class, elegance and
artistry of a classic Hollywood or European drama and few of the notable
excesses of Bollywood films. It maintains a discreet cinematic distance that
keeps the emotions in check while adding richer layers. There are songs and
dances, but not too many, and they are all beautifully shot and staged,
particularly the lavish, lengthy sequence showing Rosy's rise to stardom as
a stage performer. The two leads, Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman, are both
genuine movie stars in the classic sense and carry the film as well as any
of their counterparts in other cinemas. Rehman, for one, has a presence
which clearly recalls such Italian actresses as Sophia Loren and Gina
Lollobrigida. For those who are new to Bollywood, this film is a useful way
to explore the roots of the Bollywood musicals that are finally attracting
serious attention among film fans in the U.S.
10 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
One of Indian cinema's best, 14 January 2006
Author:
sst117 from United States
In India, this movie is considered a textbook for directing films. I
would say it's a textbook for acting, editing, song-writing, and music
direction. If Vijay Anand's direction made this movie a classic, S.D.
Burman's music made it unforgettable.
Of course, before the movie came R.K. Narayan's story of Raju, the
guide; a story that lent its honesty to the film: The protagonist is
not infallible, he is human. He doesn't get everything right. He is not
loved by everybody. He cheats, albeit in love, and pays the price. He
attempts to cheat again when he tries to run away from the village
where he is being considered a saint and is being expected to fast for
rain. That's when he realizes he has run enough attains peace.
Without going any more into some of the more abstract reasons this is
my all-time favorite film, I'll point out some of the more obvious.
Only the genius of S.D. Burman could create "Din Dhal Jaaye", "Tere
Mere Sapne", and "Piya Tose Naina Laage Re" - all for the same film! It
is rumored that R.D. Burman ghost-composed some of the songs
(especially "Aaj Phir Jeene Ki") as his father had taken ill at some
critical point in the film. Regardless of which Burman did it, I am
thankful for what he did.
Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman are two of my most favorite actors. With
this movie, Dev Anand silenced his critics. His acting, especially in
the last part of the movie, is heart-wrenching.
I disappointed to know that S.D. Burman did not win the Filmfare award
for Guide. Not that awards matter - Pink Floyd never won a Grammy (well
if you don't count the one they got for "Cluster One", which was just
and instrumental).
13 out of 16 people found the following review useful:
'Can there be any connection between one man's hunger and the rains?', 20 March 2002
Author:
manoj agrawal (agrawalmannu@hotmail.com) from USA
When I travelled from India to US this was the only Hindi movie DVD
that I carried with me. To me this is a "complete movie", as a movie
should be. It entertains me by taking me through a wide gamut of
emotions, it stimulates me spiritually and philosophically (indian
faith, western existentialism are all there) and it is technically
brilliant.
Each scene seems to be individually composed and you can see the effort
that director vijay anand and his crew put in. Raju speaks to us in one
of the scenes "there is not much difference between me and you". And as
he speaks this you see the statue of Krishna in the background and
Raju's index finger stretched as if holding a sudarshan chakra.
Brilliant!!! Subtle things like these that you have to watch out for.
The name "Guide" itself conveys a different meaning at different times
in the movie; a railway guide, a personal guide and then a spiritual
guide.
It is very sad that a brilliant director like Vijay Anand could never
come out of the shadows of Navketan and despite giving us some of the
most important and influential movies of our times was ignored. People
in west respect their classics and make an effort that Billy Wilder,
Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Chaplin etc. are not forgotten. New directors
openly admit how much they have been influenced by these people. But in
India, what is not on MTV is not worth remembering. In another 10 years
no one will remember Vijay Anand.
9 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
One of the ten greatest Indian Movies Ever, 1 November 2005
Author:
mandy b from United States
Guide is an impeccable work of art, not simply a movie. I see it as a
lifetime achievement for all those who were a part of it,not intending
to undermine their other accomplishments.Vijay Anand,popularly called
Goldie(movie director),shows his class and commitment to prove himself
even when the English version of the movie directed by Ted Danielewski
failed earlier.It was a just a five minute song that Yash Johar(PRO for
production) showed to the distributors before they were convinced that
the movie is a classic.The photography,art direction and production of
the movie sets it apart from other movies of its era and at the same
time puts it right up there on a different level.
I would say that GUIDE is the soul of Indian Cinema and serves as an
inspiration to many. For all those who doubt the talent and originality
of Dev Anand(Raju), this is the answer. Waheeda Rehman(Rosie) has
herself confessed that Guide was the best ever role that she performed.
S D Burman's heart rendering music and Vijay Anand's vision have made
this a landmark accomplishment for Indian Cinema.
7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
A classic movie featuring a struggle of the inner-self -a Guide to a better spiritual existence, 8 November 1998
Author:
Sachin Vora from Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
This film featuring Dev Anand in the title role is a film with a philosophical bend so well blended with the storyline that you may very well miss it if you are not a good cinema reader... this film is a story about a young charismatic guide who earns his living by guiding art lovers through the ancient relics of Ajanta and Elora-a very ancient cave sculpture site. He falls in love for a very talented but uncared wife of a sculpture researcher who suddenly on his visit to this relics stumbles upon a priceless discovery of very ancient cave sculpture..his passion for his work and the consequent neglect of his wife sets the stage of a accidental love between the guide and the young and beautiful wife aptly portrayed by the charming Waheeda Rehman.This love is a result of the appreciation and recognition of the potential of the talented wife who has a penchant for dance and music...The saga enfolds and leads to the lady becoming a famous dancer thanks to the management of the guide who is now totally in love with the dancer....The husband repents and tries to woo his wife back and dedicates the original manuscript of his work on the cave sculptures to her and the guide...also he sends her the royalty earned from his work...the charmed lover the guide in order that the wife may not return to her husband...endorses the check on her behalf by forging the signature...so that she does not know about the change of heart of her husband...this lands him in soup and he is arrested on charges of forgery...she refuses to bail him out just because he had acted wrongly...the story takes a philosophical turn and the happy go lucky guide wanders off after the jail sentence..the wife does love the guide and waits for him but he goes away disenchanted with his life...he reaches a desolate village and with his knowledge and wit finds himself as a guide of the ignorant people..they put full faith in him and turn to him in any crisis...but then the village faces a famine and they ask him for rain......that is not in his control but the villagers have faith..they ask him to go on a fast to woo the god...he pleads but the faith of the villagers forces him to take a fast..not eat anything or drink anything till it rains...he sets the stage for his death...but he knows he is a farce and does not want to die...then comes the struggle between his conscience and his outer self...this is the best part of the film and this is what makes it a classic..........tears flow in my eyes and there is rain.......but the man dies...the guide guides himself to glory..from powerlessness to strength...from life to death........see it to love it.....
7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
An outstanding story about a frivolous but lovable chap called Raju, 10 January 2006
Author:
venkatpushpa from India
Undoubtedly, one of the finest examples of film-making.This film is an absolutely original, Indian story, and does not owe anything to the west.Every aspect of the film is top-notch. The songs(each one, a masterpiece) blend so beautifully with the sequences, that one is convinced that the film would be incomplete without the songs.Adapted from the novel written by RK Narayan, the film explores the adventures and misadventures of the happy-go-lucky tourist guide, Raju(played by Dev Anand).The film moves on to the next level with the beginning of a love affair between Raju and a danseuse named Rosy(Waheeda Rehman) who is already married, but is discontented because her archaeologist husband doesn't really give a damn about her.The husband (Kishore Sahu) is shown to be deeply engrossed in the caves of Udaipur(the city where Raju is famously called "Raju guide")However, there is hardly any intimate scene between Raju and Rosy (later christened Nalini, in the film) and their feelings for each other are depicted in a very subtle manner. The characterization is so good that we sympathize with Rosy, rather than condemning her for having an extra marital affair....What happens next and what awaits Raju and Rosy is what the film is all about. Definitely a must-see film and certainly 10 on 10
7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
One of a kind, 17 March 2003
Author:
Herag Halli from Heraganahalli, India
The book was penned by an ace novelist by the name of R.K.Narayan, who
wrote the story surrounding a small village in North India. The
director was Vijay Anand younger brother of Dev Anand, who reluctantly
accepted the task and changed the location to Udaipur, also called the
Pink City, for its ornate pink palaces and now a tourist mecca. The
partnership was called Navketan International. Navketan International
even handled the advertising for this movie, which was pioneering and
unique even for the '60s. The actor playing "Raju" was none other
than,Devdutt Pishorimal Anand, Aka Dev Anand, Evergreen Anand, Dev
Saab, an English major who trekked his way to Bombay (now Mumbai) the
"Hollywood" of India now inaptly titled "Bollywood". Dev Anand was
accepted by the Indian moviegoers instantly since he had chiseled
features (mixture of Gregory Peck & Rock Hudson!)wore hats at a rakish
angle,walked sort of sideways! and spoke Hindi with a clipped and
poetic accent. Being handsome compared to some actors who were
cherubic! didn't do any harm either. Dev Anand, who started his career
in 1946, went on to act in over 100 movies in a span of fifty years,
now an octogenarian, writer, producer,director of movies OF which, less
said is better!
But If there was one movie that was reflective of the confluent talent
that was prevalent in Indian cinema of the '60s and '70s, it had to be
"Guide". Dev Anand is not an actor in the sense of acting talent like
Raj Kapoor or Rajendra Kumar(Sangam) but he got away because of his
good looks. Where as Waheeda Rahman, was the Liz Taylor for looks and
Merryl Streep for acting in Indian cinema. The part of "Rosie" was
sculpted for her. She was a noted classical dancer. She too was
reluctant in accepting the part that had, lot of insinuations and was
considered a bad career move. Accepted she did and the rest is history,
a cinematic masterpiece caught in Eastman color by cinematographer Jal
Mistry. There is a scene, where, Raju (Dev Anand,) is drunk and sings
his heart and soul to Rosie (Waheeda Rahman) who has emotions crushed
between a pillow and she walks down the stairs and their hands meet
between rails. This was the master director Vijay Anand at work using
haunting melody of music that was the staple of great music directors
like "Dada" Sachin Dev Burman, whose music will linger for ever.
"Guide" is a movie you will treasure, to be taken out and watched once
in a while, lest we forget the fact that there were gifted craftsmen
who made great movies, when movie art was a passion practiced by chosen
few. It was a Sacred Sanctum, albeit not Sacred Anymore!!
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Guide is about losing and finding your way in life, 2 November 2006
Author:
acsuren from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Guide is a transcendental movie about finding (or losing) your way, and
finding it again. At one level it is purely corporeal – about life's
search for fame, fortune and love; but at a meta-level it asks: what
are we really searching for? Just fame, fortune, love? Or is it
altruism, God, or something even bigger than that? Guide looks for
answers to nothing less that the deepest and toughest questions of
life.
Guide is about the many paradoxical situations of life. A village looks
for guidance from a man, who is lost himself. A girl, who is trying to
find freedom from her seedy background, finds imprisonment in a
loveless marriage. A woman and a man dream of a successful future
together, but are disenchanted and separated by the very same future
they built together. Guide explores these situations subtly and
honestly. True to reality, life itself is the protagonist and life
itself is the villain; and the characters are but parts of a universe
that is trying to comprehend itself through them.
Unlike much of Bollywood fare, this movie has rich characters and
strong character development. The main characters truly evolve through
the movie. Vijay Anand's dialogs are excellent and express emotions as
honestly as few movies have. A few scenes really stand out – one where
Rosie and Raju, penniless, pretend to be a famous artiste and her eager
fan; another where Rosie, sadly alienated from her lover says "there is
a wall around my heart, and it seems like nothing can reach inside it –
not happiness, not sadness".
Last but not least, the songs are a delight and they only enhance the
depth of the story. When Rosie tastes, for a day, the freedom she
craves, we sing with her "I feel like living again". On our journey
with Raju and Rosie, when they feel the cozy warmth of love and
togetherness, we feel like singing "the colors of our dreams are now
the same"; when they feel sad loneliness, we lament "the day ends, but
alas, the night lasts forever".
Guide is a great human drama, but what elevates it to an epic is the
mystical undercurrent to the story. Sophisticated and progressive for a
Bollywood movie made in 1965, Guide is a timeless masterpiece and very
few Bollywood movies made before or since come close in scope, ambition
and depth. It swept most major awards in 1965 (except, shockingly, for
Best Music – which was won by Suraj), and will probably be a strong
contender for these awards in any other year.
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Vijay Anand's Best movie, 30 August 2004
Author:
peanutz454 from India-Canada
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
I watched Guide around eight years ago and my memory fails me a bit.
But so strong is the movie that it has left a strong impression on me.
Some events of this comment might be a little off the mark but overall
it is a true attempt.
Guide is popular director Vijay Anad's best remembered movie. The movie
won both critical acclaim and good box office sales. Based on acclaimed
Indian novelist (of Malgudi Days fame) K R Narayan's book "The Guide",
Guide is the story of two people Raju (Dev Anand) and Rosy (Waheeda
Rehman) and there flaws. While Raju is a enthusiastic young tourist
guide, Rosy is the cheerless, forlorn wife of an architect Marco. The
setting is the scenic city of Udaipur (known for the lake palace).
Marco is much older than Rosi and it is quite evident that the married
life is not going smooth. Marco is more interested in the motionless
wall sculptures of the caves he is studying with Raju's help, than in
his wife.
At heart Rosy is a girl. When she meets Raju the guide she blossoms
into her true self (thanks to a suicide attempt Raju saved her from).
Raju encourages her to develop her individuality - live her own life
independent of Marco (who to add to his evil outlook is shown as a
heavy drinker). The song "Aaj fir Jine Ki Tamanna Hai" based on Rosi
(sung by Lata Mangeshkar) roughly translates to "(Today) I want to live
again.." The songs effectively portrays both Rosi's suppressed energy
and her quest for freedom. Rosi is interested in dancing something her
husband wont allow her to do. Thanks to all the support she gets from
Raju, she falls in love with him.
In 1960's Hindu society such a relationship was definitely unacceptable
- Even in Cinema. To show a relationship outside the sanctity of
married life was a bold move. It required Director Vijay Anand's
abilities to portray it and still win acclaim and viewer ship. It also
required Waheeda Rehman's abilities at acting to be sanctimonious in
spite of living outside her marriage.
Raju and Rosie marry and now starts "..sadly ever after.."
Rosi can now freely realize her dream as a dancer from Raju's support.
During the classical music influenced "Piya tau see naina laage re" we
see Rosi's rise in fame as a dancer. As Rosi becomes a popular dancer,
Raju get more irresponsible. Acrimony creeps into their relationship
because of Raju's jealousy and his sudden habit of drinking and signs a
fraudulent cheque.
The guide looses his own track.. only to seek it again as a hermit..
The movie starts with "Wahan Kaun hai Tera, Musafir, Jayega Kahan?"
sung by SD Burman (where will you go, oh traveler, you know no one
there.) The song sets us up for the movie's philosophical tone. Guide
has no heroes or blacks and whites every character has a spectrum of
good and bad sides. The last and final song of the movie is a duel song
"Mohse chhal kiye jaye" sung by Rosi and "Kya se kya ho gaya bewafa" by
Raju present both there arguments. It is only near the end that Raju
becomes a chance hero. Some villagers assume he is a saint and Raju
forgets who he is and probably because he wants to pay penance for his
mistakes, he starts to believe in his new life.
Vijay Anand went on to see more success at box office with his
thrillers. But Guide remains his best movie. A Classic, Guide swept the
Filmfare awards - winning 7 Filmfares, best Movie, Director, Actor,
Actress, Story, Dialogue and Cinematography. I wonder how on earth did
it miss the Filmfares for its music.
**spoiler warning** 'Guide' is a celebration of a "flawed" character
who seeks love, pain, redemption and death. ******
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