Celebrating 100 Years of Guru Dutt: Tribute to the Film Legend through Screenings of Classics Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool at IFFM 2025
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) is set to pay tribute to two of India's most influential filmmakers, Guru Dutt and Aamir Khan, as part of its 2025 edition. From August 14-August 24, 2025, Melbourne audiences will have the opportunity to witness the work of these cinematic legends on the big screen.
Festival Director, Mitu Bhowmick Lange, expressed her excitement about the upcoming event, stating, "It is essential to honour those who have shaped our cinematic heritage, and this tribute is IFFM's way of remembering Guru Dutt's genius and celebrating Aamir Khan's enduring impact."
Guru Dutt, who would have turned 100 on July 9, is renowned for his direction of films like Pyaasa (1957) and Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959). However, his directing credits include earlier successful films such as Baazi (1951), Aar Paar (1954), and Mr. & Mrs. 55 (1956). These films helped establish his reputation as a promising filmmaker before his more introspective and celebrated later works. Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool are remembered as his most artistic and influential films, but Baazi, Aar Paar, and Mr. & Mrs. 55 were instrumental in shaping his early directorial style and commercial success.
IFFM 2025 will host special screenings of two of Guru Dutt's classics, Pyaasa (1957) and Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), as part of a curated retrospective celebrating Indian cinema's golden age and its enduring influence. The screenings will serve as a tribute to the movie maestro who created magic on screen with his intellectual films, which are considered cultural treasures that speak to the soul of Indian cinema.
Aamir Khan will be the Chief Guest of IFFM 2025, and Melbourne audiences will have the opportunity to witness his work on the big screen during the festival. A screening of Aamir Khan's film, Sitaare Zameen Par, will be part of the festival, followed by a live conversation with Aamir Khan, director RS Prasanna, and Aparna Purohit, CEO of Aamir Khan Films.
The IFFM 2025 will also feature screenings, panels, masterclasses, and cultural events, aiming to celebrate not just the legacy of Guru Dutt and Aamir Khan, but the legacy of those who shaped cinematic heritage. Guru Dutt's granddaughters will pay a tribute to him through their work, and the festival will honour the legacy of Aamir Khan as well.
Guru Dutt, a legendary actor-filmmaker, is known for his visionary storytelling and deeply human narratives, and is considered a pioneer of Hindi cinema. Despite directing only eight films in his career, his work continues to inspire and captivate audiences around the world. The screenings of Guru Dutt's and Aamir Khan's films are part of IFFM's way of remembering their respective genius and celebrating the rich history of Indian cinema.
The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) will offer audiences a rare opportunity to enjoy movies from India's past and present, showcasing both Guru Dutt's classics, such as Pyaasa (1957) and Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959), and contemporary entertainment like Sitaare Zameen Par, as part of the 2025 edition. This festival, aiming to celebrate the legends who shaped cinematic heritage, is not only an event for entertainment but also a tribute to filmmakers like Guru Dutt and Aamir Khan, who have significantly contributed to the rich world of Indian cinema.
