Time’s Top 100 Movies

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The 1957 Indian film Pyassa (which I have neither seen nor even heard of) has made Time Magazine’s “All Time 100 Movies.” This isn’t surprising given that reviewer Richard Corliss is a Bollywood fan:

Like Japan, India had a golden age in the 1950s. Independence from Britain sparked a robust, questioning artistry. While Satyajit Ray was pioneering the nation’s art cinema, commercial filmmakers such as Raj Kapoor (Awaara), Mehboob Khan (Mother India) and Bimal Roy (Do Bigha Zamin) were grafting influences from Hollywood melodramas and Italian neo-realism onto the Indian tradition of musical narrative. Pyaasa, which means thirst, is the most soulfully romantic of the lot. Vijay (Dutt) is an unpublished poet, dismissed by family and office colleagues but befriended by a prostitute (Waheeda Rehman). In a twist out of Sullivan’s Travels, Vijay is believed dead and his poetry “posthumously” lionized. The writer-producer-director-star paints a glamorous portrait of an artist’s isolation through dappled imagery and the sensitive picturizing of S.D. Burman’s famous songs. And Rehman, in her screen debut, is sultry, radiant—a woman to bring out the poet in any man, on screen or in the audience. —R.C.

Other Indian films that made the list included The Apu Trilogy, and Nayakan.

31 thoughts on “Time’s Top 100 Movies”

  1. The only Bollywood film that I truly adore. I think you need a few “classic” matinee idol screen shots in your banners, and this is a film that has amazing scenes.

  2. Pyaasa is an incredible movie. Abhi — don’t miss it. And keep some kleenex at hand if you are the crying type.

    Everything aside, just the lyrics and poetry used in Pyasa make it an incredible movie.

  3. I think I am going to take your advice and watch this film. The synopsis also gives me an idea for a possible updated re-make to pitch to Hollywood. Picture this if you will:

    Abhi is an unpublished blogger, dismissed by family and office colleagues but befriended by a previously anonymous blog reader. In a twist out of Sullivan’s Travels, Abhi is believed dead and his blog “posthumously” lionized.

  4. another classic film was “Khamoshi”. about an asylum inmate – great music. may require kleenex…

  5. Sar jo tera chakraye, ya dil dooba jaye, aaja pyaare paas humare, kahe ghabraye… its a must-see.

  6. Pyaasa was a great movie. Actually, I love old hindi movies and songs.

    Isn’t the song “Waqt ne kiya, kya hasi sitam” from this movie. So melancholy.

  7. I must see Pyaasa a few more times. I can never forget the poet’s cry in the end – Jalo do yeh duniya, bhuja do yeh duniya… Here’s Outlook on the movie:

    One day he gives away his coat to a beggar who dies in an accident and his body is mistaken for VijayÂ’s. Presuming him dead, Gulabo uses all her savings to get his poems published. Ironically, the book becomes a bestseller. In the filmÂ’s pivotal moment, Vijay literally rises from the dead to make a grand entry into the function organised to commemorate him and his work. He mocks at his posthumous fame and confronts society for its hypocrisy. The pessimistic strain is heightened by V.K. MurthyÂ’s stunning visual metaphors, like the persecuted poet framed as a Christ figure in Jaane woh kaise log the jinke…. SahirÂ’s lyrics, the virtual spine of the film, broaden the poetÂ’s own frustrations into a larger disenchantment with the nation. This was, after all, the time Nehruvian optimism was giving way to a darker questioning mood: Jinhe naaz hai Hind par woh kahan hain? The critique gets sharper, more subversive with Jala do ise phoonk dalo yeh duniya. Finally, the contemptuous rejection implied in the refrain—Yeh duniya agar mil bhi jaaye to kya hai.

    But PyaasaÂ’s unrelenting sense of gloom lifts at two glorious junctures: the teasing and playful Gulabo leading Vijay on with Jaane kya tune kahi, and her love and longing for Vijay finding an oblique expression in the erotic Baul bhajan Aaj sajan mohe ang laga lo.

    Source: http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20030512&fname=Opening+Essay%28F%29&sid=6

  8. What a gem! That reviewer is accomplished indeed, to recognize the genius from India’s old, monochromatic past. Here are a few others from Guru Dutt that you’ll do well to see if you haven’t:

    Mr. Mrs. 55: Playful, cheerful movie with some awesome songs. This was from a different phase of Guru Dutt. Quite entertaining. One immortal song – Mohabbat karlo jee bharlo, ajee kisne roka hai, par bade mazay ke baat hai ismein bhi dhokha hai.

    Sahib, bibi aur Ghulam: IMHO this is even better than Pyaasa although the difference is incremental. It presents the most intense, sensual relationship ever put to cellulid between 2 people – bhootnath and Choti bahu, and its still not romantic!

    Of all the movies I’ve ever seen adapted from books, this from Bimal Mitr novel by the same name is THE ONE that is abridged only in length, not in feeling. This movie is great in no less measure due to the one change from the book that it takes the liberty to make. Knowledgeable mutineers will know what I’m talking about. The melody haunting Bhootnath’s senses as he reminisces at the old haveli will not let go of you after years of seeing this movie.

    Kagaz ke phool: Of course, any talk of Pyaasa is bound to be quickly followed up by this one. This movie seems to be in a continuum of emotions that Guru Dutt was trying to express in Pyaasa; those that he finally succumbed to. GujuDude, waqt ne kiya… is from KKP, not pyaasa although they totally seem to exude the same mood.

  10. Time’s list of Top 100 is far from authoritative. In any case, Pyassa (also Pyasa, Pyaasa) was one of Guru Dutt’s best movie and had excellent songs. This was also his first movie with Waheeda Rehman, who later starred with Guru Dutt in Kaagaz Ke Phool, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam.

  11. My favorite Guru Dutt film by far is Sahib Bibi our Ghulam. MeenaKumari still haunts my dreams in the finest performance by an actress in Hindi film history.

    Pyaasa was wonderful, as was Kaagaz ke Phool. But both are flawed by some excessive melodrama and self-pity. And if you dont like old Hindi film music dont bother – more than half the magic is in the music.

  12. Also want to add that for those who love these lovely poetic romances, Pakeezah is not to be missed.

  13. Isn’t the song “Waqt ne kiya, kya hasi sitam” from this movie. So melancholy.

    That is the problem with those old films like Sahib bibi aur Ghulam, Pyaasa, Guide, Pakeezah etc. Too much rona dhona. Oof!

    For a kick-ass film classic with one of the best soundtracks ever, along with great action and suspense, check out C.I.D. One of Wahidas first films too.

  16. I have been enjoying Pyaasa movie for last 50+ years. Dada Burman, as always, gave memorable music. And Sahir’s lyrics were apt to the story. In fact, many youngsters may not know that Pyaasa is a story of sahir’s own life where his lady love laft him to marry a rich businessman. She is still living, and staying in Bombay. The more you see Pyaasa, the more you like it. Mot Lalwani

  17. hammer_sickel,

    The other two Indian, but not Hindi, movies in the list are Apu Triplogy by Satyajit Ray and Nayakan by Mani Ratnam. Considering that the Apu trilogy is, well, a trilogy, there are 5 movies from India in that list. 🙂

  20. hammer_sickel is that the level of insight/attention with which you keep India safe from the Communist threat on your blog?

  22. vurdlife,

    If you happened to read the HT article (which I doubt), you would know that it does not have any Indian film even mentioned in the article!

    poor journalism indeed.

  24. i strongly believe sholay is the most over rated film in bollywood. its a good film but i seriously do not think it is the best ever as many people make it out to be. There are many other great works out there which are equal or better then sholay. My personal fav films are mother india, lagaan and the list goes on really.

  26. Mr Vijay is a lier and already banned in many countries such as srilanka

    i knew it

    im an IR from Indonesia

    and i dont tell lie

    u may contact me if u really want to know about why i stopped from questnet

    for my safety contact me through my email

    i will tell you all the TRUTH about vijay

    mr onggy hianata the highest leader with downlines in 40+ countries stopped from questnet bcoz frauds those have been done by this disgusting guy

    hi Vijay if u want to chase me bcoz i tell the truth to everyone, or if you want to use ur power to kill me for telling the truth, GO AHEAD

    I AM NOT AFRAID

    God knows everything

    NB: Mr Vijay, you are NOT proper using image like mother teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Pope, and others.

    They will LAUGH you from heaven… I tell evryone so there is no more victims here

    Thanks a lot

    here is link that can help you http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_quest http://ofw.balita.ph/html/article.php/20070508162506727

  29. i love this type of movies and this movie was one of the movie which i wish to watch every time