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Guru Dutt, Dev Anand cycled through every corner of Pune: Jabbar Patel

As Pune International Film Festival gets ready to mark Guru Dutt’s birth centenary, PIFF director Jabbar Patel reflects on the filmmaker’s deep emotional bond with the city where his cinematic vision took shape.

3 min readPuneUpdated: Dec 17, 2025 08:21 PM IST

Guru Dutt, who left an indelible signature on Indian cinema though he died at 39, came to Pune after training as a dancer with the Uday Shankar’s dance academy in Almora. (Source: File)

Eminent film and theatre director Jabbar Patel said on Wednesday that Pune has an emotional connection with the iconic film actor and director Guru Dutt.

“Dutt was from Pune’s Prabhat Studio, where he met Dev Anand, who was making a film there. The two knew each and every corner of Pune city and moved around on bicycles together,” said Patel, who is also the director of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).

The 24th edition of PIFF—to be held from January 15 to 22—is themed around the birth centenary of Guru Dutt. Apart from screenings of Dutt’s important works, among others, PIFF will help audiences, especially the young generation, feel the magic of an era of unbridled creative outpouring.

Dutt, who left an indelible signature on Indian cinema though he died at 39, came to Pune after training as a dancer with the Uday Shankar’s dance academy in Almora, after it closed due to financial constraints during World War II. The Chief Executive of Prabhat Film Company recruited Dutt as a choreographer. Dutt’s first screen credit was as a choreographer in Hum Ek Hain in 1944. It was at Prabhat that Dutt developed a fascination for the camera.

“Guru Dutt is an artist who was discovered later, though he had made four or five commercial films. It was Dev Anand who gave a break to Guru Dutt with the noir thriller Baazi, about a young man (played by Anand), who, having fallen on hard times, has taken to gambling,” says Patel.

Dutt would go on to set up his own film company and make great films, such as Aar-Paar, Mr & Mrs 55 and Pyaasa—a film about a creative mind struggling in a materialistic world. It went on to become one of the 100 greatest films of the 20th century in Time magazine’s list.

Patel shared a conversation with Anand many years later. “We were felicitating him. I called to find out where he was. Dev sahab said, ‘Main toh Ganj Peth mein hun.’” says Patel. It was a whiff of nostalgia of the times whan Anand and Dutt would spend time among the smells and sights of the gehu-chaw ka bazar that had taken Anand there. Anand would share how he and Dutt used to “cycle pe yahan ghuma karte the”. He would talk about the smells of the place.

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“That is one of the reasons that Dutt’s cinema was so rooted to the lives of people. He was connected to the poor people, the labourers. Pune played a big role in the development of his personality,” says Patel.

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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