{"product_id":"guru-dutt-a-tragedy-in-three-acts","title":"Guru Dutt: A Tragedy in Three Acts by Arun Khopkar","description":"\u003ch2 data-start=\"44\" data-end=\"64\"\u003eBook Summary\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"66\" data-end=\"676\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"66\" data-end=\"102\"\u003eGuru Dutt: A Tragedy in Three Acts\u003c\/em\u003e (original Marathi title \u003cem data-start=\"127\" data-end=\"160\"\u003eGuru Dutt: Teen Anki Shokantika\u003c\/em\u003e, 1985) is a deeply insightful critical study of three of Guru Dutt’s defining films: \u003cstrong data-start=\"246\" data-end=\"256\"\u003ePyaasa\u003c\/strong\u003e (1957), \u003cstrong data-start=\"265\" data-end=\"284\"\u003eKaagaz Ke Phool\u003c\/strong\u003e (1959), and \u003cstrong data-start=\"297\" data-end=\"322\"\u003eSahib Bibi Aur Ghulam\u003c\/strong\u003e (1962) \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eKhopkar approaches these works not as a biographer but as a filmmaker-scholar, using his personal reflections to dissect cinematic techniques—lighting, editing, acting, music—and the emotional rhythm that underpins Dutt’s melancholic style\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eThe title’s “three acts” refer precisely to his close readings of these three films, which Khopkar treats as stages in Dutt’s artistic tragedy and inner turmoil\u003c\/span\u003e . \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eThe English edition, translated by Shanta Gokhale, was published in 2012 by Penguin India, and the original Marathi version won the \u003cstrong data-start=\"132\" data-end=\"179\"\u003eNational Film Award for Best Book on Cinema\u003c\/strong\u003e at the 33rd ceremony\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eThough concise at around 134–168 pages, the book resonates as a layered meditation on auteur cinema and the tortured genius of Guru Dutt\u003c\/span\u003e .\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 data-start=\"683\" data-end=\"721\"\u003eAbout the Author: \u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"723\" data-end=\"965\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eArun Khopkar is a distinguished Indian filmmaker, scholar, and critic, formerly associated with ISRO before turning his talents to cinema studies\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eDeeply influenced by Dutt’s poetic melancholia and dramatic style, Khopkar initially conceived his close readings as personal jottings rather than a planned book—the result, however, became a celebrated work of film criticism that won national recognition\u003c\/span\u003e . \u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003eUnlike traditional biographies, Khopkar focuses exclusively on Dutt’s films to interpret the man himself—eschewing tabloid-style personal details in favor of layered cinematic analysis\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan class=\"\" data-state=\"closed\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"ms-1 inline-flex max-w-full items-center relative top-[-0.094rem] animate-[show_150ms_ease-in]\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thehungryreader.wordpress.com\/2012\/11\/22\/book-review-guru-dutt-a-tragedy-in-three-acts-by-arun-khopkar\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" rel=\"noopener\" alt=\"https:\/\/thehungryreader.wordpress.com\/2012\/11\/22\/book-review-guru-dutt-a-tragedy-in-three-acts-by-arun-khopkar\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" class=\"flex h-4.5 overflow-hidden rounded-xl px-2 text-[9px] font-medium text-token-text-secondary! bg-[#F4F4F4]! dark:bg-[#303030]! transition-colors duration-150 ease-in-out\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative start-0 bottom-0 flex h-full w-full items-center\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"flex h-4 w-full items-center justify-between absolute\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"-me-1 flex h-full items-center rounded-full px-1 text-[#8F8F8F]\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Best of Used books","offers":[{"title":"Used","offer_id":44276766769409,"sku":"2C3LOF4JM-Used","price":150.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0421\/4299\/0495\/products\/GuruDutt.jpg?v=1627233685","url":"https:\/\/bestofusedbooks.com\/products\/guru-dutt-a-tragedy-in-three-acts","provider":"Best Of Used Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}