Kolkata, Jan. 24 -- Filmmaker and author Nasreen Munni Kabir says Guru Dutt's cinema stands out because music in his films was never added merely to entertain audiences, but to express emotions and ideas that could not be conveyed through dialogue alone.
Speaking at a discussion on The Melancholy and the Magic of Guru Dutt at the Kolkata Literary Meet 2026, Kabir said the filmmaker was very conscious of how music functioned in cinema.
"According to Guru Dutt, use of a song within the narrative is considered to break the illusion of realism in cinema. Hindi cinema does not see music and dance as separate from the storytelling and is entirely dependent on songs as essential ingredients. He never used music for music's sake."Kabir pointed ou...