New Delhi: As a special tribute to legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt on his 100th birth anniversary, fully restored versions of his most popular films will be screened in theatres across India from 8 to 10 August.
The list of films includes Baaz (1953), Pyaasa (1957), Aar-Paar (1954), Mr. & Mrs. ’55 (1955), and Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960).
“It took 150 people working over two and a half months to restore these classics,” Sushilkumar Agrawal, founder of Ultra Media & Entertainment Group, told ThePrint.
The films will be released nationwide in major cinema chains like PVR and Cinepolis as well as select single screens.
“Multiplexes were key because the audience that understands and appreciates these timeless films tends to go there,” Agrawal said, whose personal favourites are Pyaasa and Chaudhvin Ka Chand.
Agrawal isn’t chasing profits with this release. Ticket prices are expected to be around Rs 100.
“There’s hardly any revenue. Restoring classics is an expensive process,” he said.
As for how the five films were chosen, the 70-year-old entrepreneur said that the selection followed a simple process.
“We picked films where Guru Dutt either acted or directed. From those, we restored the ones whose prints were in the best condition,” he added.
Ultra Media, which holds the rights to over 200 films and has been in the business for 42 years, calls this initiative “a celebration of Indian creativity and preserving good cinema for future generations”.
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‘Guru Dutt’s timeless vision’
Ultra Media partnered with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) for the restoration project.
Since these films were originally shot on negatives, the first step involved digitisation—converting physical film negatives into digital images. It can be done using a film scanner, a digital camera with specific lighting and setup, or specialised applications.
After digitisation, the team undertook a frame-by-frame restoration in 4K/2K using software such as Diamant, PF Clean, and Revival. The restoration removes scratches and corrects fading.
“Technology makes these classics visually appealing again,” Agrawal said, adding that colour grading is fine-tuned before a final quality check.
For Prakash Magdum, the Managing Director of NFDC, restoring Guru Dutt’s films goes beyond reviving old reels. It’s about safeguarding a priceless legacy that defines the soul of Indian cinema.
“These films are restored, ensuring that Guru Dutt’s timeless vision continues to resonate with audiences, now and for years to come,” he said.
Ultra Media has previously colourised other Indian classics, including Chori Chori (1956), Paigham (1959), and Insaniyat (1955)—the only film to feature both Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)