Hong Kong Film Festival to pay tribute to India's Guru Dutt

Nevada (US), March 15 : The prestigious 34th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF), from March 21 to April six, will pay special tribute to India's late actor-director-producer-writer Guru Dutt, whom it calls 'Bollywood Guru'.

Festival will showcase his "Kaagaz Ke Phool" (1959, with Waheeda Rehman), "Mr. and Mrs. 55" (1955, with Madhubala), "Sahib Bibi aur Gulam" (1962, with Meena Kumari and Waheeda Rahman), and "Pyaasa" (1957, with Mala Sinha and Waheeda Rehman) films. While "Sahib Bibi aur Gulam" was directed by Abrar Alvi, rest were all directed by Filmfare Award winner Guru Dutt himself.

Commending HKIFF for honoring Guru Dutt, Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, urged India Government and large private conglomerates of India to promote independent cinema.

India was full of creative and excellent filmmakers and they only needed an integrated effort in funding, encouragement, marketing/promotion, exposure in global avenues, and organization of world-level film festivals in India, Rajan Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, added.