Please join South Asia Institute and the Department of Radio-Television-Film to celebrate the launch of RTF Associate Professor Lalitha Gopalan's new book, Kaagaz Ke Phool (Paper Flowers), on Thursday November 6, 2025, from 3:00-5:00pm in the Meyerson Conference Room (WCH 4.118).
The event will begin with a light reception at 3:00 pm followed by a book talk at 3:30 with Dr. Gopalan in conversation with Professor Syed Akbar Hyder.
About the Book
Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool/Paper Flowers (1959) was the first Indian film to be shot in CinemaScope. Drawing on interviews with practitioners and people close to Dutt, Gopalan reconstructs the original contexts of the film's production and reception. Gopalan also explores the film's innovative visual style, highlighting cinematographer V. K. Murthy's essential contribution. Through analysis of the soundtrack (composed by S. D. Burman with lyrics by Kaifi Azmi), Gopalan examines the now-classic picturizations of songs such as Waqt Ne Kiya Kya Haseen Sitam. Finally, using Kagaaz as a lens, she assesses Dutt's influence on popular Indian cinema during the 1950s, as well as on global film.
About the Film
Guru Dutt's final film as a director, Kaagaz Ke Phool/Paper Flowers (1959), follows the successful filmmaker Suresh Sinha (played by Dutt himself) as rumours of his affair with his actress Shanti (Waheeda Rehman) lead him to lose his family, descend into alcoholism and ultimately retreat from the film industry. Initially met with critical and commercial failure, the film is now revered for its technical prowess and considered one of the finest self-reflexive works in Indian cinema.
Details
Start Date: November 6 @ 3:00pm
End Date: November 6 @ 5:00pm
Event Categories: Lecture
Location: WCH 4.118 - Meyerson Conference Room
Website: SAI Event Page for Book Launch: Kaagaz Ke Phool/Paper Flowers by Lalitha Gopalan
Other
Target audience: Alumni , Faculty , General Public , Staff , Students