20 November,2009 11:26 AM IST | | Special Features
Legendary writer, director and lyricist Abrar Alvi passed on Wednesday night. His nephew Salim Arif says that it was a sad loss to everyone his family and his contemporaries and friends.
He says, "Mamaji passed away at the age of 82. He wasn't keeping well for the past one year because of his age. It is a great loss to all of us." Alvi was an integral part of actor Guru Dutt's team.
Here's some information on the lesser-known marvel:
It was a chance meeting with Guru Dutt on the sets of Baaz in 1953. The actor was having problems with a scene on the movie and Alvi offered help.
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Guru Dutt was so impressed that he invited Alvi to write Aar-Paar, from where the two became inseparable.u00a0
Some of his famous works include Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, Kaagaz Ke Phool, Pyaasa, Chaudhvin Ka Chand and Mr & Mrs '55.
Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam won the President's Silver Medal and the 'Film of the Year' Award from the Bengal Film Journalist Association.
The film was also screened at the Berlin Film Festival in June 1963 and was India's official entry to the Oscars that year. Alvi also won Filmfare Best Director Award for the film.
Many of the movies he worked on for Guru Dutt have since become classics not only in India but world over.
Alvi narrates the story of Guru Dutt in the book 'Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's Journey'. The book contains a conscious account of Alvi's experience with Guru Dutt.
Because Alvi has always been associated with Guru Dutt, names of the other films he's worked on do not come up so often.
He's written the dialogues for Dilip Kumar, Vyjayanthimala starrer Sunghursh (1968), which became a hit. He's written the dialogues and some screenplays for films like Prince (1969), Do Phool (1974), Sabse Bada Rupaiya (1976), Bairaag (1976).u00a0
Alvi has also written the dialogues for Rishi Kapoor's hit film Laila Majnu (1976).
Alvi wasn't very active in the last few years. He last appeared on a poignant three-part documentary on Guru Dutt reminiscing his work and days with the Guru Dutt team.
