JFF 2025: Jagran Film Festival To Celebrate 100 Years Of Guru Dutt, R Balki To Join As Special Guest

This year, the celebration of Jagran Film Festival is going to be even more special, as tribute will be paid to the legendary director of Hindi cinema Guru Dutt on the special occasion of his birth centenary and R Balki will be a special guest in this celebration of his 100 years.

Whether you watch Kaagaz Ke Phool or Pyaasa, Chaudhvi Ka Chand and Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam, Guru Dutt's films did not just have a story, but his films were presented in a poetic manner. His films brought artistic talent to the mainstream and redefined the boundaries of cinema in his time.

At a time when films were considered rich and cinematic art was labelled 'parallel cinema' and underrated, Guru Dutt proved that art and commercial success can go hand in hand. Even today, his films are known for their emotional depth, visual beauty and timeless storytelling.

To honour his legacy, Jagran Film Festival is hosting an exclusive session with filmmaker R Balki on 5th September 2025. R Balki, like Guru Dutt, makes socially conscious, story-driven films that are box office successes, whether you talk about his Pa, Padman, Cheeni Kum, Ghoomar and the psychological thriller Chup: Revenge of the Artist.

Just like Guru Dutt, R Balki has also proved that a powerful story has the power to touch the hearts of the audience and bring in more crowds to the theatres. In this session, R Balki will introduce the audience to the unique artistry of Guru Dutt, how he changed the way we look at cinema and how his cinema inspired the filmmakers of his time. The highlight of this session is 'Cinema found a new language in the stories he told'.