Writing this Guide movie review felt inevitable after spending my entire life listening to the beautiful song “Wahan Kaun Hai Tera, Musafir Jayega Kahan.” I knew the day would come when I would finally watch the film, and today, it did.
As it turns out, the movie not only has beautiful songs but also many beautiful moments. Vijay Anand’s film is driven extraordinarily well by none other than the legendary Dev Anand, who dons the character of a guide with such astuteness and wit that you almost forget the film is based on R. K. Narayan’s brilliant novel of the same name.
The Direction and Screenplay of Guide Movie Review
The movie carries within it two distinct tales, each of which feels like a movie in itself. It is as though the writer wanted the story to continue even after presenting us with an already brilliant plot.
What makes this adaptation extremely commendable is not only Vijay Anand’s beautiful direction but also its brilliantly written screenplay, which was penned by Vijay, or Goldie, himself, who was none other than Dev Sahab’s brother. What also stands out is how beautifully the film has been edited. No odd cuts or dispensable bits are lying around.
While the novel finds its roots in southern India, the adaptation never feels forced. This is evident right from the beginning, when we see Dev Anand’s character, Raju, being released from prison and heading home. His mind is clouded by countless thoughts: whether he will be accepted by society and whether his soiled name will ever be taken seriously again. These moments have been written very poignantly.
Even a crude person like Raju’s maternal uncle continues to command respect as Raju is rendered powerless against his rants, showcasing how Indian society reveres family members even when harsh and ugly words emanate from their mouths.
The Plot and Subplot of Guide
Guide also acts as a satire on society. The title itself hints at the film’s profundity through its central character: a know-it-all who shows the blind people of the world the right way to live.
Raju is a character who appears to represent knowledge and wisdom, qualities he carries with him through his profession. He knows several languages because his job demands it. At the same time, he possesses a basic understanding of right and wrong, as is evident when he helps an aspiring dancer escape a miserable relationship.
He becomes her support system, even at the cost of what the world might say. He fights against the ugliness of society to help someone who has nowhere else to go. He is even willing to stand against his own family for what he believes is right. All these qualities are enough to suggest that Raju is, indeed, a good man.
At the end of the day, however, he is also human. This becomes apparent when he, too, turns into a pawn on the chessboard of life, succumbing to the greed and ego that can overcome the best of us. His mistake becomes an important part of the film’s subplot, while his absolution comes through a life he does not choose but one that chooses him.
He is inadvertently drawn into a situation from which there is no escape, and the creators build upon it beautifully. The final moments are dripping with grief and faith. They are so powerful that they bring tears to your eyes.
Vijay Anand’s direction deserves particular praise during the scene in which he separates the body from the soul, showing us how differently the two respond. In the end, it is the victory of the soul at the cost of life itself, as the body perishes.
Minor Issues in Adaptation: Movie Review Guide
However, the film makes some odd choices that cannot be overlooked and that differ considerably from the original source material. Since the movie caters to a wider audience, a great deal of freedom has been taken with the placement of its characters.
The reunion of Raju with his mother and former lover, for instance, feels forced because it was not part of the original writing. While watching that scene, you instantly feel that it was unnecessary. The tragedy of the ending does not lie in a mother reuniting with her son or in his old love finally finding him. It lies in Raju becoming part of something bigger than himself.
The moment he stops worrying about his own health and begins caring about the well-being of these unknown people is the moment he finally learns to love something beyond the material world. He witnesses God in that moment. The paradox lies in the fact that on his deathbed, he truly understands life.
I particularly liked the way the creators toyed with the definition of love. Raju eventually realizes that he was chasing what he did not have, while Rosie was caught between pursuing what she had always wanted and escaping what she already had.
Waheeda Rehman’s character of Rosie
The first thing you notice about Waheeda Rehman’s character, apart from her striking beauty, is her extraordinary dancing ability. You cannot help but appreciate the effort she put into mastering the character she portrays.
Rosie is a fascinating character because she remains unloved for much of her timeline. Her life is defined by her profession: dancing is looked down upon by one section of society while being revered by another. Although she does not receive the love she deserves from her husband, she can become a child again in front of a stranger, someone who looks beyond her profession and gives her shelter when she has nowhere to go.
Even at Raju’s house, when the world keeps smearing her life with disgrace, there comes a moment when Raju lashes out at her. It is then that she realises just how helpless she truly is.
Even after her life changes completely with Raju and she receives the respect she deserves, she continues to crave love. At one point, she begins questioning the very meaning of it because, with time, even love starts to fade. She sees herself as an object being manipulated by Raju, who prefers to enjoy living in a world of his own.
At the same time, when Raju realises his mistake and wants her back, she appears to have become stone-hearted, a woman seemingly incapable of loving him again. It reminds you of the pointlessness of it all and of how difficult it can be to fully understand the human heart and nature.
Raju eventually realises this, but only after committing a mistake that lands him in prison. Their separation has been woven brilliantly into the film. When Raju leaves, he abandons the entire persona he created during the period in which Rosie transformed into Nalini.
The Final Verdict
You cannot overlook the effort the actors have put into this movie. There are scenes in which the dialogue flows like honey, even during remarkably long takes.
The songs are equally magnificent. So many of them have gone on to become timeless pieces of art, preserved for us to listen to for eternity. The beautiful voices of Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Manna Dey and S. D. Burman are what set the film’s music apart.
Guide is a complete movie through which you experience a vast range of emotions on many different levels. You cannot help but recognize Dev Anand’s brilliance as an actor. By the time the movie ends, you carry a piece of him in your heart.
You understand why he remains so respected and beloved to this day. He was an extraordinary actor who brought his movies to life through his undeniable finesse and charm. Guide is the epitome of Dev Anand’s true craft as an actor and what sets him apart.
If you enjoyed this Guide movie review, check out my review of Kaagaz Ke Phool as well.
Guide
