1. Plot

2. Production

3. Cast

4. Response
    Box office  Critical reception 

5. Awards

6. Soundtrack

7. References

8. External links

Guru is a 2007 Indian drama film directed and co-written by Mani Ratnam. It stars Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, R. Madhavan, Vidya Balan, Arya Babbar, and Mithun Chakraborty in the leading roles. The film also has Mallika Sherawat in a guest appearance. The score and soundtrack for the film was composed by A. R. Rahman.

The film was dubbed and released simultaneously in Tamil as Guru and in Telugu as Gurukanth. In the Tamil version of the film, the lead role (Abhishek Bachchan) was dubbed by Suriya.^[1] The film was released on 12 January 2007 with its première at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto, Canada, on Thursday 11 January 2007 by Roger Nair, making it the first Indian film to have a mainstream international première in Canada. Roger Nair productions acquired the rights for Canada and held a premiere with most of the cast and crew flown to Toronto, Canada.^[2][3][4] The film was premiered in the Tous Les Cinemas du Monde (World Cinema) section of 2007 Cannes Film Festival.^[5][6]

Plot

The beginning of the film is set in 1951 in a small village of Idar in Sabarkantha district, northern Gujarat, where a young man named Gurukant "Guru" Desai (Abhishek Bachchan) dreams of making it big someday. His father (Rajendra Gupta), the headmaster of the village school, tells him not to dream and that dreams never come true. Gurukant decides to go to Turkey and enter the spice trade; later, he is promoted but refuses the job, as he wants to work for himself. Back in his village, he marries Sujata (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), mainly because of the dowry she brings him. Along with Sujata and her brother Jignesh (Arya Babbar), Guru migrates to Bombay and starts trading in cloth. Gradually, he expands his business and sets up manufacturing units of his own, under the name "Shakti Corporation".

Manik "Nanaji" Dasgupta (Mithun Chakraborty), who publishes a newspaper "Swatantra", treats Guru as his son. Guru likewise looks upon him as a father figure who gives him support during his early days of struggle in Bombay. He also develops a strong friendship with Meenu (Vidya Balan), granddaughter of Dasgupta. Meenu develops multiple sclerosis as she grows up, and begins using a wheelchair.

As Gurukant Desai's business grows into one of the largest in India, he ruthlessly pursues success. He smuggles machine parts for his polyester mills, illegally creates goods, and manipulates stocks to make a higher profit. But when Manik Dasgupta learns that Guru's means of success are not always honest, he, along with a reporter of his newspaper, Shyam Saxena (Madhavan), decide to expose Guru's increasingly corrupt ways.

The stress of his battle with the newspaper causes Guru to have a stroke, and he is paralysed on his right side. Meanwhile, Meenu, who is now married to Shyam, is slowly weakening from her illness, and eventually dies. In the end, Guru is brought before a private government inquiry on 16 October 1980 to defend himself against the charges pressed against him, but delivers a speech in front of the press the next day that forces the government to clear him of 27 of the 29 charges against him. He is charged with a fine of ₹6.3 million (equivalent to ₹100 million or US$1.6 million in 2016) and ₹96,000 (equivalent to ₹1.6 million or US$24,000 in 2016) for the respective 2 charges, which are proved and is allowed to return to his company.

Production

Guru was written and directed by Mani Ratnam, while Vijay Krishna Acharya wrote the Hindi dialogues. Filming took place in Mumbai, Turkey, Badami and Melkote (both in Karnataka), as well as in Chennai, Pollachi, Madurai, Chettinad region Tamil Nadu, and Athirappilly in Kerala. Much of the film was shot on the Express Estates, the former home of The Indian Express and Dinamani. The music is composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Gulzar. Cinematography for the film is handled by Rajiv Menon.^[7] Several scenes were deleted from the final theatrical version, including a scene in which Sujata first gives birth to a stillborn child and a scene in which Guru becomes angry with his wife for visiting Manik Dasgupta.

Guru has others involved in the production as a film that is reflective of a man's desire for ambition and success, and how times have changed from the period immediately after the country's independence to the present. Some reports have speculated that this film is a biographical film of, one of India's biggest industrial tycoons, Dhirubhai Ambani. Like Guru, Ambani also had roots in Gujarat as the son of a schoolteacher, went abroad to work for the gas company Shell, and returned to India to import polyester.^[8] Ratnam has described Guru as inspired by stories both past and present.

Cast

• Abhishek Bachchan as Gurukant Desai
• Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as Sujata Desai
• R. Madhavan as Shyam Saxena
• Vidya Balan as Meenakshi 'Meenu' Saxena
• Mithun Chakraborty as Manik Dasgupta
• Arya Babbar as Jignesh
• Arjan Bajwa as Arzan Contracter
• Rajendra Gupta as Guru's father
• Sarita Joshi as Guru's mother
• Sachin Khedekar as Sujata's father
• Neena Kulkarni as Sujata's mother
• Prathap K. Pothan as K. R. Menon I.A.S.
• Roshan Seth as Justice Thapar (Head of Government Enquirer Committee)
• Manoj Joshi as Ghanshyam Bhai
• Dhritiman Chatterjee as Contractor Sahaab
• T. M. Karthik
• Raviprakash
• Mallika Sherawat as dancer (Special Appearance in song "Mayya Mayya")

Response

Box office

Guru opened well upon release, gaining momentum over time.^[9] In the United States, Guru, opening on a limited release, registered very good collections in its opening weekend, fetching {{INR|3 crore}} during this period, with a very high screen average.^[10] By its seventh week, the film had netted {{INR|41.65 crore}} in India,^[11] collecting {{INR|13 crore}} in the US and the UK.^[12][13] As of 23 February 2007 Guru, released 12 January has grossed more than {{INR|80 crore}} across the world^[14] and was declared as "Hit".^[15] In the United States, it was a blockbuster.{{Citation needed|date=June 2015}}

Critical reception

Raja Sen from Rediff gave a three stars said that "Guru is fuelled by a slew of strong performances. Abhishek Bachchan owns the movie, forcing audiences to sit up straight as it begins and making us laugh and applaud as he carries on. He's impressive in every frame, as he ebulliently takes over an alien room by hopping onto a chair, or when he's trying to be ever so slightly slimy, polishing his spectacles and showing off his smarminess".^[23] Daily News and Analysis reviewer gave a three star rating and cited " Guru is a film that enthralls you for most of its running time as it traces the life of the uncannily forward seeing bumpkin from Gujarat who turns every disadvantage into an advantage. With Guru, Abhishek Bachchan has finally learnt the nuances of the grammar of cinema, in what will very likely be his defining film".^[24] Sify gave its verdict as "Very Good" and stated "Mani Ratnam’s Guru is undoubtedly a gutsy and outstanding film. Outstanding performance is extracted from everyone in the cast."^[25] The Hindu cited that "'Guru' is vintage Mani Ratnam. It encapsulates his characteristic canniness about human nature, specifically relationships. This is considered Abhishek Bachchan's role of a lifetime."^[26] Rajeev Masand of CNN-IBN gave four stars explaining "The beauty of Mani Ratnam's cinema is truly in its unpredictability. Few filmmakers can translate their personal vision onto screen the way Mani Ratnam can. So that's two thumbs up for Guru – it's a must-watch for all. Of the film's cast, Mithun Chakraborty playing the ruthless newspaper baron, deserves mention for the dignity which he brings to the part, one that's clearly inspired by Indian Express founder Ramnath Goenka. The actor in this film who truly blew my mind, is Aishwarya Rai. There is a silent grace, quiet nobility to her performance,which I have to admit I've never seen before. Of course the film belongs to Abhishek Bachchan, the protagonist, Guru himself. And in all honesty, Abhishek rises to the challenge like never before."^[27] The Sunday Times stated "It is certainly one of the best Bollywood movies you will see. Performances attract admiration: Bachchan does a De Niro, piling on the dosas to show the ageing and overweight Guru and he is, surprisingly, impressive. Rai sheds her usual doe-eyed expressions and is endearing as the supportive but fiery wife, who looks and dances like an angel. Chakraborty and Tamil superstar Madhavan shine equally brightly in underwritten supporting roles".^[28] BBC reviewer Jaspreet Pandohar gave it a three star rating and noted "Ratnam's absorbing screenplay ensures that Guru rises above the usual rags to riches story, by weaving in meaty subplots involving the protagonist's complex relationships with his loyal wife (Aishwarya Rai), friends and foes".^[29]

Awards

//Filmfare Awards">Filmfare Awards

;Wins

• Best Art Direction – Samir Chanda
• Best Background Score – A. R. Rahman
• Best Music – A. R. Rahman
• Best Choreography – Saroj Khan for "Barso Re"
• Best Playback Singer (Female) – Shreya Ghoshal for "Barso Re"

;Nominations

• Best Film – Mani Ratnam
• Best Director – Mani Ratnam
• Best Actor – Abhishek Bachchan
• Best Actress – Aishwarya Rai
• Best Supporting Actor – Mithun Chakraborty
• Best Lyrics – Gulzar for "Tere Bina"
• Best Playback Singer (Male) – A. R. Rahman
• Best Costume Design - Ameira Punvani, V. Sai, Nikhaar Dhawan & Aparna Shah

Shantaram Awards

• Best Director – Mani Ratnam
• Best Music Director – A. R. Rahman
• Best Cinematographer – Rajeev Menon

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for this film is composed by A. R. Rahman. For work in this film, A. R. Rahman received both "Best Music" and "Best Background Score" awards in "Filmfare awards" as well as "IIFA awards". However, in Filmfare, the award for best music was being speculated to be given to Vishal–Shekhar for their work in the album Om Shanti Om, but it was given to A. R. Rahman instead for 'Guru' . According to the Indian trade website Box Office India, with around 11,50,000 units sold, this film's soundtrack album was the year's twelfth highest-selling.^[30]

References

External links

• {{IMDb title|0499375|Guru}}
• {{mojo title|guru07|Guru}}

• Sidney Neil Brailsford, Lord Brailsford
• Sidney Newey
• Sidney Newman
• Sidney Nowell Rostron
• Sidney N. Shure
• Sidney O'Linn
• Sidney Olivier (cricketer)
• Sidney Orton
• Sidney Patterson
• Sidney Peake
• Sidney Pelham
• Sidney Percy Roberson
• Sidney Peter Dutchak
• Sidney Poitiers
• Sidney Prior
• Sidney Ramin
• Sidney Redgrave
• Sidney Rex Wakely Smith
• Sidney Richard Olivier
• Sidney Ringer
• Sidney Rix
• Sidney, Robert
• Sidney Robert Greville
• Sidney Roberts Stephenson
• Sidney Roberts Stevenson