VINIKA VISWAMBHARAN
‘Dastan-E-Guru Dutt’, presented at the International Film Festival of India, offered a distinguished music tribute to one of Indian cinema’s most enduring creative figures, the renowned director and actor, Guru Dutt. Conceived as a musical retrospective, the programme honoured Dutt’s artistic legacy through a refined blend of narration and live performance.
The evening was led by Fouzia Dastango, recognised as India’s first female dastango, whose narration demonstrated exceptional command over form, language and audience engagement. Her ability to bridge Hindustani and Urdu with clarity and precision set the tone for the event. She was accompanied by vocalist Latika Jain, whose measured and expressive renderings of selected compositions added depth to the entire performance.
Instrumental support was provided by Ankit Rao on guitar, Sudip Chaudhary on tablas and Rishabh Sharma on keyboards. Together, the ensemble created a modest yet evocative musical environment that allowed the narrative to unfold with coherence and restraint.
The production was mounted by Vikas Jalan in association with Cinemaazi, an initiative committed to the documentation and preservation of India’s cinematic heritage.
