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{{short description|Indian director, writer & actor}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{unreliable sources|date=July 2012}}
{{Infobox person
|image = Abrar Alvi 2007 (cropped).JPG
|imagesize = 250px
| name = Abrar Alvi
| caption = Abrar Alvi
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|7|1|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and age|2009|11|18|1927|7|1|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], [[India]].
| othername =
| occupation = Film director
| years active = 1954–1995
| notable works=''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]''<br> ''[[Kaagaz Ke Phool]]'' <br>''[[Pyaasa]]''
}}
'''Abrar Alvi''' (1 July 1927 – 18 November 2009) was an Indian film writer, director and actor. Most of his notable work was done in the 1950s and 1960s with [[Guru Dutt]]. He wrote some of the most respected works of Indian cinema, including ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]'', ''[[Kaagaz Ke Phool]]'' and ''[[Pyaasa]]'', which have an avid following the world over. ''Pyaasa'' is included in the All-Time 100 Movies by ''[[Time magazine|Time]]'', as chosen by ''Time'' movie critics Richard Corliss and Richard Schickel.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,1953094,00.html|title=ALL-TIME 100 Movies|access-date=22 May 2011|work=Time|date=12 February 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822192250/http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0%2C29569%2C1953094%2C00.html|archive-date=22 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/cinema-writer-with-a-golden-touch-abrar-alvi-was-lost-in-guru-dutts-shadow/321696/|title=Cinema writer with a golden touch, Abrar Alvi was lost in Guru Dutt's shadow|first=Fiza|last=Jha|date=18 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://upperstall.com/profile/abrar-alvi/|title=Abrar Alvi|first=Karan|last=Bali|date=24 September 2018|website=Upperstall.com}}</ref>

==Works==
An integral part of the [[Guru Dutt team]], he is noted for writing such films as ''[[Aar-Paar]]'', ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]'', ''[[Kaagaz Ke Phool]]'', ''[[Pyaasa]]'' and ''[[Mr. & Mrs. '55]]''. In a chance meeting with Guru Dutt on sets of ''[[Baaz (1953 film)|Baaz]]'' in 1953, Guru Dutt was having problems with a scene in the movie and Abrar suggested his opinion. Guru Dutt was so impressed that he invited Abrar to write ''[[Aar-Paar]]'', after which Abrar became an integral part of the [[Guru Dutt team]]. Many of the movies he worked on for Guru Dutt have since become classics, not only in India, but the world over. He also directed the box office hit ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]''. He last appeared on a poignant three-part documentary on [[Guru Dutt]], reminiscing on his work and days with the [[Guru Dutt team]]. The documentary was produced by Channel 4 and is included in the extra features section of ''[[Kaagaz Ke Phool]]'' and ''[[Chaudhvin ka Chand]]'' DVDs as well. After his association with [[Guru Dutt]] and due to controversy regarding who actually directed ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]'', he was unable to give any notable directorial work. Abrar, however, continued to pen screenplay and dialogue for several movies, some of these were hits, such as [[Professor (1962 film)|''Professor'']], [[Prince (1969 film)|''Prince'']] etc.

==''Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam'' controversy==
''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]'' was important for [[Guru Dutt]]. Following the box-office disaster of [[Kaagaz Ke Phool]], he lost almost 1.7 million on the movie.<ref name="rediff">{{cite web
| url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/mar/04dinesh.htm
| title=Guru Dutt: The man who couldn't digest failure
| work=[[Rediff.com]]
| date=March 2002
| access-date=3 July 2012
| author=Raheja, Dinesh}}</ref> Guru Dutt needed a success to put him back on the map. The film went on to become a major box office success of the year. The film also 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.<ref name="upperstall">{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/this-week-that-year-how-guru-dutt-wooed-abrar-alvi/articleshow/64951723.cms|title=This Week, That Year: How Guru Dutt wooed Abrar Alvi|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref>

The controversy about who actually directed ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]'' has increased over the years. Since the film is characteristic of [[Guru Dutt]]'s feel and style, it is difficult to think that he did not direct the film. However, Guru Dutt never denied Abrar Alvi's role in the film, nor did he make any counter-claims when Alvi won the Filmfare Award for Best Director for the film. Abrar Alvi has stated that Guru Dutt did direct the songs in the film, but not the film in its entirety. The editor of the film [[Y.G. Chawan]] says that for the film, it was Abrar who sat with him. To quote him:
''Abrar worked so hard on that film but he never got any credit. People say it was produced by Guru Dutt so it had to be Guru Dutt's film.''<ref name="upperstall"/>

==Awards==
* [[10th National Film Awards]] (1962): [[National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi|president's silver medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi]] – ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]''<ref name="10thaward">{{cite web|url=http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm10thNFAAward.aspx|title=10th National Film Awards|publisher=[[International Film Festival of India]]|access-date=9 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929062243/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm10thNFAAward.aspx|archive-date=29 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Won – [[Filmfare Best Director Award]] for: [[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]] (1962)

==Death==
Abrar Alvi died due to a stomach complication on Wednesday, 18 November 2009 in Mumbai. He was 82 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/Another-pillar-has-fallen/articleshow/15971348.cms|title=Another pillar has fallen|website=Mumbai Mirror}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Abrar-Alvi-passed-way/articleshow/5255143.cms|title=Abrar Alvi passed way |website=The Times of India}}</ref>

==Select filmography==

===Writer===
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}
* ''[[Guddu (film)|Guddu]]'' (1995) (dialogue) (screenplay)
* ''Kasam Suhaag Ki'' (1989) (dialogue)
* ''Patthar Dil'' (1985) (dialogue) (screenplay)
* ''Khuda Kasam'' (1981) (dialogue) (screenplay)
* ''[[Biwi-O-Biwi: The Fun-Film]]'' (1981) (dialogue)
* ''[[Hamare Tumhare]]'' (1979) (dialogue) (screenplay)
* ''Sabse Bada Rupaiya'' (1976) (dialogues) (screenplay)
* ''[[Bairaag]]'' (1976) (dialogue)
* ''[[Laila Majnu]]'' (1976) (dialogue)
* ''[[Manoranjan]]'' (1974) (written by)
* ''[[Saathi]]'' (1968) (dialogue)
* ''[[Sunghursh]]'' (1968) (dialogue)
* ''Chhotisi Mulaqat'' (1967) (dialogue)
* ''[[Suraj (1966 film)|Suraj]]'' (1966) (dialogue)
* ''[[Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi]]'' (1966) (written by)
* ''[[Professor (Movie)|Professor]]'' (1962) (dialogue) (screenplay)
* ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]'' (1962) (dialogue)
* ''[[Chaudhvin Ka Chand]]'' (1960)
* ''[[Kaagaz Ke Phool]]'' (1959) (dialogue) (screenplay)
* ''[[Pyaasa]]'' (1957) (dialogue)
* ''[[Mr. & Mrs. '55]]'' (1955) (dialogue)
* ''[[Aar-Paar]]'' (1954) (dialogue)
{{div col end}}

===Actor===
* ''Laila Majnu'' (1976) .... (Guest Appearance)
* ''12 O'Clock'' (1958) .... Police Inspector

===Director===
* ''[[Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam]]'' (1962)
* (Darar) Serial Screenplay

==See also==
* [[:Category:Films with screenplays by Abrar Alvi]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* ''Ten Years with Guru Dutt: Abrar Alvi's journey'', by Sathya Saran. 2008, Penguin, {{ISBN|0-670-08221-X}}.

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0023551}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150620121015/http://www.nerve.in/news:253500155327 A newsreport on Sathya Saran's book Ten Years With Guru Dutt]

{{FilmfareAwardBestDirector}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvi, Abrar}}
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:Indian male screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:Hindi-language film directors]]
[[Category:Male actors in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:Indian Muslims]]
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing]]
[[Category:Film directors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Male actors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Filmfare Awards winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

Abrar Alvi - Revision history

>Citation bot at 14:55, 27 March 2021