Pyaasa (1957)

Stark black and white cinematography powerfully evokes the antagonistic forces at work in this classic melodrama. Set in post-Independence Calcutta, it tells the story of Vijay (Guru Dutt), an unemployed young man striving to be a published poet and whose potential for success hangs on a twist of fate. Waheeda Rehman’s emerging talent is showcased in the role of his loyal friend, Gulabo, a pairing which contributed to the film’s commercial success.