Legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt deserves a posthumous Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, for his contribution to Indian cinema, his son Arun said on Friday.

"His films are among the all-time great movies made in the world. He is recognised internationally. A nine-day festival of his films was organised in New York. The government has also issued a stamp on him, so I personally feel the government should think of giving him the Bharat Ratna," Arun said.

"It is up to the government to decide on the issue."

Guru Dutt, who carved a niche for himself in the black and white era, died in 1964 at the age of 39. His Pyaasa and Kaagaz Ke Phool are included among the greatest films of all time by Time magazine's all time 100 best movies and by the Sight & Sound critics' and directors' poll.