By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
Dev Anand one of the ‘Three Big’ ( the other two being Dilip Kumar & Raj Kapoor) died on this day at Mayfair Hotel,in London in 2011. Dev Anand enjoyed the unique distinction of being the only actor who worked until his end.
Dev Anand enjoyed a wonderful chemistry with Guru Dutt. They decided to help each other & later did so in life. Dev played the lead in suspense drama “C.I.D.” starring Shakila & Waheeda Rehman with hits like ” Leke pehla Phla Pyaar” & “Aankhon Hi Aankhon Mein” under O. P. Nayyar and later went on to do “Bombay Ka Babu”, “Hum Dono”, “Jab Pya Kisi Se Hota Hai”, “Asli Naqli”, “Guide”, “Jewel Thief” , “Johny Mera Naam” & “Hare Rama Hare Krishna”. Worked with almost all top actresses of his time.
Remememered for his many musical hits & songs like -‘Pal Bhar Ke Liye’,’Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaye’, ‘Likha Hai Teri Ankhon Mein’, ‘Chhod Do Aanchal Zamana Kya Kahega’, ‘Dekho Rootha Na Karo’, ‘Ye raat Ye Chandni Phir Kahan’, ‘Cheda Mere Dil Ne tarana tere Paar Ka’, ‘Ankhon Hi Ankhon Mein’, ‘Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Se’, ‘Are Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho Ghazab’, ‘Churi Nahin Yeh Mera Dil Hai’, ‘Sau Saal Pahle’, ‘Pal Bhar Ke Liye’, ‘Shokhiyon Mein Ghola Jaye’, ‘Likha Hai Teri Ankhon Mein’, ‘Dekho Rootha Na Karo’, ‘ Gaata Rahe Mera Dil’, & ‘Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai’..to mention select few.
Interestingly many of his earlier songs were renderd by Talat Mahmood & Hemant Kumar like ‘Ye Raat Ye Chaandani Phir Kaha Sun Jaa Dil Ki’Jaal (1952))’Yaad Kiya Dil Ne Kahaan Ho Tum’,Patita (1953),’Na Tum Hame Jaano Na Ham Tumhe Jaane’ Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962), & ‘Jaye To Jaye Kahan’ Taxi Driver (1954). Rafi also sang many like-‘Aankhon Hi Aankhon Men Ishaaraa Ho Gayaa’ & ‘Leke Pahla Pahla Pyar’-C. I. D. (1956), Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961) Hum Bekhudi Mein Tumko Pukare Chale Gaye- Kala Pani (1958). Kishore Kumar was his #Ghost singer & sang some of the finest & titillating numbers for the actor.
I met him twice. I Spent many hours with him during the shooting of a film in 1995. I also met his younger brother ,a well known director of many hits – Vijay Anand twice in Bombay & Goa.
Bestowed with Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Padma Bhushan, National Film Award for Best Feature Film’Guide’ , Filmfare Awards For Best Actor “Kala Pani”, & “Guide” besides Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.
