By Jagmohan Singh Barhok
धड़कनों ने सुनी, एक सदा पाँव की
और दिल पे लहराई, आँचल की छाँव सी
ख़्वाब हो तुम या कोई हक़ीक़त कौन हो तुम बतलाओ
ओ.. देर से कितनी दूर खड़ी हो और करीब आ जाओ
Dev Anand, born Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand, ruled the roost as an actor & enjoyed a unique distinction and recognition in the Hindi Cinema. A part of the famous ‘trio’ of Raj and Dilip, Dev Anand, the actor was born at Gurdaspur district in Punjab. Handsome as he was, he moved to Bombay, to pursue a career in films in early 40S . “Hum Ek Hain” (1946) was his initial movie based on famine and Durga Khote raising three orphaned children belonging to different religions. Kamala Kotnis, Rehana & Rehman did supporting roles. It may me news to many that the film was produced under the Prabhat became the directorial debut of P. L. Santoshi, acting debut of Dev Anand, Kamala Kotnis, Rehana and Rehman in Hindi films. During the filming Dev Anand & Guru Dutt became friends & vowed to help each other if any one of the two succeeded. In between he did a few films with Suraiya and reportedly saved her from drowning during the shooting of a film Vidya when the boat capsized. The incident culminated into a love affair which ended with Suraiya’s grandmother not approving of their marriage since he was a Hindu and she was a Muslim.
In 1949 Dev Anand co-founded Navketan Films under the banner of which he produced a successful film ‘ Baazi’ , directed by Guru Dutt, a trendsetter crime thriller starring Kalpana Kartik and Geeta Bali, encouraging other filmmakers to follow suit . In 1954 when Taxi- Driver was declared a hit Dev and Kalpana tied the knot in a quiet ceremony.
A rapid-fire style of dialogue delivery, and a penchant for nodding while speaking, became Dev’s hallmark in films he worked in later years. His notable movies include Paying Guest ,Hum Dono Asli- Naqli, Bombay Ka baboo, Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Guide,Teen Devian, Johny Mera Naam, Prem Pujari,Gambler, Hare Rama Hare Krishna,Sharif Badmash, Jewel Thief, Des Pardes. In 1961 he had few releases of which “Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai” & “Hum Dono” won critical acclaim.
Dev Anand is credited with giving breaks to Jackie Shroff Richa Sharma and actress Tabu. Zeenat Aman was his discovery whom he cast in ‘Hare Rama, Hare Krishna’ and Tina Munim in ‘Des Pardes’ when she was 21 and Dev was 58. It also goes to him for introducing Shatrughan Sinha in ‘Prem Pujari’ .
Dev Anand worked with Geeta Bali in hits like “Baazi” (1951″, ” Jaal”(1952) & “Milap” (1955). He worked with his wife in six movies of thse “Baazi” (1951, “Taxi Driver” (1954), & “Nau Do Gyarah”(1957) were successful and liked by most. Dev Anand as actor worked with almost all actresses of his time.
Most of his films were musical hits like “Patita”- “Kisine Apana Bana Ke Mujhko”,”Mitti Se Khelte Ho Bar-Bar Kisliye”, “Yaad Kiya Dil Ne Kahan Ho Tum”;”Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai”- “Sau Saal Pehle, Mujhe tumse Pyaar Tha”, “Teri Zulfon Se Judai” , “Jiya O Jiya Re Jiya Kuch Bold Do”; “Love Marriage”-“Dheere Dheere Chal Chand Gagan Main”, “Kahe Jhoom Jhoom Raat Ye Suhani, Piya Haule Se Chedo Dobara” ; “Paying Guest”-“Mana Janab Ne Pukara Nahin”, “Chhod Do Aanchal, Zamana Kya Kahega” ; “Hum Dono” – “Abhi Na Jao Chhodkar” , “Main Zindagi Ka Saath” , “Allah Tero Naam Ishwar Tero Naam” ; “Teen devian” – “Are Yaar Meri Tum Bhi Ho” , “Khwab Ho Tum Ya Koi Haqeeqat” , “Likha Hai Teri Ankhon
Me” & not last but least -“Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai, Aaj Phir marne Ka Iraada Hai” & “Gaata Rahe Mera Dil” (Guide-1965) to mention few. He also produced hits like “Baazi”, “Kala Pani”, “Guide’ , “Jewel Thief” ,”Prem Pujari” & “Hare Rama Hare Krishna” to mention some.
Dev Anand won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for ‘Guide’. He won two Filmfare Awards for Best Actor for Kala Pani and Guide respectively. An ever green actor, as he was rightly called,Dev was also receipient of Dadasaheb Phalke Award conferred upon him in 2002.
I have the honour of meeting this matinee idol on the sets of “The Return of Jewel Thief” in 1995 at a Andheri Studios and discussed about his passion for films,likings and dislikings at length. I visited the sets twice .Shekhar Kapoor of “Bandit Queen” fame is his nephew Chetan Anand of “Haqeeqat” & “Her Ranjha” fame was his elder brother. His younger brother is considered one among the most successful directors with hits like- Guide (1965), Teesri Manzil (1966), Jewel Thief (1967) and Johny Mera Naam (1970) & Kora Kagaz.
