By Sanjeev Kumar Patro
Bhubaneswar: Dev Sahab, a timeless personality and an evergreen star. His evergreen young image with a charming smile, and song like speech delivery, is embossed on the mind space of millions of his fans, even at this age of VFX cinema.
The debonair romantic hero of the 1950s and 1960s was also an intuitive script writer with novel ideas, a daring director with an unusual approach, and a bold but self-complacent producer. Dev Anand, therefore, has an evergreen personality.
Dev Sahab was a very popular star. But the evergreen psyche of this actor par excellence seems to have made him prisoner to the ‘evergreen’ halo. He neither changed nor challenged himself with the moving times. The result was his magic and magnetism faded under the shadow of time. The great actor-cum-producer’s films in 80s and thereafter, bombed in the box office.
ANAND HI ANAND
Born in 1923, Dev Anand debuted on the silver screen in 1946 with the film ‘Hum Ek Hain’ opposite Kamala Kotnis. But it was year 1948, when this young talented lad from Punjab tasted box office success. Shahid Latif’s Ziddi opposite Kamini Kaushal was his first hit.
BIRTH OF NAVKETAN FILMS
It was in the early years of Independence, the banner Navketan Films took birth, and the time coincided with the phase when Indian cinema was undergoing a transformation. Anand brothers were then became the precursor of that change.
Their first production ‘Afsar’ (1950) directed by Chetan Anand set the tone for the banner's commitment to quality and innovation. The early years saw a series of super hit films like 'Baazi' (1951), directed by Guru Dutt, and 'Taxi Driver' (1954) directed by Chetan Anand, which not only established the production house but also helped define the noir genre in Indian cinema.
In the early 60s, Dev Anand's younger brother Vijay Anand took his plunge with Navketan Films. In 1960, Dev starred in Vijay Anand directed ‘Kala Bazar’ opposite Waheeda Rehman. He then acted in Hum Dono (1961), written by Vijay Anand, followed by ‘Tere Ghar Ke Samne’ (1963).
‘GUIDE’ TO EPOCH
However, the Dev-Vijay enthralling combo hit the epoch in 1965 with the evergreen hit movie ‘Guide’. Dev Anand starred opposite elegant Waheeda Raman in Guide based on eminent novelist RK Narayan’s novel. It was not only a commercial success but also received critical acclaim and was India's entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 38th Academy Awards.
The film's success at the box office and its artistic merit underscored Navketan Films, a production house that did not shy away from taking risks and pushing boundaries. Vijay then directed Dev Sahab’s most admirable and successful films like Jewel Thief (1967), Johny Mera Naam (1970), Tere Mere Sapne (1971).
DIRECTOR DEV
In 1970, he turned director with the ambitious Prem Pujari - a film with a story that travelled across continents. The film starring Waheeda Rahman was a commercial success. Dev Anand as director had list of hits in his closet.
The memorable ones is ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ (1971) that introduced Zeenat Aman to the silver screen. It was followed with successful films like Heera Panna (1973). He had also launched Tina Munim in the B-Town with film Des Pardes in 1978. However, the movie scored an average tag in the box office.
But the pair of Dev Ananad and Tina Munim hit the silver screen with hits like Lootmaar (1980), Manpasand and Swami Dada (1982).
Critics figure out Dev Anand as not a great film director. They outlined how even his successful films like Prem Purjari and Hare Rama Hare Krishna had a messy and haphazard narratives. In the later years, Navketan Banner films’ quality took a nosedive, and critics call the films only ‘half-decent’ ones.
Moreover, evergreen Dev Sahab didn’t undertake any evolution to his acting with passing age and time. He retained the style iconic star image even in the grey shades of age. The great actor then stared at a string of box office blues.
All his films Hum Naujawan (1985), Sachché Ká Bol-Bálá (1989), Awwal Number (1990), Sau Crore (1991), Pyaar Ka Tarana (1993), Gangster (1996), Return of Jewel Thief (1996), Main Solah Baras Ki (1998), Censor (2001), Love at Times Square (2003), and Mr. Prime Minister (2005) sunk at the box office without trace.
His last film Chargesheet (2011) was given thumbs down both by critics and cinephiles.
NO ‘ANAND AUR ANAND’
In 1984, he launched his son Suniel Anand in "Anand aur Anand," which was a big flop. Dev again tried to revive his son's career with "Main Tere Liye (1988)," which also bombed at box office.
THE LAST DAY
Dev Sahab, who ruled the silver screen for more than six decades, died on 3 December 2011 at the age of 88 due to cardiac arrest.
Life throughout, Dev Anand maintained a repute for professionalism, zest for life, and his evergreen persona. His style and mannerisms were unique, often imitated but never duplicated. He lived for cinema and brought joy to millions.
