Golden Era of Bollywood: Remembering DEV ANAND on his 93rd Birthday

Part-1 Dev Anand , one of my hot favorites, had a phenomenal impact on Indian cinema and Indian audience was Born on 26 th September 1923 at Gurdaspur in undivided Punjab.He was third of four brother. His older brothers were Manmohan Anand (Advocate, Gurdaspur Dist. Court) and Chetan Anand and younger one was Vijay Anand.Dev Anand did his schooling till matriculation from Sacred Heart School, Dalhousie, (then in Punjab) and went to college Dharamsala before going to Lahore to study. Later Dev completed BA degree in English Literature from the Government College, Lahore in British India.

Scene from Hum Ek Hain

Video clipping of Dev Anand's First Film

Dev Anand left his hometown to work in the Military Censor Office at Churchgate, Bombay. He was offered a role in the 1946 flick 'Hum Ek Hain by Prabhat Studio .Dev Anand was paid a handsome monthly salary of Rs 400 for the film. He bought a house with that money.During that time Guru Dutt was also working with Prabhat Studio This is where he stuck a friendship with Bollywood legend Guru Dutt.

In 1947 his 2 films Mohan and Aage Badho were released but hegot first real recognition from 1948 film Ziddi. It was offered to him by his favorite actor, Ashok Kumar. Interestingly, Ashok Kumar's brother, Kishore Kumar, sung his first complete song (for Dev Anand) here, and the two would later become very close friends. Before Ziddi, Kishore sang a few lines in 'Aath Din' (1946) under music director SD Burman. After Ziddi's success, Anand decided that he would start producing films.

In 1949, he launched his own company Navketan Films (which means "newness").The company, true to its name, produced a range of path breaking noir films dwelling on the darker side of urban life in the 1950s. Its principal characters were drunks, card-sharpers taxi drivers and bootleggers.The first film of this banner was Afsar released in 1950,the film was an average hit.Next fim of this banner was Baazi released in 1951.This film made Dev Anand the Super Star.After that he gave one or more hits every year upto 1978.The Last hit was Des Pardes.

Dev Anand and Suraiya who were in love have worked together in seven films --Vidya (1948), Jeet (1949), Shair (1949), Afsar (1950), Nili(1950), Do Sitare (1951) and Sanam (1951), all of which were successful at the box office.
Do Sitare was the last film in which they appeared together. Dev-Suraiya romance began when shooting the filmVidya. They couldn't marry because Suraiya's maternal grandmother was strongly opposed to the inter-religious romance. they decided not to act together after 1951.

Dev Anand married Christian actress Mona Singh in 1954.She changed her name to Kalpana Karthik to work in films.The couple turned parents in 1956 when their son Suneil Anand was born.

Dev Anand was among the group of film personalities who stood up to the Internal emergency imposed by then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. In 1977, he actively campaigned against her with his supporters in the Lok Sabha.

Though Dev Anand’s demand as the lead hero had not decreased even in the 1980s, he decided that it was the right time to introduce his son Suneil Anand in films as the hero. He launched his son in the Kramer vs. Kramer inspired Anand Aur Anand (1984), which was produced and directed by Dev Anand himself and had music by R.D. Burman. He expected the film to do well but the film was a box office disaster and Suneil Anand decided not to act in films any more.

Most of Dev Anand's movies explored his viewpoint of the world and often highlighted many socially relevant topics. Another notable feature in Anand's movie was the soul stirring music. He was on very friendly terms with most of the Bollywood music composers like O. P. Nayyar, Sachin Dev Burman and his son, Rahul Dev Burman. Others known to Dev Anand were lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri, Neeraj, Shailendra, and playback singers Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar.

One of the most handsome actors of his times, Dev Anand was asked not to wear black suit in public apparently because women would go crazy seeing him dressed in black and would jump from buildings.

.He introduced a multitude of talent to the Indian Film Industry by way of actors, directors, music composers and cinematographers. He had one of the finest Film Sound Post-Production facilities in India - Anand Recording Studios - that has to its credit more than 3,000 Indian feature films that have been mixed/ surround mixed for worldwide release. The 'Evergreen' Dev Anand went on to star in over 110 movies, spanning from 1946 through to 2005. In 1958 He has won two Filmfare Awards for his performance in the film Kala Paani (Black Water) and in 1966 for his performance in Navketan International Films' Guide.In 1979 his movie Hare Rama Hare Krishna turned out to be a blockbuster hit.In 2001, the President of India honoured him the prestigious Padma Bhushan Award on the Republic Day. and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2002 for his contribution to Indian cinema.

His career spanned more than 65 years with acting in 114 Hindi films, of which 92 have him play the main solo lead hero, and he did two English films.

Two of his films Kahin Aur Chal (1968) and a multistarrer Ek Do Teen Chaar (1980) remained unreleased till date
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Dev Anand was conferred upon the 'Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema' award by the current US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in July 2000.

In September 2007, Dev's own autobiography Romancing with Life was released at a birthday party with the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. In February 2011, his 1961 black and white film Hum Dono was digitised and colourised and released.

Dev Anand died in his room at The Washington Mayfair Hotel in London at the age of 88 on 3 December 2011 (4 December 2011 by Indian Standard Time) of a cardiac arrest. His death came just months after the release of his last film, Chargesheet.

Dev Anand's funeral at London

An illustrious chapter may have closed but the life and works of the evergreen star will continue to inspire individuals.

Dev Anand'Songs

Rare SONGS