Golden Era of Bollywood: Chetan Anand - The Most Underrated Film Maker of his Time

Chetan Anand (born on 3rd Jan 1921) whose contribution to Hindi cinema is substantial and yet regretfully underrated and not recognised by film critics and movie pundits.Not many are aware that he is the only Indian filmmaker to have won the prestigious Cannes Film Festival ‘Grand Prix’ Award for his socially-conscious, innovative and meaningful movie ‘Neecha Nagar’ (1946). Haqeeqat,’ (1964) was another masterpiece based on the India-China Border Conflict of 1962. Shot on actual locations,
‘Aakhri Khat’ (1966) was another innovative creation of Chetan. For the first time in Indian cinema, lengthy scenes on actual locations were shot with a hand-held camera.
Regretfully, most books on Hindi cinema do not discuss his work, or even refer to his classics such as ‘Neecha Nagar’ or ‘Aakhri Khat.’

Neecha Nagar 1946

Aakhri Khat 1966

His ‘Aandhiyan’(1952) explored the uncomplimentary facets of capitalism. Here Dev Anand, as an honest lawyer, fought a lonely battle to bring about a happy ending.
Chetan Anand’s Heer Ranjha remains the quintessential interpretation of Waris Shah’s Heer. Screenplay written by Kaifi Azmi, the film is delivered in poetical verse, making it one of the most unique and original pieces of work to come out of Hindi cinema. Written in 1766 by Waris Shah and supposedly based on a true story, ‘Heer Ranjha’ has come to symbolise Panjab and the themes of resistance within it. Ranjha is of course played by the legendary actor Raj Kumar and Heer played effectively by the stunningly beautiful Priya Rajvansh.
Chetan Anand kept on acting too occasionally. He appeared in Humsafar made in 1957. In 1957 he directed two movies Arpan and Anjali, in which he played lead roles too. He went on to act in Kala Bazar, Kinare-Kinare, Aman, Kanch Aur Heera and Hindustan Ki Kasam, which he directed too.
In the 1960s Chetan Anand started his own production banner called Himalaya films and teamed up with photographer Jal Mistry, music director Madan Mohan, lyrics writer Kaifi Azmi and actress Priya Rajvansh. Together they gave some of most memorable and unique films in Hindi cinema like Haqeeqat, Heer Raanjha, Hanste Zakhm, and Hindustan Ki Kasam.

Raaj Kumar and Priya Rajvansh in a scene from Heer Raanjha (1970)

Apart from 17 feature films, he is also known for the acclaimed television serial, Param Vir Chakra, which was aired Doordarshan in 1988.He died on 6 July 1997, at the age of 76 in Mumbai.