CHETAN ANAND-A Progressive Thinker

 Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar was the first Indian film that was selected in any International film festival.Neecha Nagar had to compete with many amazing films that year(1946) like Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City (Italy), David Lean’s Brief Encounter (UK), and Billy Wilder’s The Lost Weekend (USA). It won the hearts of critics and viewers alike and emerged as a winner for the category. Despite of Producing and Directing many great films like Taxi Driver,Haqeekat,Heer Ranjha,Akhri Khat,Hanste Zakhm he remained the most underrated Director
Chetan Anand was Born on 3 Jan, 1921 in Gurdaspur, Punjab, Chetan’s formative years were nourished by the teachings of the Vedanta in a Gurukul before he went to Government College, Lahore, and then onwards to Cambridge.In 1944, he shrugged off a motionless stability and plunged into the chaotic ecstasy of motion pictures.
In 1946, Chetan Anand became a big name with Neecha Nagar
He was a progressive thinker,he kept company with literary and political radicals such as Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, Sahir, Kaifi Azmi Bhishm Sahni and Sardar Jaffri.He along with his younger brother Dev Anand started Navketan in 1949.
After the success of Taxi Driver (1955) , Chetan moved away from Navketan to establish his own banner Himalay Films and make his own kind of films.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 1964 he emerged as a great Director, it was to a standing ovation for, depicting the Chinese invasion of 1962, in one of the best war films ever made  – Haqeeqat (1964).
In 1966 he came out with another memorable film Aakhri Khat,This film was about a 15-month-old child without any star cast,though Rajesh Khanna was in it but that time he was a strugler.The film was very well apreciated by the critics,His another masterpiece was Heer Ranjha in 1970.first and onlly movie in verses with no dilogues,it was the poetic imagination of Kaifi Azmi and  Chetan Anand’s skill as a director 
After separating from his wife, Uma Anand, whom he married in 1943,he had a long-term relationship with the actress Priya Rajvansh.who was his heroine in almost all the films he directed after starting his own film company..He had a relationship with her till his death On 6th July 1997.
Today on his 20th death anniversary I present few of his films immortal songs.

Pt Ravi Shankar was introduced in films as Music Composer in Neecha Nagar,this song was picturised on Kamini Kaushal

Song from Neecha Nagar 1946

Song from Afsar 1950

Song from Taxi Driver (1954)

Song from Funtoosh (1956)

Song picturised on Chetan Anand

Song from Kinare Kinare (1963)

Song from Haqeeqat (1964)

Song from Heer Raanjha (1970)

Song from Hanste Zakhm (1973)

Song from Jaaneman (1976)

Song from Kudrat (1981)

Remembering CHETAN ANAND on his Death Anniversary

Maker of innovative, meaningful movies

Born on 3rd January 1921 and died on the night of 6th July1997,Chetan Anand was the eldest of three Anand Brothers.

He was from a well to do family,his father Pishori lal Anand was an established Advocate.He was English Graduate from Government college Lahore.

In the early 1940s, while he was teaching History, he wrote a film script on king Ashoka, which he went on to show to director Phani Majumdar in Mumbai. Anand failed to qualify for the Indian Civil Service (ICS) exams in London. As luck would have it, Phani Majumdar cast him as a lead in his Hindi film, Rajkumar, released in 1944,Nargis being the co star. He also became associated with Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) in Mumbai  

His first venture as a director was a milestone for the industry. Neecha Nagar, shorn of songs and dances, was a realis tic take on the freedom move ment which won the prestigious Palme d'Or (best film) at Cannes in 1946. His success and en couragement drew his younger brother Dev into the world of cinema. After the latter established himself with a few hits, the duo set up Navketan.This film gave the break to Kamini Kaushal and also to Pt Ravi Shankar as Music Composer.His wife UMA ANAND was also in this movie.

By the early 1950s, he and his younger brother Dev Anand had set up Navketan Productions in Mumbai. Afsar, starring Dev Anand and Suraiya, was the first film made by Navketan, which turned out to be a moderate success. It was followed by Andhiyan and Taxi Driver both of which he directed for the Navketan banner.

Funtoosh is a 1956 Bollywood film directed by Chetan Anand. The film stars Dev Anand, Sheila Ramani and K.N. Singh. It was the 9th highest grossing film of 1956, and was declared "above average"

In 1963 Chetan Anand Directed the movie Kinare Kinare for Producer Nyaya Sharma who co scripted,he acted in this movie while the lead pair were Dev Anand and Meena Kumari.Jaidev gave the Music.

In 1964 he started his own Banner"Himalaya Films and the first movie was" HAQEEKAT"which  was based on the India-China Border Conflict of 1962. Shot on actual locations, Chetan told the tale of patriotism and bravery with grit and realism. It had Balraj Sahni and Dharmendra supported by Priya Rajvansh, Vijay Anand . Chetan dedicated this movie to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and produced it under the banner of the Himalayan Films

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Next film under this banner was Aakhri Khat which was written and directed by Chetan Anand.The music of the film was byKhayyam and lyrics by Kaifi Azmi; it includes the song "Baharon Mera Jeevan Bhi Sanwaro", sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The film was given 5 stars in Bollywood Guide Collections.Super Star Rajesh Khanna was given a break in this movie. The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 40th Academy Awards in 1967, but was not accepted as a nominee.

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.

His wife Uma was his collaborator working on his scripts and productions but regretfully they parted company. He developed a life-long relationship with attractive actor Priya Rajvansh, the heroine of ‘Haqeeqat,’ ‘Heer Ranjha,’ ‘Hindustan Ki Kasam’ and ‘Hanste Zakham.’

After a distinguished career in Hindi cinema, to which he gave a different direction, Chetan Anand passed away in 1997 during his 82nd year.