Dev Anand (1923- 2011)

Hindi star, producer and director. Born in Gurdaspur, Punjab, as Devdutt Pishorimal Anand. Arts degree from Punjabi University; went to Bombay to join elder brother Chetan Anand in the IPTA. Started acting at Prabhat (1945) where he met Guru Dutt. First hit, Ziddi, at Bombay Talkies. Launched Navketan (1949) with Chetan Anand, later (1953) joined by younger brother and star director Vijay Anand (e.g. Guide). Produced Guru Dutt’s directorial début, Baazi. Navketan spawned much new talent: directors Guru Dutt, Vijay Anand, Raj Khosla, composers S.D. and R.D. Burman, Jaidev, lyricists Sahir Ludhianvi and Neeraj, cameramen Fali Mistry, V. Ratra and D.K. Prabhakar, actors Johnny Walker, Zeenat Aman, Ekta Sharma, Tina Munim. Top star at Filmistan; made several of his most famous hits with Subodh Mukherjee (Munimji, Paying Guest) and other Filmistan-trained directors like Nasir Hussain and Shakti Samanta. Turned director in 1970. Directed, produced and starred in film launching his son, Suneil Anand (Anand Aur Anand). Now mainly produces and directs own starring vehicles deploying a more conventional heroic persona. Together with Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, he ushered in the dominant acting idiom of post- Independence Hindi cinema. His style is demarcated from the naturalist method-acting modes of Motilal, Balraj Sahni and the Ashok Kumar of Kismet (1943). Amit Khanna noted: ‘Dev Anand’s forte was the boy next door, part lover, part clown and part do- gooder.’ Although never the reviewers’ favourite, he claimed that filming ‘should be brought as close as possible to the making of a newspaper’. His deliberately awkward pastiches invoke various sources (e.g. Cary Grant, Gregory Peck). With directors Chetan and Vijay Anand, Guru Dutt and Subodh Mukherjee, along with playback singer Kishore Kumar, he satirised and reconstituted generic styles such as Capra’s (Nau Do Gyarah), John Huston’s (Jaal), the thriller (Jewel Thief, CID), the love story (Tere Ghar Ke Saamne, Paying Guest) and the Hollywood epic in Guide. Directorial concerns include the alleged aimlessness of today’s youth contrasted with the civilisational glory of the freedom struggle (e.g. Hare Rama Hare Krishna). Acted in the films he directed. Married actress Kalpana Kartik in 1954.

FILMOGRAPHY (* also d):

1946: Hum Ek Hain; 1947: Aage Badho; Mohan; 1948: Hum Bhi Insaan Hain; Vidya; Ziddi; 1949: Jeet; Namuna; Shayar; Udhaar; 1950: Afsar; Birha Ki Raat; Dilruba; Hindustan Hamara; Khel; Madhubala; Nili; Nirala; 1951: Aaram; Baazi; Do Sitare; Nadaan; Sanam; Sazaa; Stage; 1952: Aandhiyan; Jaal; Tamasha; Zalzala; Rahi/Two? Leaves And A Bud; 1953: Armaan; Humsafar; Patita; 1954: Baadbaan; Kashti; Taxi Driver; 1955: Faraar; House Number 44; Insaniyat; Milap; Munimji; 1956: CID; Funtoosh; Pocketmaar; 1957: Baarish; Dushman; Nau Do Gyarah; Paying Guest; 1958: Amar Deep; Kala Pani; Solva Saal; 1959: Love Marriage; 1960: Bambai Ka Babu; Ek Ke Baad Ek; Jaali Note; Kala Bazaar; Manzil; Sarhad; 1961: Hum Dono; Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai; Maya; Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja; 1962: Asli Naqli; Baat Ek Raat Ki; 1963: Kinare Kinare; Tere Ghar Ke Saamne; 1964: Sharabi; 1965: Guide; Teen Deviyan; 1966: Pyar Mohabbat; 1967: Jewel Thief; 1968: Duniya; Kahin Aur Chal; 1969: Mahal; 1970: Johnny Mera Naam; Prem Pujari*; 1971: Hare Rama Hare Krishna*; Gambler; Tere Mere Sapne; 1972: Yeh Gulistan Hamara; 1973: Chhupa Rustom; Joshila; Shareef Badmash; Banarasi Babu; Heera Panna*; 1974: Ishq Ishq Ishq*; Amir Garib; Prem Shastra; 1975: Warrant; 1976: Bullet; Jaaneman; 1977: Darling Darling; Kalabaaz; Saheb Bahadur; 1978: Des Pardes*; 1980: Man Pasand; Lootmaar*; 1982: Swami Dada*; 1984: Anand Aur Anand*; 1985: Hum Naujawan*; 1989: Sachche Ka Bol Bala*; Lashkar; 1990: Awwal Number*; 1991: Sau Karod*; 1992: Pyar Ka Tarana (only d); 1995: Gangster*.

Actor Director