A Tribute to Dharamdev Pisorimal Anand (centenary year 2023)
Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand (26-9-1923 to 3-12-2011)
Dharamdev was an avid fan of established star of the forties, Ashok Kumar, and was soon inspired to become a performer himself. Dharamdev Pishorimal Anand became Dev Anand.
After a few months of struggle, Dev got his break and never looked back. This dashing young man was a force of nature who ruled the Hindi film industry for more than three decades.
Debonair, dashing, urbane, charming, handsome, suave, polished and cultured are some adjectives which are used to describe Dev. Such was his hold over his audience. He starred in over a hundred films in a career spanning six decades and kept producing films till the end.
A lot has already been written on Dev Anand’s films, collaborations with Kishore Kumar and Rafi, working under Guru Dutt and Goldie (Vijay Anand), successful pairings with Waheeda Rehman, Nutan, Geeta Bali, and his choice of films. Dev Anand’s life is an open book.
Dev Anand had the vision and the gumption to start his own production house very early in his career. This way, he was able to call the shots about theme, directors, music etc. in his movies. Indian film industry hasn’t seen many successful producer-actors like him. The only exceptions were perhaps Raj Kapoor and V. Shantaram.
The trio of Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor ruled the Hindi film industry from the early fifties to the seventies. Dilip Kumar was the king of tragedy while Raj Kapoor was the lovable tramp. But it was Dev Anand who captured people’s imagination like no one else. A glance at Dev Anand’s repertoire would reveal that arguably he was the most experimental of these three legends. He has acted in noir films like Jewel Thief and Baazi to romantic movies like Tere Ghar Ke Samne and Paying Guest. He also gave us gems like Hum Dono and Guide and also commercial films like Johny Mera Naam.
Dev Anand put all his energy and money while producing, directing and acting in Guide. This pathbreaking film was simultaneously shot in Hindi and English but unfortunately did not receive much commercial success. Sixty years later, it is now hailed as a classic and is considered to be way ahead of its times. Thrillers, family dramas, romances, tragedies, socially relevant films, actioners… he did them all with elan and trademark style.
Dev was someone to look up to in our young country. He was what young men aspired to be. Dev’s trademark hairstyle and sartorial preferences were a template for the young Indian male. It offered a sure shot way to make an impression! A romantic at heart, this dashing hero often blurred the line between celluloid and reality through his dalliances with his leading ladies. He was very open and candid about his ‘love life’.
Dev Anand belongs to a bygone era. The period between 1950 and 1975 was the golden era of Hindi films. Creativity was at its peak and new benchmarks were set in terms of screenplay, music, songs, acting and production design.
The seventies saw the emergence of superstars like Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan. The trio of Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, now well in their fifties, found it difficult to remain in the reckoning and were swept away in this wave. Audience preferences changed and so did the fortunes of this trio. Dilip Kumar shifted to doing character roles, Raj Kapoor kind of retired but Dev kept acting as the lead in his home productions. Movie offers started drying up but Dev Anand’s love for film making never diminished and he kept churning out movies. Most weren’t a patch on what he had been able to deliver in his golden years.
In his later years, most of his films were duds but his popularity never waned.
I wonder what is it that makes a person so likeable. It is, I think, a combination of good looks, a larger than life image, and the ability to stay in the news for the right reasons.
Dev Anand’s movies offered comfort and solace to his audience. They were clean, wholesome entertainment. One could safely watch any of his movies with the family and be assured of money well spent.
It is remarkable that Dev Anand remained relevant to a person like me who was born in the seventies. I have fond memories of watching many of his hits on Doordarshan and later on video. There was no one like him. Some publication had called him the Gregory Peck of India, but this is grossly wrong. Dev Anand could never be compared with anyone. He was a class apart.
A retrospective festival is being held in various cities of India to mark the centenary year of Dev Anand. Hits like Guide, The Jewel Thief, CID are being screened in theatres. Young folks can learn a thing or two about stardom by watching these movies.
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