Today is Dev Saheb’s Birthday – the original Peter Pan of Indian films. The man who refused to grow up. In fact the films that he made in his first 5 years were far more mature than the films he has made in the last 25 odd years.  A few years ago, a leading magazine had done this list of mysteries. And, right at the top of the list was “Who Funds Dev Anand Films” – I remember sniggering about it, because the stuff he has made in the last two decades, or so, has been quite unwatchable.

Remember Aawal Number – starring Dev Saheb (almost 70) and Aamir Khan (25) – there Dev Anand played Aaditya Pancholi’s elder brother – who was the head of the board of cricket, who is also the head of the anti terrorist squad, who was also half a dozen other things – and of course the hero who saves the day by blowing up terrorists from a helicopter – or something equally inane. It was the last Dev Anand Film I saw (confession, i actually saw the film for Aamir Khan ).

A few years ago a friend of mine went to see Mr.Prime Minister as a challenge – he was the only person in the audience 🙂

But, when we guffaw at the films that Dev Anand makes today, it takes away from the rich legacy of films that he made till the mid seventies. I don’t consider his body of work post that – simply because it is unfair to him.

The time he made his debut, was just after independence. He ruled the roost with two other mega stars of that generation – Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor.
Dilip Kumar was the tortured hero, Raj Kapoor was the naive hero and Dev Anand played the lovable rogue – more the romantic hero than the other two.

Dev Anand’s collaboration with Guru Dutt produced some gems – Jaal, which i remember watching on DD when i was a kid and sobbing my heart out, Baazi and CID If India ever had a noirish bent of film making at any point of time – it was here .

There was then, the entire string of films as the boy next door – kind, fun and slightly goofy – but totally appealing. Munimji, Paying Guest, Tere Ghar ke Saamne and the ilk- films that were frothy and fun 🙂

I personally preferred his darker films – like Hum Duno – how i loved that movie and its music – Kala Bazaar – again a great story and great music; and Kala Paani – there was somthing about DevAnand the actor – that made the moral ambiguity or greyness not only plausible but also  attractive. Of all his characters none was more ambigious than Raju Guide – a man who embarks on an adulterous relationship with a married woman – Rosy – in the film Guide. He robs her, and he loves her and the audience doesn’t really see the contradiction in those two acts.

His other film that i thoroughly enjoyed was Tere Mere Sapne – based loosely and not as bleak as A.J.Cronin’s Citadel –  there is his tender little love story with Mumtaz, and of course his total fascinationwth the superstar Hema Malini. The former represents his values, the latter what he could become if he gave up his values.

For me, the final film in his repertoire was Hare Rama Hare Krishna – i personally refuse to consider his filmography after that point.   The film would have got theaters burnt, if it was made today. The story is a man who is in search of his sister who has fallen in – and been brainwashed – by a religious cult – The film is famous for it ‘dum maro dum’ song.

Today, on his birthday, I will leave you with my favorite songs from his films : Enjoy and do add yours to the list